On 17 and 18 September 2022, the now renowned European Heritage Days will be held.

Heritage for all

For this 39th edition, the national theme is "Sustainable Heritage". In Versailles, many sites will offer visits and activities for a varied public.

What's new at Versailles?

King's garden Kitchen :

Many activities will be organised in the King's Garden Kitchen during the European Heritage Days. You will be able to take part in guided tours, animations, theatrical performances, or a sale of fresh and seasonal products on Saturday morning.
Discover the full programme on the King's Garden Kitchen website.
Access to the King's Garden will be from 10 am to 6 pm.

Baroque Music Center of Versailles :

The baroque music centre will open the doors of the Hôtel des Menus-Plaisirs which housed the administration of the King's Menus-Plaisirs. You will be able to enjoy guided tours on 17 and 18 September between 2 and 6 pm. Led by CMBV staff, you will discover this historic place in order to understand its function and its place in the political, social and artistic spheres from the 18th century to the present day. The visit will take 40 to 50 minutes.
Admission is free of charge without limit. 
In addition to the guided tours, you can enjoy an exhibition of decorations and costumes from the Baroque period from 2 to 6 pm.
As part of the "Enfants du patrimoine" event, on Friday 16 September 2022, the CMBV will offer students interactive theatrical tours including a musical listening workshop: an immersion in the history of the Hôtel des Menus-Plaisir!

The Espace Richaud

The Espace Richaud opens its doors to the public on 17 and 18 September 2022! During your visit you will learn more about the royal hospital and its spendid chapel, its architecture and its rehabilitation.
Free visit: all weekend from 10 am to 7 pm
Guided tours: Saturday: 10.30am, 11.45am or 2pm, 3.15pm
Sunday: 10.30am - 11.45am
The Espace Richaud mediator will take you to discover the history of the place, a unique opportunity to visit spaces closed to the public!
Free on reservation at: espace.richaud@versailles.fr
Sunday 18 September: theatrical visits will also be offered to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the coronation of Louix XV.
Sessions of 15 min will be offered at 3pm, 3.30pm, 4pm, 4.30pm. Register for free at espace.richaud@versailles.fr

The Equestrian Academy of Versailles

- Saturday 17/09 : Guided tour from 2pm to 4pm

This year, the Heritage Days will be an opportunity to discover or rediscover the Equestrian Academy of Versailles, a school-company set up under the direction of Bartabas since 2003 in the Grande Ecurie of the Château de Versailles, which is committed to passing on the heritage of traditional French equestrianism.
During your visit, you will discover the stables of Louis XIV, renovated by Patrick Bouchain, today occupied by the Lusitanians of the Academy, but also see the daily work of the riders and their horses before attending the show "La Voie de l'écuyère" (The Way of the Rider) at 6pm.
Included in the ticket: 1 hour guided tour of the equestrian academy, ticket for the day's performance (1 hour), a snack to be collected at the end of the tour. 
Possibility to visit freely the Campus des Métiers d'Art and the Galerie des Carrosses, within the Grande Ecurie.
On registration on the Pass Culture website
 

The Central Library 

Don't miss a visit to the superb Galerie d'Honneur of the Hôtel des Affaires étrangères ! With its succession of five rooms, it houses 55,000 old books and offers an admirably preserved décor.
Self-guided tours of the Central Library of Versailles: Saturday 17/09 from 10am to 6pm 
Guided tours offered by the Versailles Tourist Office: Sunday morning between 10.30 am and 12.30 pm (approx. 30 minutes visit)
 

The Osmothèque

Take advantage of this weekend to visit the International Perfume Conservatory and its collections, which will be exceptionally open! In the form of a guided tour led by the perfumers of the place, you will discover the perfumed collections! More than 15 "nose" perfumers or experts will be present to help you discover incredible olfactory treasures.
Saturday 17 September 2022 from 10am to 6pm. Last admission at 5:30 pm.
The visits will take place all day with a start every 15 minutes. Pre-registration is possible from 1 September onwards via e-mail: contact@osmotheque.fr
Registrations can be made afterwards at www.osmotheque.fr: under the heading "Agenda".
Free for children up to 12 years old. Reservations are recommended in order to benefit from a queue breaker. Free entry possible depending on the number of visitors. Symbolic contribution of 1 euro. 


You can also find the full programme on the government website.

Discover without further delay the visits organised by the Tourist Office this year on the occasion of the Heritage Days.

The Versailles Court of Appeal

Eight guided tours are organised on Saturday, each lasting 30 minutes (tours depart at 11am, 11.30am, 12pm, 2pm, 2.45pm, 3.30pm, 4.15pm and 5pm)
Saturday 17/09: from 10.45am to 5pm (time of last visit) - free of charge

Visits will only be guided and on reservation. To reserve your place send an email to robin.muracciole@justice.fr
For further information: 01.39.49.67.89
 

The Domaine de Madame Elisabeth

Discover the park of the Domaine de Madame Elisabeth thanks to the guided tours led by the guides of the Tourist Office. 
Saturday 17/09: The first guided tour of the park will start at 2pm and the last one at 5pm. 
Sunday 18/09: The first guided tour of the park will start at 11am and the last at 5pm.

The residence, which is currently being renovated, will not be open to visitors.
 

The Prefecture and the Hôtel du Département

The guided tours are led by the guides of the Versailles Tourist Office
Saturday 17/09: The first guided tour will start at 2.10 pm and the last one at 5 pm. You will also be able to enjoy free visits from 2pm to 6pm
Sunday 18/09 : The first guided tour will start at 11am and the last tour will start at 4.50pm. You can also enjoy free visits from 10am to 6pm
 

The Gallery of Honour of the Foreign Office!

The Central Library will be open to the public on Saturday 17 September from 10 am to 6 pm. Our guides will offer you guided tours on Sunday morning.
Guided tours offered by the Versailles Tourist Office: Sunday morning between 10.30 am and 12.30 pm (approx. 30 min visit)

European Heritage Days at the Palace of Versailles

A republican tour at the Palace of Versailles!

The Heritage Days will be an opportunity to discover or rediscover the château and its grounds. Visit these places of particular charm, devoted to the intimacy of the sovereigns. Take advantage of these days to discover the twists and turns of history. This year, the European Heritage Days will focus on the theme of Versailles under the Republic. This is an opportunity to discover key places in our history: the Congress Hall and the Royal Tennis Court.
Student mediators from the Ecole du Louvre will be on hand to help you learn more about these places.


Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 September: from 09:00 to 18:30 (last admission at 17:30) - Free admission,
Location: Midi Wing (Congress Hall, Seal Room and the flat of the President of the National Assembly) and Royal Tennis Court
Access to the Congress: the entrance is at 2 rue de l'Indépendance américaine (part of the route is accessible to visitors in wheelchairs from the Cour des Princes)
Access to the Jeu de Paume room: 1 rue du Jeu de Paume (accessible to visitors in wheelchairs)
Free entry without reservation
 

The rest of the Palace is subject to a fee and the rates and conditions of access remain the same as usual.

Museum of the Toile de Jouy
54 rue Charles de Gaulle
FREE ANIMATIONS ON RESERVATION
museetdj@jouy-en-josas.fr ; 01 39 56 48 64
 A weekend of free activities on the theme of Portugal, in connection with the heritage exhibition.

 
SATURDAY 17 SEPTEMBER FROM 11AM TO 7PM
11am to 6pm: Free tours of the permanent and temporary collections and the Oberkampf shop
10am to 1pm: Adult workshop, introduction to the art of Azulejos FULL
From 3pm to 4.30pm: 45-minute workshop for children (6-12 years old) to discover the art of Azulejos
From 5pm to 6.30pm: Fado concert, Tânia Raquel Caetano, Philippe de Sousa on the Portuguese guitar and Pompeu on the viola de Fado

SUNDAY 18 SEPTEMBER FROM 11AM TO 6PM
11am to 6pm: Free visits of the permanent and temporary collections and the Oberkampf shop
 
11am to 6pm: Literary salon
- Altina Ribeiro author of the books: Fado for only luggage, Alice in the land of Salazar, Three notes of blues for a fado, Dona Zezinha
- Emilio Morais author of the books: Themes and Poems (Os temas e os poemas)
- Manuel do Nascimento author of: The Portuguese presence in France from the 13th century to the present day, Da ditadura ao estado novo, Portugal sempre foi um pais de poetas, O 9 de Abril de 1918 foi um desastre? , Commented Chronology of Napoleon 1769-1821, Por uma vida malhor, The Forgotten of the Flanders War, Portuguese Soldiers in the Battle of the Lys, Nem Tudo acontece por acaso, History of Portugal, A Chronology, First World War (Centenary 1914-2014), Cronologia da Historia de Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques, Assim nasceu Portugal, Third Napoleonic Invasion in Portugal, Carnation Revolution in Portugal, The Battle of the Lys, Fighting against the Salazarist State
- Bruno Dos Santos author of the book: Quand ma tête perd les pédales
- Odete Domingues Ferreira, a painter, will exhibit his paintings.
- From 3pm to 5pm: 30-minute flash visits to the heritage exhibition "The Chitas of Alcobaça

Léon Blum House
4 rue Léon Blum
accueil@maisonleonblum.fr ; 01 30 70 68 46

 
SATURDAY 17 AND SUNDAY 18 SEPTEMBER FROM 11AM TO 6PM
From 11am to 6pm: Free visits with games for adults and children, books from the bookshop are to be won!
New: booklet-game for children to discover the museum while having fun!

Temple
5 rue du Temple
06 08 45 31 79

 
SATURDAY 17 AND SUNDAY 18 SEPTEMBER FROM 10.30AM TO 12.30PM AND FROM 2.30PM TO 6.30PM
Free and/or guided tours of the Temple, Saturday 10.30am/12.30pm and 2.30pm/6.30pm; Sunday 2pm/3pm
Photo exhibition, Saturday from 1pm to 8pm and Sunday from 3pm to 7pm, in the parish hall
Conference " Oberkampf, a village & a history " by Mr. Christophe BAILLAT, historian and novelist, Sunday from 3 to 4 pm in the Temple
Presentation of the "Ré-Jouy-Toit" project to renovate the temple and create student accommodation, Sunday from 4 to 5 pm at the Temple
 

HEC Paris Castle
5 rue de la Libération
jfharris@eexperience.fr ; 06 48 58 42 52

 
SUNDAY 18 SEPTEMBER FROM 10:30 TO 12:30 AND FROM 14:00 TO 18:00
 
Guided tours, every hour, in collaboration with the Groupe de Recherches Historiques to discover the history of the château and the park
Groups of 15 people per visit, by reservation
Refreshments available at the château at the end of the tour

Château des Côtes
9, chemin des Côtes Montbron, Les Loges-en-Josas
magali.bertinsaintomer@centredescotes.com 

SUNDAY 18 SEPTEMBER AT 11am
 
Guided tour - without reservation

Find the complete programme on the website of the town of Jouy-en-Josas

In Bailly, Rennemoulin and Noisy-le-Roi, take a number of tours, including the mythical "Fort du Trou d'enfer" and a visit to the excavation site of the former Gondis castle!

The town of Bièvres invites you into the heart of nature, in the park of La Martinière.

In Bougival, a fresco of the climate, the impressionist circuit in a zodiac, the vineyards, Yvan Tourgueniev's dacha...

In Buc, enjoy a virtual exhibition by the photographer Francis Tack.

In Jouy-en-Josas, the Musée de la Toile de Jouy offers a series of events, including a FADO concert, a discovery of the Azulejos decor, a literary salon...

The Château de La Celle Saint-Cloud opens the doors of its park and its vegetable garden on the occasion of the European Heritage Days.

In Les Loges-en-Josas, you can visit the Château des Côtes and the Pediatric Centre or discover the Japanese garden of Midori.

On 17 September, Mobility Week joins the Heritage Days for a fun and friendly weekend in Saint-Cyr l'Ecole. See you at the Mobility Village!

In Versailles, come and satisfy your curiosity to (re)discover the many treasures of the city with free admission.

In Viroflay, a real stroll through history awaits you.

Article written by Adelaide