European Heritage Days 2026: Treasures of the 5th Arrondissement
Posted in Paris le 1 September 2026
Few arrondissements suit Heritage Days as well as the 5th. Over one weekend, on 19 and 20 September 2026, the Sorbonne opens its grand rooms and chapel, the Panthéon welcomes visitors free of charge, the Collège de France and Lycée Henri-IV reveal their buildings, and local science venues, from the Musée Curie to the Jardin des Plantes, offer visits and activities. All are within walking distance of each other on and around the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève. Here is the programme for this 43rd edition in the Latin Quarter, venue by venue, and how to organise it from Hôtel de l’Espérance on rue Pascal.
Heritage Days 2026: the essentials
Held every year in mid-September, European Heritage Days reach their 43rd edition. This year, visitors are invited on the weekend of 19 and 20 September 2026, around two themes: “Photographic Heritage” and “Heritage at Risk: Revive, Resist, Reimagine”.
Since the first French edition in 1984, the idea has remained the same: allowing people, often free of charge, into places usually closed or charging admission. Some visits require advance registration; others are subject to available capacity.
The Sorbonne opens its grand rooms and chapel
This is the neighbourhood’s most anticipated opening. On Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026, from 10 am to 5 pm for most activities, the Sorbonne offers a free self-guided route through its most prestigious spaces: the grand hall, peristyle, Salon Richelieu, Grand Salon, Salle des Actes, Salle des Autorités and even the Grand Amphithéâtre’s stage.
Spaces normally reserved for students and researchers also open: the Sorbonne inter-university library reading room, Salle Louis-Liard and Amphithéâtre Richelieu. The chapel, whose foundation stone Richelieu laid on 1 May 1635 and which houses his tomb, is on the self-guided route. A guided chapel visit is also offered from 10 am to 10.45 am, by registration and limited to 35 people per session.
The programme also includes a photographic projection reflecting this edition’s theme, an exhibition of work by Paris art and craft school students and a display devoted to academic gowns. On Sunday afternoon from 2 pm to 4 pm, a meeting with Véronique Milande completes the weekend. Look carefully along the route: the Sorbonne also houses seven street-art works by C215, unveiled in May 2019.
Around the Panthéon: monuments and major institutions
A short walk from the Sorbonne, the Panthéon offers a special monument visit, with free entry over the weekend. Discover the nave, Foucault’s pendulum and the crypt where Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Pierre and Marie Curie, Simone Veil and Joséphine Baker are among those honoured. Our article on Hôtel de l’Espérance, near the Panthéon introduces the monument in more detail.
Several institutions around the square open their doors. The Collège de France offers guided tours covering around two thousand years of the site’s history. Lycée Henri-IV reveals its listed medieval buildings, and the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève invites visitors to explore its history on Sunday 20 September.
These buildings reflect the neighbourhood’s medieval and university past, still visible in many streets. To continue exploring beyond the weekend, our article on medieval Paris and hidden remains of the Latin Quarter brings together its traces.
Science and knowledge: the researchers’ 5th
The 5th arrondissement is also a major scientific research centre, and Heritage Days offer a revealing glimpse. Throughout the weekend, the Musée Curie provides free visits devoted to the Curie family’s history. Nearby, Maison Poincaré, a mathematics museum, offers playful mathematical visits.
In the east, the Jardin des Plantes and Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle organise activities for all ages, while Sorbonne Université’s Pierre and Marie Curie campus at Jussieu presents a special programme introducing its spaces. It is a chance to see inside a campus usually viewed only from outside.
Other openings in the 5th and how to plan
Other local venues take part in the 2026 edition. This table lists announced openings to complete your programme according to your interests.
| Venue | What is offered | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Institut du monde arabe | Free activities around architecture, collections and Arab cultures | Architecture enthusiasts |
| Saint-Nicolas-du-Chardonnet church | Guided tours of the church and its treasures | Sacred-art enthusiasts |
| Centre culturel irlandais | Saint Patrick’s Chapel visit and concerts | Music lovers |
| Val-de-Grâce, French military medical service museum | A visit to a little-known museum | History enthusiasts |
| Musée de la Préfecture de police | Authentic objects, expert encounters and a family programme | Families |
| Musée de Cluny | Visits exploring medieval collections | Medieval-history enthusiasts |
Group visits by area: the Sorbonne, Panthéon, Collège de France, Henri-IV and Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève are on the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève; the Jardin des Plantes, Jussieu campus and Institut du monde arabe are eastwards near the Seine. Start with booked visits, then add venues open without reservations. Check the Musée de Cluny’s opening before going.
A heritage weekend in the heart of the Latin Quarter
Staying in the 5th lets you enjoy the weekend on foot without relying on transport. Hôtel de l’Espérance, a four-star hotel at 15 rue Pascal, is in the Mouffetard neighbourhood, a few minutes from both the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève and Jardin des Plantes.
Its 38 rooms decorated in a 1970s-inspired style and its patio offer a peaceful break between visits. Breakfast starts at 7.30 am, useful for reaching the Sorbonne at opening time, and the 24-hour reception can help organise your route.
Your Heritage Days programme in the 5th
For Heritage Days in the 5th on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026, book the Sorbonne chapel tour, enjoy free entry to the Panthéon, enter the Collège de France, Lycée Henri-IV and Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève, then devote half a day to science venues from the Musée Curie to the Jardin des Plantes. The official programme and venue websites confirm times.
With the whole neighbourhood within walking distance, your stay comes down to choosing the right starting point. All that remains is to book your room.