Your autumn in Paris: Heritage Days and White Night

The Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days) await you on the weekend of September 15th and 16th. For two days, most Parisian monuments and historical and cultural sites open their doors for free, giving you the opportunity to enjoy visits rich in discoveries. On October 5th and 6th, the stars will shine down on the 2018 Nuit Blanche (White Night) via a host of artistic events taking place throughout Paris!

An immersion in the heart of our heritage

During the weekend of September 15th and 16th most monuments and historical and cultural sites in Paris invite you to enjoy free visits, workshops, exhibitions and other exciting activities. It’s the perfect opportunity to discover or rediscover the French national heritage during an event based around the theme of ‘the art of sharing’.

Thanks to Heritage Days, you can also enjoy a visit to the Mont-de-Piété, the city’s oldest financial institution and a place steeped in history. Or perhaps you’d prefer a look around the Crazy Horse. That famous Parisian cabaret will open its backstage area and reveal its secrets to the public as part of the free Crazy Experience tour. Other fascinating visits we can recommend include the national broadcaster France Télévision and the Maison de la Radio (booking required), the RATP, the Grand Rex Cinema and the Palais de l'Elysée which, from its cellar to its kitchens and even the office of the Prime Minister, will reveal all its secrets to you!

The team at the Hotel Marais Bastille, where we are passionate about beautiful machines, suggests you visit the main Parisian stations to admire the steam locomotives that will be on show to mark the 80th anniversary of the SNCF, including a legendary train of the Orient-Express exhibited at the Gare de Lyon.

White Night; choose from 4 routes this year

The night of October 6th to 7th will feature the 2018 edition of the White Night in Paris. This year offers the opportunity to see the capital’s public spaces in a new light while admiring contemporary works of art created by artists from around the world and participating in various events. The purpose of this 7pm to 7am arts festival is to offer a fresh look at Parisian monuments, both the world-famous ones and those that are comparatively little-known, and to highlight new talents in all disciplines by presenting their visual artworks and theatrical, musical and dance creations.

During this new edition, Parisians and visitors will be invited to embark on their choice of four routes; ‘constellations’ designed by the event manager, Gael Charbau. The Invalides Constellation takes you from the Army Museum to the basement of the Invalides, the Ile Saint-Louis Constellation winds along a route dotted with works nestled in secret places and the Vilette Constellation offers a look at the Parc de la Vilette and the Cité des Sciences. Finally, the Porte Dorée Constellation charts a fabulous course partly around Lake Daumesnil to the Zoological Park of Paris. Have a great evening!