The Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days ) are back again this autumn, with a new edition full of discoveries! This year, the famous cultural event takes place on the weekend of September 21 to 22, 2024, and offers you a maximum number of good deals, guided tours and events close to home. Beyond the capital, theÎle-de-France regions are also celebrating culture by opening the doors of their historic sites and unusual places, free of charge. Prestigious châteaux, emblematic museums, legendary theaters and other little-known addresses all lend themselves to the festivities. In short, a memorable weekend in store, offering a rare opportunity to discover our heritage in a whole new light!
The Paris region is not to be outdone, and promises a fine program for the Journées du Patrimoine 2024! Just a few kilometers from Paris, Saint-Germain-en-Laye is once again taking part in the event. This charming Yvelines town traces its origins back to the 11th century, when a monastery dedicated to Saint Germain, bishop of Paris, was erected on its wooded grounds. However, it was in the 12th century, under the reign of Louis VI, that the fortified castle was built, until Louis XIV decided to turn it into a royal residence in the 17th century, embellishing the château and commissioning André Le Nôtre to create a sumptuous park. While the aura of royalty still hovers over its cobbled streets, the timeless charm of Saint-Germain-en-Laye has also inspired artists such as Debussy and Renoir, and continues to seduce creative minds to this day. Today, the château houses the Musée d'Archéologie Nationale, and the town offers an idyllic setting for strolling between elegant boutiques and verdant parks.
Heritage Days 2024 at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye - Musée d'Archéologie Nationale (78)
The Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye is taking part in the Journées du Patrimoine 2024. On the program for Saturday September 21 and Sunday September 22, guided tours of the Château and the Musée d'Archéologie Nationale, plus many other surprises, for a unique plunge into the heart of history. [Read more]
Art and framing workshop
Paperwork and the importance of conservation.
This year, we invite you to follow the itineraries traced through the streets of the artisans' quarter to reach the other workshops, with a host of happy surprises in store!
Paper crafting and the importance of conservation.
This year, we invite you to follow the itineraries laid out in the streets of the craftsmen's quarter to reach the other workshops, with a host of surprises in store!
Art and painting workshop
Presentation of the job of restorer of paintings, graphic documents and terracotta objets d'art, as well as gilding and polychromy on wood.
Presentation of a painting and an engraving being cleaned.
Carole Mayans' workshop
A refined textile art, lace (bobbin and needle lace) is a meticulous "weaving" technique that creates a light, transparent textile through the precise arrangement of full and empty spaces.
The lacemaking technique offers unlimited plastic possibilities.
Using threads other than those traditionally used in lace allows us to explore its intrinsic qualities. This is the research I pursue in my creative work and in my teaching (3D sculpture, work on emptiness and fullness, on transparency, working with color).
I like the idea of interaction between those who give and those who receive, as in this work on double-reading networks (visible/invisible): two drawings on the same lace cannot be seen together, but rather alternately.
Michèle Savinel's workshop
Figurative at all costs, always based on the presence of the human, Michèle Savinel's work is deliberately, bitterly, profoundly figurative.
Subject and object are one: no cultural references, no cryptic approaches.
Michèle Savinel treats her subjects as she treats herself, because for her, the link between art and life can only be made through the very image of life.
Workshop by Sophie Deodato and Amandine Pagnon
Antique furniture restoration: Every piece of furniture has its own unique history. As a result, the attention given to them is total and specific. The techniques we use respect a centuries-old ethic, the enlightened legacy of the most eminent master craftsmen.
In addition to wood, bronzes and fittings are also subject to the effects of time. We use non-corrosive products and techniques to restore their lustre and relief.
For your canework, mulch, leather and marble, the workshop regularly works with the best partner craftsmen to care for your furniture in its entirety.
Restoration of designer pieces: Designer pieces require real adaptation to modern materials. As a result, the attention paid to them is total and specific.
In order to gain in resistance over the years, the restoration of design pieces requires a great deal of thought around the object's durability.
Straw marquetry is an art that dates back to the 17th century.
Lost for many years, it resurfaced during the Art Deco movement, only to be forgotten until today. Many of the world's top decorators and designers are now reintroducing this art form into their projects.
Working with rye straw, a humble, raw and natural material that is naturally coated with silica, transforms the surface on which it is applied into a luxury object.
Opening of the workshop and presentation of work.
Atelier Pierre Papier Pinceau by Pierre Cornuel
In his studio and through his exhibition, Pierre Cornuel presents the profession of author-painter-illustrator of children's books, comics and mangas: from the first sketches and illustrations to printing.
At the RATP Archives
As a partner of the European Heritage Days, RATP is offering you a fun-filled journey across the network to discover its heritage: events, exclusive experiences, tours... everything is planned to get you on board!
RATP will be opening the doors of its archives, located in a disused tunnel beneath the gardens of the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye. You'll be able to discover precious documents (maps, metro tickets, posters, photographs...) that bear witness to the history of transport in the Paris region.
Center Administratif de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
The town of Saint-Germain-en-Laye had two castles, the "Neuf" and the "Vieux". Today, it's a good idea to showcase this historic heritage in a playful way, with a Playmobil version.
As part of the European Heritage Days, come and take an immersive tour of the operating theater and ambulatory surgery unit, and discover how they work and the professions involved.
You'll have the chance to go behind the scenes and into an operating theatre. You'll also be able to talk to the professionals who make up this team.
Come and meet us and discover the world of the operating theatre. Talk to our team members and find out what makes us special.
At the Ixcampus construction site
Wearing a hard hat, discover the impressive expansion of the city's
technology and university campus. By 2025, iXcampus will be home to 2,000 students, technicians and engineers.
Come and meet the architects and builders of this ambitious project!
At the Claude Debussy Conservatory - Hôtel Louis le Grand
Recital by students from the conservatory's advanced cycles (piano, opera singing...).
At the Carré d'Artistes art gallery
Discover the original and unique works (paintings and sculptures) and backgrounds of the artists on display (from abstract to figurative to pop art, using very specific techniques).
At the Hôtel de Noailles
This pleasure house was built in 1679 by Jules Hardouin-Mansart. An avid botanist and music lover, Louis de Noailles welcomed the finest artists of his time. Come and listen to the story of the Noailles family, view 3D reconstructions of the building and its magnificent Brissard woodwork.
At City Hall
Visit the Mayor's office, the multimedia room, the wedding hall and the reception room.
At Espace Pierre Delanoë
Tribute to Henri Marret, painter, engraver and former mayor of Fourqueux, on the anniversary of his death in 1964, during the European Heritage Days on September 21 and 22, 2024.
This tribute will take the form of a trail following in the footsteps of this Fourqueux artist, from the Musée Ducastel-Vera to the Fourqueux town hall, via the Jardin des Eaux, the Espace Pierre Delanoë and the Eglise Sainte-Croix.
An opportunity to discover all the facets of this artist: painting, engraving, watercolor, fresco...
From Saint-Germain to Fourqueux, exhibitions on the life and work of Fourqueux painter Henri Marret, a close friend of Maurice Denis.
At Saint-Germain-en-Laye church
Discover antique chasubles.
Free tour of the church.
Historical tour of the church, presentation of frescoes, stained glass windows and chapels.
Visit the exhibition on the great pilgrimages:
Santiago de Compostela
The Via Francigena, from Canterbury to Rome
Jerusalem
The path of the oratories in the Saint Germain forest
At Institut Saint-Thomas de Villeneuve
The Saint Thomas de Villeneuve Institute opens the doors to its main courtyard and chapel, restored in 2016.
Jardin des Arts
> Sub Aqua, a cinematic sound siesta by Braquage Sonore & Cie A journey on the sound palette of water and a 360° sound experience
A moment of pause, of disconnection from reality, of escape. Relaxed and comfortably seated, we let ourselves be carried away by the sounds and melodies inviting us on a dreamlike journey into the heart of nature. A journey composed from sound recordings made in a natural environment, instruments played and a sound composition of sounds produced live by the manipulation of unusual materials in front of different microphones.
A true ode to nature, its inhabitants, its elements, but also its fragility.
At 10am in the Jardin des arts
At 2pm in the Square du Mail de l'Aurore
A guided tour of the Les Loges Legion of Honor educational center takes in the courtyard of honor and the fully restored chapel, as well as the students' living quarters (dormitory, refectory, parlor), classrooms and grounds, located in the heart of the Saint-Germain-en-Laye forest.
The tour is led by staff and students alike.
At Henri Marret's family home
Discover the architectural heritage of the village of Fourqueux, as well as its famous figures such as watchmaker Armand Colin, novelist Victor Hugo, painter Henri Marret and lyricist Pierre Delanoë.
Meet in the courtyard at 39, rue de Saint-Nom, Fourqueux.
Marc Ferro Media Library
The media library team invites you to discover areas that are usually inaccessible to the public: the store and professional areas. Learn all about the life of documents, from selection to shelving, as well as the role of librarians.
A first visit is at 10.30am, and a second at 11am.
Length of visit: 1 hour.
Film directed by Charlotte Brunier and Romain Mercieux. Screening followed by discussion.
Film also screened as part of the European Week for Sustainable Development
As the main means of transport in many parts of the world, how has the bicycle become a major player in the environmental and societal transition? Charlotte Brunier and Romain Mercieux investigated the economic, sociological and health aspects of everyday bicycle use. The contributions of a range of personalities fuel the dialogue between users, politicians and militant associations. The aim is to combine their ideas, move the debate forward, and invite viewers to imagine the story that will link cycling to tomorrow's society.
Association Les roues de l'avenir, 2023.
Running time: 52 minutes.
At the Micro-Folie
Discover modeling software with Zefabtruck.
Assembling 3D printed parts with Recrealab.
Musée Maurice Denis
The tour guide will accompany you on a visit to the exhibition, which features a selection of around 100 paintings and sculptures. A captivating experience focusing on the major works in the collection, the tour begins with an introduction to the concept of the "masterpiece", defined as an accomplished work, perfect in its execution, testifying to the artist's mastery and remarkable imagination. Visitors are invited to reflect on the evolution of the notion of masterpiece over time.
From age 14
Immerse yourself in a fascinating geolocation adventure in the footsteps of artist Maurice Denis, thanks to the "EVA - Les Tisseurs du Temps" mobile application. This interactive experience lets you explore the cultural heritage associated with Maurice Denis directly from your smartphone. Download the app free of charge from the App Store or Google Play, either from home or at the museum reception desk, and set off to discover enigmas and emblematic places associated with the artist.
Discover the Royal Apothecary's in an olfactory workshop on medicinal herbs.
Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a land of sports, with a clear predilection for outdoor sports such as horse riding and running, as well as team and individual sports.
From the dawn of modern times, the royal residence has been a favorite playground for sovereigns who love the pure air of its heights, its vast park and lush forest. Hunting, of course, but also palm games in the moat kept François I and Henri II busy. The Children of France learned horseback riding and carriage driving, and enjoyed all kinds of outdoor activities. The Revolution returned the park to the city's inhabitants, who enjoyed strolling through it and playing a multitude of sporting games, more physical for the children, calmer for the adults: hoop, rope, boules, and so on. Soon, bicycles were competing with horses on the terrace and in the forest. It was then the turn of cars to make their appearance, as sports became more structured, associations were created, rules were clarified, competitions were born and facilities were built.
The Stade Saint-germanois, an omnisport club, was created in 1904 on the edge of the forest, around the Stade Georges-Lefèvre. Although football-rugby (formerly rugby) is the primary sport played in Saint-Germain, the soccer section is undoubtedly the most famous, thanks to the success of Paris Saint-Germain. The other sections are less publicized but just as important, such as field field hockey, founded in 1927, a legendary multi-titled and resolutely international club, or rugby, MLSGP78, the leading club in the Yvelines.
Tennis, running, swimming, golf, fencing, cycling and even aerobatics: the town plays every sport, at every level, from school initiation to Olympic medals. In the year of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, it remembers its sporting past and looks confidently to the future.
In partnership with the Archives municipales.
With loans from the Musée national du Sport, the Bibliothèque nationale de France, the Archives départementales des Yvelines and private collectors.
Guided tours by the museum's mediator without reservation.
Born in Paris in 1878, Henri Marret spent his childhood between Saint-Germain-en-Laye and Fourqueux, where the Marret family, Parisian jewelers from father to son, owned a vacation home. It was in this grand old house that he settled for good after the ordeal of the First World War. Like Paul Vera, his companion in the camouflage section of the 1st Engineer Regiment, Henri Marret was already a recognized artist. Trained at the Beaux-Arts, he had been exhibiting oils and watercolors at the Salons since 1901, creating his first large-scale decors in 1907, learning the technique of fresco on fresh mortar with Paul Baudoüin and beginning to engrave on wood.
A tireless worker, Marret devoted himself entirely to the renewal of art. His frescoes adorn civil buildings and many churches rebuilt after the war. His work is one of the many "sources" that feed the great river of Art Deco, to borrow the beautiful image of Saint-Germain's Alphonse Roux.
The Saint-Germain school, reinventing Nabi art and Cubism, is his artistic family, along with Maurice Denis, Vera, Jean Souverbie and Roger Chastel. But Fourqueux, with its poetry and "the immensity of its sky", remained Marret's inspiration, his home town: a town councillor from 1927, he was elected mayor in 1937 and remained mayor through the darkest hours until 1944.
Henri Marret died in his home in 1964. 60 years later, the Ducastel-Vera museum pays tribute to the artist who was as much a Foulquesian as a Saint-Germain resident, well before the creation of the new commune.
In partnership with Les Amis de l'Œuvre d'Henri Marret.
Free admission, children's booklet
Until December 15, 2024
At the Saint-Germain Boucles de Seine Intercommunal Tourist Office
Stroll through the historic center, discovering the town's mansions, street names and famous characters.
At the Bonne Foi Masonic Temple
La Bonne Foi, founded around 1745, is one of the oldest Masonic lodges in France, heir to a Stuartist lodge founded at the Château de Saint Germain during the exile of King James II Stuart. It boasts a rich history and ancient collections.
At the Protestant Temple in Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Visit the 19th-century Saint-Germain-en-Laye temple.
Tour of the Saint-Christophe district
Discover the history of the Saint-Christophe district: anecdotes and encounters with craftsmen.
Let's take a walk in the footsteps of royalty in Saint-Germain-en-Laye!
Dates and Opening Time
From September 21, 2024 to September 22, 2024
Location
Saint-Germain-en-Laye
saint-germain
78100 Saint Germain en Laye
Prices
Free
Official website
www.saintgermainenlaye.fr
