The Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days ) take place every year on the third weekend in September. This cultural highlight attracts enthusiasts and the curious looking for new experiences. And with good reason: during this cultural event, many of our heritage treasures reveal their secrets through special programming.
In Paris and throughout the Île-de-France region, museums, monuments, châteaux and even places that are usually closed to the public are getting in on the act! In turn, they offer us their programs, often free of charge, of self-guided or guided tours, surprising events and workshops for young and old alike.
While Paris is often the center of attention, the Journées du Patrimoine is also an opportunity to learn more about the treasures to be found in the rest of theÎle-de-France region. And the least we can say is that the Ile-de-France region is brimming with masterpieces and surprising monuments!
In the Val-de-Marne region, the town of Saint-Maur-des-Fossés is a prime example. Accessible by RER (regional express train), Saint-Maur-des-Fossés is a charming town with picturesque houses and lush greenery. The town also boasts a fine heritage, enabling it to offer an extensive program of visits during the Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days). Find out what's in store for the weekend of September 21 and 22, 2024!
Heritage Days 2024 at the Saint-Maur-des-Fossés educational garden
Come and discover the natural heritage of Saint-Maur-des-Fossés through the green, blue, brown, white and black grids. These webs form ecological ités, with their reservoirs of biodiversity and ecological corridors.
A number of activities will be offered in the Jardin pédagogique, a garden created by the Conseil municipal des Enfants. 600 m2 have been laid out to accommodate aromatic plants, vegetable plants, ornamental plants and fruit trees... Nature in the city! Practices are virtuous, agro-ecological and experimental.
Come and discover this place and enjoy a guided tour of this green setting. You'll be offered a range of activities, as well as a treasure hunt to help you discover the site in a fun way, and leave with a small gift.
Heritage Days 2024 at Saint-Maur-des-Fossés Town Hall
Until 1876, Saint-Maur's town hall was housed in various houses close to Saint-Nicolas church in the Vieux-Saint-Maur district. This uncentral location fuelled La Varenne's desire for independence. Urban development in the Marne loop made it essential to move the town hall to a more central location. The debates were fierce.
Construction of the Saint-Maur town hall began on August 18, 1876, on land donated by Louis-Désiré Mahieu, the town's former mayor. Too small for the growing population, the building was extended between 1937 and 1941 under the direction of Lucien Graf, the town's architect. What remains of the original town hall is the central part of the facade and the marriage hall, decorated by Paul-Albert Beaudoin, which you'll discover on your tour, which ends on the top floor, where you'll be able to enjoy the beautiful view from the roofs and the new glass roof, for the Hôtel-de-Ville is a lively building in constant evolution and transformation.
Heritage Days 2024 at the Abbaye public garden in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
For over a century, the Société d'histoire et d'archéologie "Le Vieux Saint-Maur" has been dedicated to the study and preservation of local heritage. Come and share your memories, discover the association's projects and publications. Don't miss their latest book, which traces the history of Saint-Maur's neighborhoods and streets through comparative views of yesterday and today.
The oldest intact building in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, this church is dedicated to Saint Nicolas, patron saint not only of schoolchildren, but also of bargemen, many of whom disembarked at the abbey's port on the Marne River. The building has been altered several times, which explains the different styles of construction. While the bell tower is Romanesque, typical of the 12th century, the choir (13th century) is Gothic, with an imposing glass roof almost 8 meters high! The church has been a listed monument since 1947.
The major renovation work undertaken by the town, in partnership with the Fondation du Patrimoine and the Île-de-France region, was completed at the end of 2022: replacement of the choir and bell tower roofs, restoration of the roof structure, replacement of many badly damaged stones (including columns and capitals), cleaning of certain stained glass windows... The wooden Romanesque vault was also rebuilt following the destruction of the plaster vault from the interwar period. Admire the superb rooster that now watches over the building.
Let us guide you through the history of Saint-Maur-des-Fossés' oldest district! You'll discover the beautifully restored 12th-13th-century church dedicated to Saint Nicolas, as well as a number of 17th-century residences, remnants of the château and court of the Princes de Condé. There are also a few reminders of the town's past activities, from its picturesque farm to its modest shops, town hall, factory and boarding school. You can also follow the route of the annual Saint Maur procession!
Founded in Merovingian times, Saint-Maur-des-Fossés Abbey has left its mark on the history of the Île-de-France region. Renowned as a pilgrimage site, it reached its apogee in the Middle Ages, but declined after its secularization in the 17th century. After a series of vicissitudes and changes of ownership, the site became the largest municipal park, developed in the 1930s and 1980s. The Heritage Days are an opportunity to discover the history of these remains, explore the interior of the Rabelais Tower, and gain access to areas usually closed to the public. You can also immerse yourself in the heart of the medieval abbey thanks to an augmented reality experience!
Heritage Days 2024 at Parc de Saint-Maur station
In 1831, Jacques-François Adam acquired vast tracts of land in the center of the Marne loop. He developed the land, creating a veritable small town within the town, to which he gave his name: Adamville. By the end of the 19th century, this central district was home to the Saint-Maur-des-Fossés town hall.
The walk suggested by the CAUE du Val-de-Marne will enable you to (re)discover the old buildings typical of a town center, with the Avenue Charles de Gaulle, but also the elegant brick houses of the Place du Maréchal Juin, the Art Nouveau building of the Avenue Carnot or the very original Art Deco house of the Rue Rouget de l'Isle, for example. A lively neighborhood!
The tour will be guided by Gabrielle MATET, architect with the Conseil d'Architecture, d'Urbanisme et de l'Environnement du Val-de-Marne.
Heritage Days 2024 at the Varenne RER station
On this tour, the emphasis will be on the many Marne-side holiday homes in the area. The tour will also include inter-war housing estates and apartment blocks from the early 20th century.
Talented architects such as Bandin and Locqueville will be featured.
The tour will be guided by Anne-Marie Monier, architect with the Conseil d'Architecture, d'Urbanisme et de l'Environnement du Val-de-Marne.
Come and discover or rediscover, in the company of an architect from the CAUE, the holiday homes of the Varenne district that have made its reputation. But it's not just these grand villas from the late 19th century that make up the rich architectural heritage of this Saint-Maur district, as evidenced by the variety of subdivisions featuring pavilions from the interwar period and apartment buildings from the early 20th century. In fact, the first half of the last century was an important period of construction in the commune, resulting in a wide variety of architectural styles by talented architects such as Bandin and Locqueville.
Heritage Days 2024 at Saint-François-de-Sales church in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Discovering the stained glass windows of Saint-François-de-Sales church
Upon entering the church of Saint-François-de-Sales in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, visitors cannot help but be struck by the luminosity that floods the building.
They soon realize that it is the stained glass windows that allow an abundance of daylight to enter.
Not only do they let the sun's rays in, magnifying them, they are also windows onto exceptional lives, notably those of the saints who have succeeded one another down the ages.
We invite you to take a guided tour of the building's heritage, and in particular, to discover the history of its stained glass windows.
Heritage Days 2024 at the Saint-Maur-des-Fossés art studios
Built in 1932 at 5 ter avenue du Bac, the Bains-douches have had several subsequent lives. Since 1985, they have been home to the Ateliers d'Art de Saint-Maur, a cultural, friendly and intergenerational venue for discovering and perfecting the practice of music and the visual arts. Supported by the town of Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, the association welcomes 1,000 students in several artistic workshops, and also boasts a 250 m2 showroom.
On Saturday September 16, not only can you discover the former Bains-douches, but you can also take part in a plastic arts workshop led by the association's teachers: drawing, painting, sculpture, modeling, stone carving, lithography, engraving, photography...
The detailed program is available online at
Heritage Days 2024 at the Maison de la Nature in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
The town of Saint-Maur was transformed by Auguste Marin into a garden city, a legacy carefully cultivated by most of his successors. Last year, the town was awarded the 2 pattes label in recognition of its animal-friendly initiatives: nesting box, doggie park, insect hotel, cat house, earthworm release... Saint-Maur is a town that loves living things!
But plant life has not been forgotten. In addition to preserving the city's 18,000 street-lining trees and the green belt enshrined in the city's PLU, Saint-Maur has for several years been involved in major replanting campaigns, with the participation of schoolchildren, as on the banks of the Marne last year. Fruit trees have also been planted in squares. Come and discover the shared vegetable gardens inaugurated this year, and take advantage of the grain library to barter your seeds!
Activities will be on offer, as well as a treasure hunt to help you discover the area in a fun way, and leave with a small gift.
Journées du Patrimoine 2024 at the Villa Medicis, Maison des Arts et de la Culture in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France
As part of the Cultural Olympiad of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Ville de Saint-Maur-des-Fossés is presenting a composite exhibition evoking the many facets of Olympism.
Saint-Maur, terrain de Jeux retraces the history of sport in Saint-Maur, thanks to previously unpublished archive documents. From its sports facilities to its oldest clubs, the exhibition showcases our town's rich sporting heritage.
As a preamble, Saint-Maur, terre de sports presents portraits of the torchbearers and top-level Saint-Maur athletes who contribute to the influence of French sport. These athletes proudly wear Saint-Maur's colors on the international stage.
On the second floor, 130 years of official posters for the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, a Cultural Olympiad, bears witness to the evolution of the event over the centuries. The stylistic variations invite visitors to take a trip around the world, to the hospitable lands of the five continents.
Saint-Maur has always lived and breathed the Olympic and Paralympic values: friendship, equality, inspiration, respect, courage and, of course, excellence!
Heritage Days 2024 at the Germaine Tillion media library in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Guided tour of the reserves: come and discover the most beautiful bindings!
The media librarians offer you a creative workshop to discover paper-related skills.
Catastrophe! The catalog from the old stockroom has been mislaid. Come and explore the reserves with your family and help the librarians solve the mystery.
A Renaissance humanist who lived in Saint-Maur, Guillaume Budé was the inspiration behind some of France's most illustrious cultural institutions. Come and meet Luigi Sanchi and Romain Menini, authors of L'antiquité selon Guillaume Budé (forthcoming, published by Les Belles Lettres).
Heritage Days 2024 at the Place d'Armes in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
Let us guide you through the history of Saint-Maur-des-Fossés' oldest district! You'll discover the beautifully restored 12th-13th-century church dedicated to Saint Nicolas, as well as a number of 17th-century residences, remnants of the château and court of the Princes de Condé. There are also a few reminders of the town's past activities, from its picturesque farm to its modest shops, town hall, factory and boarding school. You can also follow the route of the annual Saint Maur procession!
The Journées du Patrimoine 2024 in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés: tour itineraries
The Schaken or "Bagaudes" district owes its first development to the Créteil ferry and the towpath crossing. The boats that travelled up the river were pulled by oxen or horses. They crossed the Marne at this point to get to the right bank, which was shorter and had no islands. Seven houses, inhabited by fishermen and farmers, form the hamlet of Port-Créteil, already mentioned on a Merovingian coin. They are grouped around a village square that still exists today. For centuries, the district was made up of numerous islands, all of which were attached to the mainland between the 18th century and 1940.
The district is named after one of Saint-Mauriens most important landowners: Pierre Schaken. After his death, the estate was subdivided into 130 lots by his daughter in 1882. Seven streets were opened, including Rue des îles, Rue de Joinville, Rue Jules Joffrin and Rue Pinet (now Politzer). This marked the end of the rural character of the area. The suggested itinerary provides an insight into the history of the district, recalling the former arms of the Marne that enclosed its islands, and observing the architecture of its houses, from the "remarkable building" protected by the PLU, to the modest "worker's house" or tenement building. The booklet also includes a treasure hunt for children.
Download the booklet at
The mulberry tree was planted in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés in the mid-19th century for silkworm rearing, in order to reduce imports of this precious fabric. Cultivation soon collapsed. A second attempt was made in the early 1860s... with the same failure. Urbanization of the area, begun by Caffin in 1859, was slow, however, and there were only around twenty "country houses" before the war of 1870. Subdivision proceeded slowly, and by 1921 there were still many woods and cultivated fields. It wasn't until the 1950s and 1960s that the fields and woods were gradually urbanized and the plots divided up. Let's take a stroll through a rectangle formed by the Marne River to the south, the railroad line to the east, Avenue de Bonneuil to the west and Avenue Denfert-Rochereau to the north.
The suggested itinerary allows us to understand the history of the neighborhood by observing the architecture of its houses, from the "remarkable building" protected by the PLU to the modest "economic house". The booklet also includes a treasure hunt for children.
Download the tour booklet at
The tour lasts approximately 2 hours.
Open to the general public.
The Champignol district is bounded to the south by avenue du Bac, to the west by boulevard de Champigny, to the east by avenue Didier and to the north by the Marne River. While the northern part of the district was rapidly subdivided (as early as 1881 for the space between the station and avenue de Verdun), the southern part was subdivided later. In 1864, this area was earmarked for factory construction, but found no takers. It was therefore subdivided after 1870, first in the triangle between avenue du Centenaire, avenue de Verdun and the RER line, then in the other sectors between 1885 and 1925. This is the part we invite you to discover. A neighborhood that was still very rural in 1921, but that welcomed many new residents in the inter-war years.
The suggested itinerary allows you to understand the history of the neighborhood by observing the architecture of its houses, from the "remarkable building" protected by the PLU, to the modest "economic house" or investment property. The booklet also includes a treasure hunt for children.
Download the booklet at
Heritage Days 2024 at the Saint-Maur-des-Fossés water plant
At the junction of Avenue de l'Observatoire and Quai du Parc, the water plant has long harnessed the Marne to redistribute drinking water to the city's residents.
Built in 1864 by the Compagnie des chemins de fer de l'Est, the plant was transferred to the city in 1890, but it wasn't until 1926 that the Service Municipal des Eaux took over the entire water operation autonomously. The plant was completely rebuilt in 1966. Capable of producing up to 48,000 m3 of drinking water, this water plant has always been at the cutting edge of innovation: water quality control using luminescent bacteria, truitometer, electrochlorination. These innovative processes were implemented during a series of modernizations.
In 2016, the transfer of responsibility for water treatment to the Paris Est Marne & Bois territory put an end to its activities. From now on, the City of Saint-Maur is committed to reconverting the plant into a space open to the public, a demonstrator of the sustainable city.
Dates and Opening Time
From September 21, 2024 to September 22, 2024
Location
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
94100 Saint-Maur-des-Fossés
94100 Saint Maur des Fosses
Official website
www.saint-maur.com
