Journées du Patrimoine 2024 at La Chapelle Expiatoire in Paris: the program

It's an event synonymous with good deals and great discoveries. In September, as if to console Parisians for the economic downturn, the Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days ) brighten up the end of summer with a hot new concept. Just imagine, over the course of a weekend, the finest treasures of our heritage open their doors to you, with a program of events, visits and workshops for young and old, often free of charge. Of course, cultural establishments such as museums and monuments will be taking part, but not only! Places that are usually closed to the public can also be the focus of exceptional tours.

While the capital's most famous landmarks lend themselves to the game, the Journées du Patrimoine are also an opportunity to get to know Paris like the back of your hand, or almost, by discovering its secrets and little-known heritage. Located in the heart of a square in the capital's 8th arrondissement, La Chapelle Expiatoire is one of these hidden treasures, whose existence is hard to guess from the street.

• To be read
• Tips for the week of December 30, 2024 - January 5, 2025 in Paris: free or cheap outings

And yet this historic monument is linked to one of the most significant events in French history. Built on the site of the former Madeleine cemetery, this chapel, commissioned by Louis XVIII, commemorates his brother, King Louis XVI, who, like his wife Marie-Antoinette, was executed during the French Revolution. Today, it regularly hosts temporary exhibitions.

To discover this important part of French history, take advantage of the next edition of the Journées du Patrimoine, organized on September 21 and 22, 2024.

The 2024 Heritage Days program at La Chapelle Expiatoire

• Visit the Chapelle expiatoire
  September 21 and 22
  

  The Chapelle expiatoire, a memorial monument
  The Chapelle expiatoire was built in 1816 to serve as a memorial. For Louis XVIII, the edifice was intended to reaffirm the authority of the monarchical principle and recall the sin of Louis XVI's death. Architect Léonard Fontaine was commissioned to carry out the work. Neoclassical in inspiration, and strongly influenced by the Romantic spirit, the Chapelle expiatoire was completed in 1826.