European Heritage Days
Festival in Ille-et-Vilaine
About European Heritage Days
The European Heritage Days in Ille-et-Vilaine open their doors every year, on the third weekend of September, to dozens of monuments, museums, and historical sites in the department. In Rennes and its surroundings, the event offers guided tours, exhibitions, and activities to discover the architectural, cultural, and natural heritage of the region, most often free of charge.
The European Heritage Days in Ille-et-Vilaine
A national and European cultural event, the European Heritage Days are held every year on the third weekend of September. In Rennes, in Ille-et-Vilaine (Brittany), as everywhere in France, they invite the public to discover for free a heritage often inaccessible the rest of the year: monuments, private mansions, public buildings, gardens, places of power, and natural sites.
An event to discover
Each edition offers a rich and varied program — guided tours, exhibitions, workshops, demonstrations of savoir-faire, conferences, and shows — inviting moments of sharing and discovery. The event contributes to the cultural dynamism and attractiveness of the Ille-et-Vilaine territory, in Rennes but also in Saint-Malo, Vitré, Fougères, and many municipalities in the department.
Information and program
To find out the detailed program and participation procedures (some visits require reservation), consult the official European Heritage Days portal or local tourist offices as the event approaches.
European Heritage Days — edition 2026
2026 edition of the European Heritage Days (43rd national edition) in Ille-et-Vilaine, on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026. In Rennes and throughout the department, dozens of monuments, museums, private mansions, gardens, and places usually closed open their doors to the public, most often free of charge.
European Heritage Days 2026 in Ille-et-Vilaine
The 43rd edition of the European Heritage Days takes place on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026 (with, on Friday, September 18, a preview day reserved for schoolchildren). In Ille-et-Vilaine, the event unfolds in Rennes and the rest of the department: guided tours, exhibitions, workshops, demonstrations of expertise, conferences, and shows allow visitors to discover the architectural, cultural, and natural heritage of the territory.
The 2026 themes
The Ministry of Culture has chosen two themes for this edition: “Heritage of Photography” and “Heritage in Danger: Revive, Resist, Reimagine”. Many sites in the region explore these guiding principles through their programming.
Program
The detailed program of open sites and activities in Ille-et-Vilaine has not yet been published as of this verification (May 2026). It will be released closer to the event on the official European Heritage Days portal and at local tourist offices.
Highlights European Heritage Days 2026
- 43rd national edition, September 19 and 20, 2026
- 2026 Themes: Heritage of Photography / Heritage in Danger
- Opening of monuments and sites in Ille-et-Vilaine, access most often free
- Guided tours, exhibitions, workshops, and demonstrations of expertise
Prices European Heritage Days 2026
Practical information — European Heritage Days
Practical information
Location
Rennes (35000) and the whole of Ille-et-Vilaine. Many sites also participate in Saint-Malo, Vitré, Fougères, and in the municipalities of the department.
Access
Access to the sites is spread throughout the city and the department. Details of open locations are specified each year in the official program.
Prices
Free access for the vast majority of sites and activities. Some visits or workshops may require prior reservation.
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