European Heritage Days in Haute-Loire
Discover the heritage treasures of Puy-en-Velay and Haute-Loire for an exceptional weekend
2026
About JEP Haute-Loire
JEP Haute-Loire — edition 2026
The 43rd European Heritage Days will take place on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September 2026. The Ministry of Culture has chosen two themes: "Heritage of Photography," marking 200 years of photography, and "Heritage in Peril: Revive, Resist, Reimagine," chosen at the European level. In Haute-Loire, 25 sites across 22 municipalities are registered on the ministry's portal as of mid-August: the castles of Domeyrat, Saint-Romain, Figon, and Chavaniac-Lafayette, the Abbaye de Lavaudieu, the Écomusée du Pays d'Auzon, the Musée des Manufactures de Dentelles in Retournac, the Musée de la Faulx, and the Domaine du Sauvage in Chanaleilles. In Le Puy-en-Velay, only the Centre hospitalier Émile-Roux is currently on the program: the city's route has not yet been published.
43rd edition — photography and heritage in peril
European Heritage Days return on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September 2026 for their 43rd edition. The Ministry of Culture has selected two themes: "Heritage of Photography," marking 200 years of photography, and "Heritage in Peril: Revive, Resist, Reimagine," a European theme dedicated to the fragility of heritage and ways to pass it on.
Heritage in peril, the theme for several sites in the department
The Château de Domeyrat, a classified historical monument standing above the Senouire valley for eight centuries, is dedicating its tours to the building's vulnerabilities, the emergency work already carried out, and the final preliminary project preceding restoration. In Chaniat, the Église Sainte-Foy de La Brousse tells the story of the initiative launched to save it. In Saint-Julien-Molhesabate, the Maison du Suc is screening two films, one on the customs of the past and another on the Haute-Loire patois. The National Botanical Conservatory of the Massif Central in Chavaniac-Lafayette applies the theme to living heritage by opening its seed bank of rare and threatened plants.
25 sites registered by mid-August
As of August 16, 2026, the ministry's portal lists 25 sites in 22 municipalities of Haute-Loire: the castles of Figon, Saint-Romain, Durianne, and Laroche, the museums of Retournac, Pont-Salomon, and Auzon, the Abbaye de Lavaudieu, the Distillerie Pagès, the Velay Express, the organ of Riotord, the Flemish paintings of Montfaucon-en-Velay, and the Domaine du Sauvage in Chanaleilles. Organizers are registering until the opening: the list is still growing.
In Le Puy-en-Velay
The city has not yet published its route. Only the Centre hospitalier Émile-Roux is registered on the national portal, with tours of its chapel, gallery network, and handwritten registers. The program for the Pays d'art et d'histoire and the Musée Crozatier will be published on musee.patrimoine.lepuyenvelay.fr, and the site-by-site program for the department on journeesdupatrimoine.culture.gouv.fr.
Highlights JEP Haute-Loire 2026
- 43rd edition, Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September 2026
- National theme: "Heritage of Photography," for the bicentenary of photography
- European theme: "Heritage in Peril: Revive, Resist, Reimagine"
- 25 sites registered in Haute-Loire, across 22 municipalities, as of August 16, 2026
- Château de Domeyrat and Église Sainte-Foy de La Brousse in Chaniat: two conservation projects open to the public
- Château Lafayette in Chavaniac: "Lafayette, the American Adventure (1776-1781)" exhibition and its Playmobil version
- Openings starting Friday 18th: Château de Durianne, Distillerie Pagès, and Domaine du Sauvage
- Free admission to almost all sites, several tours require booking with limited capacity
Programme JEP Haute-Loire 2026
Here are the 25 sites in Haute-Loire registered on the Ministry of Culture's portal as of August 16, 2026, spread across 22 municipalities. Registration remains open until the event, so the list continues to grow. The program for Le Puy-en-Velay itself has not yet been published.
Allègre — Les Amis d'Allègre, place de l'Église
- Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th, 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM — "The Siege of Allègre on August 8, 1593, and its Era": an exhibition in the former carriage garage of the Hôtel du Bailli, preceded by a presentation in a Louis XIV-era building currently under restoration · 30 min · 20 people max, booking required at 06 74 75 59 65 · free visit, meal €20 all-inclusive
Auzon — Écomusée du Pays d'Auzon, 3 Le Pavé
- Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM and 2:00 PM-6:00 PM — Discover the heritage of the Pays d'Auzon in the medieval village: objects, tools, and stories about local trades and crafts, the school, agriculture, and mining activities, accompanied by association volunteers
Bournoncle-Saint-Pierre
- Friday 18th — Discover biodiversity around the chapel and the Château de Laroche: a guided walk on local flora and fauna, starting at the communal oven · 30 people · 06 37 50 84 35 · please note the time discrepancy between the official listing (7:00 PM-10:00 PM) and the description (meeting at 3:00 PM)
- Saturday 19th, 3:00 PM-5:00 PM — Château de Laroche, rue du château: presentation of the historical heritage of the chapel and castle site
Brioude — Le Doyenné, modern and contemporary art space, 2 place Lafayette
- Saturday 19th, 6:00 PM-7:30 PM — Guided tour of the exhibition "Henri Matisse and the Adventure of Fabric" (6:00 PM-6:30 PM), followed by a life drawing class "Modèle danse" led by Lilas Pham from Atelier Cornucopia (6:30 PM-7:30 PM) · beginners to experienced, bring a sketchbook and pencils · 15 people · €25 · 04 71 74 51 34
Chanaleilles — Domaine du Sauvage
- Friday 18th, Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th, 8:00 AM-8:00 PM — Photo exhibition "Journey to the Heart of the Massif Central's Natural Meadows": 34 shots by the National Botanical Conservatory of the Massif Central and the Department showcasing pastoral landscapes, farming practices, and conservation efforts · free access on the south barn side · free
- Saturday 19th, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM — Guided tour "Secrets of Stone and Timber: The Story of the Ferme du Sauvage": barns, stables, charnel house, manure pit, mill, the north barn roof renovation project, and measures taken for swallows, swifts, bats, and amphibians · 2h · 25 people, booking required at 04 71 07 40 77 or [email protected] · free · wheelchair accessible with joëlette on request
- Saturday 19th, 2:00 PM-4:00 PM — Guided tour "Tasting the Landscape: Discovering the Meadows of the Domaine du Sauvage," with Charlie Braesch, nature guide and ethnobotany trainer: reading the pastoral landscape, iconic plant species, uses of wild plants, and tasting of plant-based preparations · easy walking tour, hiking shoes required · 2h · 25 people, booking required · free · lunch available on-site by booking with Auberge du Sauvage at 04 71 74 40 30
Chaniat — Église Sainte-Foy de La Brousse
- Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th, 11:30 AM-6:00 PM — "Adventure! The Initiative to Save a Church in Peril": history of the building, discovery of the site, and the mechanics of its restoration · outdoor meeting · free, by reservation
Chavaniac-Lafayette
- Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM — Château Lafayette – Manoir des Deux Mondes: exhibition "Lafayette, the American Adventure (1776-1781)," focusing on the Marquis's commitment at age 19 alongside American insurgents, his role in the War of Independence, and his circle, accompanied by a Playmobil exhibition recreating scenes from his life
- Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th, 4:00 PM-5:00 PM — Guided tour of the "Lafayette, the American Adventure" exhibition · limited spots · 04 71 77 50 32
- Saturday 19th, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM — Micro-Folie: digital museum with free access, masterpieces from partner institutions projected on a large screen and available on tablets
- Saturday 19th, 2:30 PM-3:45 PM · Sunday 20th, 11:00 AM-12:45 PM and 2:30 PM-3:45 PM — Guided tours of the castle and its successive owners · limited spots · food truck on-site · 04 71 77 50 32
- Sunday 20th, 2:30 PM-5:00 PM — National Botanical Conservatory of the Massif Central, in the village: garden tour (lawns, meadows, heaths, forest environments, and wetlands) and "Adventurous Seeds" activity on seed dispersal with the CBNMC seed bank · meet at the entrance · 20 people, booking required at cbnmc.fr/agenda · free · cancelled if fewer than 5 participants or in case of bad weather
Domeyrat — Château de Domeyrat
- Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th, 2:30 PM-4:30 PM — "Heritage in Peril: Restoring the Château de Domeyrat": history of the monument since its founding to its 15th-century reconstruction by Jean de Langeac, advisor to Charles VII, architecture and defensive system, followed by the building's vulnerabilities, emergency work carried out, and the final restoration project guidelines · free, no booking required · sturdy shoes recommended
Freycenet-la-Cuche — Maison forte
- Saturday 19th, 2:00 PM, 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM — Guided tour: vaulted ground floor room in volcanic breccia, monumental trachyte fireplace on the first floor, high-altitude garden at 1,200m with 100 aromatic plants · 45 min · 15 people, registration required at [email protected]
Lavaudieu — Abbaye de Lavaudieu, Le Bourg
- Sunday 20th, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM — Visit to the abbatial residence, the private part of the abbey: old kitchen, woodwork, French-style ceilings, parquet floors with Aramberg motifs, Cardinal's chamber, cloister seen from the upper gallery, and hanging gardens above the Senouire · group limited to 10 people · 06 73 98 80 09
- Saturday 19th, 2:30 PM-5:00 PM · Sunday 20th, 10:00 AM-12:30 PM and 2:30 PM-5:00 PM — Discover the Lavaudieu aqueduct to Brioude: short lecture (technical data, history, instructions) followed by a walk on the first 3km cleared by volunteers over the last four years, 6km round trip on flat terrain, naturalist guide · 20 people · not recommended for very young children, some sections have steep drops
Le Chambon-sur-Lignon — Maison des Bretchs
- Saturday 19th, 5:00 PM-6:30 PM — "Reading Collections Through the Lens of History: Provenance Research in Auvergne," a lecture by Déborah Fest-Kindler, provenance researcher, on her mission in Auvergne museums
Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille — Aponia, 67 rue Saint-Pierre
- Saturday 19th, 5:00 PM-9:00 PM · Sunday 20th, 3:00 PM-6:00 PM — "Ghost Train": art and design pieces created by 4th-year Master ACDC_spaces students from the École supérieure de design, during a workshop at Aponia, focusing on the Transcévenole. Voted for in 1907, this line was intended to connect Le Puy-en-Velay to Lalevade-d'Ardèche; viaducts, tunnels, platforms, and stations were built, but the project was abandoned in 1937 and the rails were never laid
Le Monteil — Château de Durianne
- Friday 18th, 2:00 PM-4:00 PM — Heritage stroll: meet at 2:00 PM at Place de Durianne for a guided walk through the hamlet (history, architecture, landscape), followed by the castle exterior and some rooms, including the 15th-century vaulted dining room and the Bird of Paradise salon, with members of the association Les Amis du château de Durianne · from 4:00 PM, free discussion with volunteers and owners
Le Puy-en-Velay — Centre hospitalier Émile-Roux, 12 boulevard du Docteur-André-Chantemesse
- Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th, 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM — Guided tour of the hospital's heritage: the chapel, the network of galleries, and handwritten registers · 1h
Montfaucon-en-Velay — Chapelle Notre-Dame
- Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th, 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM — Guided tour by Jean-Claude Saby of the 12 Flemish paintings from the late 16th century, classified as historical monuments in 1914, illustrating Christ's teachings in the daily life of Flanders · 1h · free
Pont-Salomon — Musée de la Faulx, rue des Martinets
- Saturday 19th, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM — Open house at the Foultier site: valley model, introductory film, and workshop, free self-guided tour. The full factory tour with tablets remains available under standard conditions · site accessible to those with motor, hearing, intellectual, and psychological disabilities
Raucoules
- Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th, 12:00 PM-6:00 PM — Château and park of Figon, 890 route des Mazeaux: self-guided park tour, including the monumental gate, the ash tree alley, the "Salle d'Arbres" planted with oaks and beeches, some four hundred years old, the French-style vegetable garden around its circular basin, the Louis XVI colonnade, granite rocks, and two ponds · free · picnics allowed, pets on a leash · may close without notice in case of storms or strong winds
- Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th, 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM — Figon: guided tour "History of Figon and its Park," its three successive castles, the social role of the "Salle d'Arbres," and the English-style garden layout, from the Valois era to the Romantic period · 1h, including 45 min of walking on flat ground · meet on the castle terrace
- Saturday 19th, 9:30 AM-5:00 PM — Velay Express, Oumey station: "Behind the Scenes of the Train," visit the workshops and locomotives with the volunteers who maintain them · departures every hour from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM · 30 people per group
Retournac — Musée des Manufactures de Dentelles, 14 avenue de la Gare
- Saturday 19th, 2:00 PM-6:00 PM — "Lace as a Source of Inspiration": when fashion meets lace, perspectives from CAP Fashion Trades students from the Ateliers MOF · 04 71 59 41 63
Riotord — Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste, côte du Fraisse
- Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th, 3:00 PM-6:00 PM — Discover the organ installed in 2016, with its 27 stops, 2 manuals, pedalboard, and original case, in the company of Paul-Dominique Gagnaire, the organ builder who created it: instrument features, the story of its construction, and musical demonstration · free admission
Saint-Germain-Laprade — Distillerie Pagès, 202 avenue René-Descartes
- Friday 18th, 2:30 PM · Sunday 20th, 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM — Guided tour of the Verveine du Velay distillery: from the lemon verbena field to the stills, from oak barrels to tasting, 160 years of history · 45 min · complimentary tasting at the end of the tour, syrups for minors, free access to the shop · booking required, 50 spots per slot · 04 71 03 04 11 or [email protected]
Saint-Julien-Molhesabate — Maison du Suc
- Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th, 4:00 PM-5:30 PM — Two screenings on the theme "Heritage in Peril": one film on the customs and traditions of our grandparents' time, a second on the Haute-Loire patois, a language passed down at home then erased by school, based on testimonies from elders collected by IEO 63 filmmakers · free admission
Saint-Romain-Lachalm — Château de Saint-Romain, 7 route du château
- Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th, 10:30 AM, 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM — Guided tour of the park and castle by the owner: 12th-century building expanded in the 13th, 16th, 18th, and 19th centuries, castle, park, and several interior rooms listed as ISMH, never sold and inhabited continuously for over 800 years · 20 people per tour, booking required at [email protected] · free · a second listing for the same castle announces the first tour at 10:00 AM
Prices JEP Haute-Loire 2026
Practical information — JEP Haute-Loire
Practical Information
Dates
The European Heritage Days take place annually on the third weekend of September, spanning both Saturday and Sunday. In Haute-Loire, some sites also open their doors on Friday.
Getting to Le Puy-en-Velay
By car: Take the N88 from Saint-Étienne (1h15) or Lyon (2h), or the A75 followed by the N102 from Clermont-Ferrand (2h). Parking is available in the city center and around the old town.
By train: The Le Puy-en-Velay SNCF station is served by trains from Lyon via Saint-Étienne and from Clermont-Ferrand. It is about a ten-minute walk from the historic center.
By bus: Use the TUDIP urban transport network.
Admission
Admission is free at almost all participating sites. Some events may have a fee, and many guided tours require advance booking due to limited capacity.
Program
The site-by-site program is published at journeesdupatrimoine.culture.gouv.fr, where organizers list their activities leading up to the event. For Le Puy-en-Velay and the 72 surrounding municipalities, the Pays d'art et d'histoire and the Musée Crozatier publish their own program at musee.patrimoine.lepuyenvelay.fr.
Accessibility
Accessibility varies from site to site. The national portal indicates which disabilities are accommodated for each activity. Please check with each venue directly before visiting.
Contact
Le Puy-en-Velay Tourist Office: place du Breuil, 43000 Le Puy-en-Velay, 04 71 09 38 41. In September, it is open Monday to Friday from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM to 6:00 PM, and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM.
Musée Crozatier – Pays d'art et d'histoire: 04 71 06 62 40.
The European Heritage Days in Haute-Loire: an unmissable event
Created in 1984 on the initiative of the Ministry of Culture under the name "Open House Days of Historic Monuments," the European Heritage Days have become a major event at national and European level. In Haute-Loire, they offer every year the opportunity to (re)discover a territory of exceptional heritage richness, at the crossroads of Romanesque, Gothic, and volcanic influences.
Le Puy-en-Velay, heritage jewel of Haute-Loire
Starting point of the Way of Saint James of Compostela (Via Podiensis), Le Puy-en-Velay boasts remarkable architectural and historical heritage. The Notre-Dame du Puy Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1998 as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France, overlooks the city from its volcanic peak. Its 11th-12th century Romanesque cloister, one of the most beautiful Romanesque ensembles in Europe, is exceptionally open for free during the JEP, offering visitors the discovery of its polychrome galleries, the chapter house, and the lower room of the Machicoulis building.
Iconic sites open during the JEP
The Crozatier Museum, located in the Henri Vinay garden, opens its doors for free and unveils its varied collections spread across four galleries: history, fine arts, lace, and science and technology. The permanent exhibition retraces the history of Velay and presents a unique collection of lace from Le Puy, a craft inscribed in intangible cultural heritage.
The Prefecture of Haute-Loire offers exceptional guided tours to discover this official state building, its history, its architecture, its official lounges, and its gardens. The Hôtel-Dieu, a medieval building from the 12th century also inscribed on the UNESCO list, the National Workshop-Conservatory of Lace of Le Puy-en-Velay, and the 16th-century Chapel of the Penitents, a true museum of local paintings, complete this exceptional heritage tour.
Beyond Le Puy-en-Velay: Haute-Loire celebrates
The JEP extend throughout the department: castles, Romanesque churches, chapels, museums, archaeological sites, and historic residences open their doors in many towns. From Brioude and its Saint-Julien Basilica to the character villages of Velay and Brivadois, and La Chaise-Dieu and its abbey, Haute-Loire reveals its hidden treasures through guided tours, organ concerts, exhibitions, and conferences.
Activities for all audiences
True to their mission of cultural democratization, the JEP offer a varied and accessible program for everyone: guided and commented tours by heritage guides from the Pays d'art et d'histoire, educational workshops for families (children's workshops, heritage escape games, treasure hunts), temporary exhibitions, demonstrations of artisanal know-how such as bobbin lace, and live performances. Admission is free in almost all participating sites, in accordance with the founding spirit of this national event.
Where does it take place — JEP Haute-Loire
JEP Haute-Loire in brief
Other festivals near Le Puy-en-Velay
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