Journées du Patrimoine à Belfort
The European Heritage Days in Belfort: Vauban citadel and architectural treasures
2026
About Journées du Patrimoine Belfort
Journées du Patrimoine Belfort — edition 2026
The 43rd edition of the European Heritage Days takes place in Belfort on Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20, 2026, under the themes "Photographic Heritage" and "Heritage in Peril: Revive, Resist, Reimagine." 34 events are scheduled across 24 sites: Vauban's citadel, Bartholdi's Lion, City Hall, the Prefecture, Saint-Christophe Cathedral, the Saint-Jean Temple, two mosques, the Orthodox church, municipal and departmental archives, the NATO fort at Salbert, and the musical guinguette at Fort Hatry.
2026 Edition
On September 19 and 20, 2026, Belfort opens 24 sites for the 43rd edition of the European Heritage Days. The Ministry of Culture has chosen two themes: "Photographic Heritage," for the bicentennial of photography, and "Heritage in Peril: Revive, Resist, Reimagine," the European theme of the year.
Photography at the two archive services
The Municipal Archives and the Departmental Archives are neighbors on rue de l'Ancien-Théâtre, and both are highlighting the photographic theme. The former will open their reserves on Saturday at 4:00 PM and 5:15 PM to showcase the city's photographic heritage. The latter will present a selection of their collections on Sunday afternoon, ranging from glass plates to family albums, covering the period from the 1870 siege to World War II.
Heritage in peril, across five sites
Five locations are linked to the European theme: the citadel, with "The Impregnable Citadel" and "800 Years of the Castle"; the NATO fort at Salbert; Fort Hatry, which houses the Rockhatry rehearsal rooms; the gardens of the Gérard-Jacot Art School, located in a former barracks backed by a Vauban fortification; and the Miotte vineyard, replanted in 2003.
Two first-time participants
The Miotte vineyard and the Mosquée du Mont, inaugurated in 2015, are opening for the first time for the Heritage Days.
Reservations
33 of the 34 events are free; 18 require mandatory registration. For the citadel, the History Museum, and City Hall: [email protected], +33 (0)3 84 54 25 51 or +33 (0)3 84 54 56 40. For guided tours by Belfort Tourisme: helloasso.com/associations/belfort-tourisme or +33 (0)3 84 55 90 90.
Highlights Journées du Patrimoine Belfort 2026
- Rockhatry Musical Guinguette at Fort Hatry: concerts, jam sessions, and the "30 Years of Riffs du Lion" exhibition, Saturday 2:00 PM–11:00 PM and Sunday 2:00 PM–7:00 PM
- Four traveling museum shows at the citadel: "Under Siege", "Butterfly Effect: The Citadel, Nature Version", "Vauban, an Engineer at the Service of the Sun King", and "To the Defenders of Belfort"
- NATO Fort at Salbert, France's first Cold War museum: 1.5-hour guided tour, both days
- The Municipal Archives open their reserves on Saturday at 4:00 PM and 5:15 PM, focusing on the city's photographic heritage
- Two organ concerts on Saturday: Francesco Addabbo at Saint-Christophe Cathedral (4:00 PM), Gabriel Wolfer at the Saint-Jean Temple (5:15 PM)
- First-time participation of the Miotte vineyard and the Mosquée du Mont
- Night sky session at the planetarium, Saturday at 8:00 PM
Programme Journées du Patrimoine Belfort 2026
Saturday, September 19, 2026
- 9:00 AM–12:00 PM and 2:00 PM–5:00 PM — Conservatoire du Grand Belfort Henri-Dutilleux, 1 rue Paul-Koepfler · concert at 3:00 PM featuring four works for violin and piano · free admission subject to availability · accessible to those with motor, hearing, visual, intellectual, and psychological disabilities
- 9:00 AM–12:00 PM and 2:00 PM–6:00 PM — Visit the Museum of Mechanography · Musée Bull, 5 rue Jacqueline-Auriol · working mechanography workshop (punching, translating, sorting, collating, and tabulating machines) and an exhibition on 150 years of telecommunications with the "Fil en Fibre" association · demonstrations at 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 4:00 PM · free admission
- 10:00 AM–12:00 PM and 2:00 PM–5:30 PM — "110th Anniversary of the Battle of Verdun and the Introduction of the Adrian Helmet" · Citadelle de Belfort · reenactment by the Mémoire du Lion association · free access
- 10:00 AM–12:30 PM and 1:30 PM–6:00 PM — Discover the Lion de Belfort · Lion de Belfort, Citadelle · self-guided tour · free admission
- 10:00 AM–12:30 PM and 1:30 PM–5:00 PM — Family workshop "On the Lion's Trail" · Musée d'Histoire, Citadelle · animal masks for the little ones, miniature Lion de Belfort for older children · free admission
- 10:00 AM–6:00 PM — Exhibition "Paper Wars, from Vauban to Séré de Rivières" · Bibliothèque Léon-Deubel, Forum des 4 As · the history of fortifications from the 16th to the 20th century through books · free admission
- 10:00 AM–12:00 PM — Exhibition "The Abolition of the Death Penalty: A Universal Struggle" · University Library, Faubourg des Ancêtres · guided tour by the Departmental Archives of the Territoire de Belfort and Amnesty International · free admission · exhibition on display until October 17, Monday to Friday 9:00 AM–7:00 PM and Saturday 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
- 10:00 AM–12:00 PM and 2:00 PM–5:00 PM — Tour 46, rue Bartholdi · exhibition by L'Imaginarium, a Belfort-based contemporary creation boutique-gallery, presented at Tour 46 from September 14 to 27, 2026 · self-guided tour
- 10:00 AM–1:00 PM and 3:00 PM–5:00 PM — Visit the Mosquée du Mont, 11 rue du Four à Chaux · guided tours and explanations on the faith and the construction of the building, inaugurated in 2015 · first participation in the Heritage Days · free admission
- 10:00 AM–11:15 AM and 3:00 PM–4:15 PM — "The Impregnable Citadel" · Cour d'Honneur, galleries, Grand Souterrain, powder magazine, bastions, Tour des Bourgeois, belvedere, and large panoramic terrace, with anecdotes from the Mémoire du Lion association · registration required · bring walking shoes and a flashlight
- 10:00 AM–5:30 PM — Visit the NATO Fort, Work G · Mont Salbert · air defense detection center built in 1953, 80 meters underground, France's first museum dedicated to the Cold War, with the A.T.O.M.E.S association · 1.5-hour guided tour, registration required · bring suitable clothing and footwear
- 11:00 AM–12:30 PM — "800 Years of the Castle" · Citadelle de Belfort · from the first deed in 1226 to the beginnings of the 16th century, knights, legends, and underground passages · registration required · bring walking shoes and a flashlight
- 1:30 PM–2:30 PM — Visit the City Hall, Place d'Armes · private mansion acquired in 1785, original facade and Salle Kléber, 1810 Salle d'Honneur and its five paintings · registration required
- 2:00 PM–11:00 PM — Rockhatry Musical Guinguette at Fort Hatry, rue du Fort Hatry · concerts by Rockhatry bands and the nearby conservatory, games and activities for children and adults, "30 Years of Riffs du Lion" exhibition, jam sessions, participatory musical creation, refreshments, food trucks, and fort tours by the La Caponnière association · free admission
- 2:00 PM–3:00 PM, 3:00 PM–4:00 PM, and 4:00 PM–5:00 PM — Guided tour of the Gérard-Jacot Art School gardens, 2 avenue de l'Espérance · 1,200 m² hanging garden in a former barracks backed by the Corne de l'Espérance, a fortification work from Vauban's 1687 plan · registration required, maximum 18 people per tour
- 2:00 PM–5:00 PM — Visit the Orthodox Church, rue du Berger · parish founded in 1927, frescoes and onion dome · self-guided tour, staff available to answer questions
- 2:00 PM–3:30 PM, 3:30 PM–5:00 PM, and 5:00 PM–6:30 PM — Visit the Prefecture of the Territoire de Belfort, Place de la République · building inaugurated in 1902, designed by architect De Fleury de la Hussinière · guided by Jean-Christophe Tamborini, Deputy Director of the Departmental Archives · registration required · access via the main courtyard, ID required, bag size maximum 21 x 29 cm
- 2:30 PM–5:15 PM — "The Old Town of Belfort, from the Middle Ages to the 19th Century" · outdoor discovery of the ramparts, streets, and iconic buildings · registration required, ages 10+
- 2:30 PM–4:00 PM — Traveling show "Under Siege" · Citadelle · following in the footsteps of Colonel Denfert-Rochereau and his men · registration required, ages 10+
- 2:30 PM–4:30 PM — Guided tour of the old town "Belfort Under the Magnifying Glass" · meeting point provided upon registration (Belfort Tourisme) · activity booklet, ages 7+ · registration required
- 3:00 PM–4:30 PM — Lecture "Towards Modern and Industrial Warfare: The Artillery Revolution (1852–1914)" by Christophe Pommier · Bibliothèque Léon-Deubel · free admission, ages 14+
- 3:00 PM–4:00 PM — Guided tour of the Miotte vineyards, 27 rue Édouard-Deshaie · a thousand vines of Pinot Gris, Pinot Auxerrois, and Chardonnay replanted in 2003, tasting at the end of the visit · first participation · registration required
- 4:00 PM–5:00 PM — Traveling show "Butterfly Effect: The Citadel, Nature Version" · Citadelle · the fortifications through their geology, fauna, and flora, in the company of Lucien Meyer, former museum curator · registration required, ages 10+
- 4:00 PM–5:00 PM and 5:15 PM–6:15 PM — Guided tour of the Municipal Archives, 2 rue de l'Ancien-Théâtre · exceptional opening of the reserves, focusing on the city's photographic heritage · registration required
- 4:00 PM–4:30 PM — Visit and organ concert at Saint-Christophe Cathedral, Place d'Armes · 1752 organ classified as a Historic Monument, one of the thirteen organs of the Ligne des Orgues Remarquables · concert by organist Francesco Addabbo, organized by the Amis de l'Orgue et de la Musique de Belfort · free admission
- 5:00 PM–6:00 PM — Traveling show "Vauban, an Engineer at the Service of the Sun King" · Citadelle · registration required, ages 10+
- 5:15 PM–5:45 PM — Visit and organ concert at the Saint-Jean Temple, 9 faubourg des Ancêtres · temple consecrated in 1877, 1984 Marc Garnier organ · concert by organist Gabriel Wolfer · free admission
- 8:00 PM–10:00 PM — Planetarium session: discovering remarkable night sky objects under the dome · Planetarium, rue Jean-Pierre-Melville · registration required ([email protected]) · accessible to those with motor, hearing, intellectual, and psychological disabilities
Sunday, September 20, 2026
- 9:00 AM–12:00 PM and 2:00 PM–6:00 PM — Visit the Museum of Mechanography · Musée Bull, 5 rue Jacqueline-Auriol · demonstrations at 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 4:00 PM · free admission
- 10:00 AM–12:00 PM and 2:00 PM–5:30 PM — "110th Anniversary of the Battle of Verdun and the Introduction of the Adrian Helmet" · Citadelle · Mémoire du Lion association · free access
- 10:00 AM–12:00 PM — "Bartholdi and the Lion, in Jeanne's Footsteps" · meeting point provided upon registration (Belfort Tourisme) · the guide portrays Jeanne, the sculptor's wife · ages 8+, registration required
- 10:00 AM–12:00 PM — Traveling guided tour "Crimes and Mysteries in Belfort (Part 2)" · Belfort Tourisme · following in the footsteps of Lucienne Vautrin, a freelance journalist for the newspaper La Frontière in the late 1930s · ages 16+, registration required
- 10:00 AM–12:30 PM and 1:30 PM–6:00 PM — Discover the Lion de Belfort · self-guided tour · free admission
- 10:00 AM–12:30 PM and 1:30 PM–5:00 PM — Family workshop "On the Lion's Trail" · Musée d'Histoire, Citadelle · free admission
- 10:00 AM–11:00 AM and 4:00 PM–5:00 PM — Traveling show "Butterfly Effect: The Citadel, Nature Version" · registration required, ages 10+
- 10:00 AM–12:00 PM and 2:00 PM–5:00 PM — Tour 46, rue Bartholdi · exhibition by L'Imaginarium · self-guided tour
- 10:00 AM–11:00 AM and 11:00 AM–12:00 PM — Visit the City Hall, Place d'Armes · registration required
- 10:00 AM–8:00 PM — Visit the Grand Mosque, 2 allée Garibaldi · continuous guided tours, sale of couscous and pastries, friendship tea offered at the cafeteria · free admission
- 10:00 AM–1:00 PM and 3:00 PM–5:00 PM — Visit the Mosquée du Mont, 11 rue du Four à Chaux · free admission
- 10:00 AM–5:00 PM — Visit the NATO Fort, Work G · Mont Salbert · 1.5-hour guided tour, registration required
- 10:30 AM–12:00 PM — "800 Years of the Castle" · Citadelle · registration required · bring walking shoes and a flashlight
- 11:00 AM–12:15 PM and 3:00 PM–4:15 PM — "The Impregnable Citadel" · registration required · bring walking shoes and a flashlight
- 11:00 AM–12:00 PM — Traveling show "To the Defenders of Belfort" · Musée d'Histoire, Citadelle · performed by Christian Waldner, featuring Colonel Denfert-Rochereau, Auguste Bartholdi, and Louis Lépine · registration required, ages 10+
- 11:00 AM–12:00 PM — Guided tour of the Miotte vineyards, 27 rue Édouard-Deshaie · tasting at the end of the visit · registration required
- 12:00 PM–6:00 PM — Visit the Orthodox Church, rue du Berger · self-guided tour
- 2:00 PM–7:00 PM — Rockhatry Musical Guinguette at Fort Hatry · concerts, games and activities, "30 Years of Riffs du Lion" exhibition, jam sessions, refreshments, food trucks, and fort tours by the La Caponnière association · free admission
- 2:30 PM–5:15 PM — "The Old Town of Belfort, from the Middle Ages to the 19th Century" · registration required, ages 10+
- 2:30 PM–4:00 PM — Traveling show "Under Siege" · Citadelle · registration required, ages 10+
- 2:30 PM–5:30 PM — Discovery tour of the Departmental Archives, 4 rue de l'Ancien-Théâtre · photographic collections from glass plates to family albums, from the 1870 siege to World War II, and a selection of documents covering 700 years of history · accessible to people with reduced mobility
- 3:00 PM–4:30 PM — Guided tour of Saint-Joseph Church, 7 rue Voltaire · church built on land purchased in 1882 by Father Louis Humbrecht · 1.5-hour tour, registration required
- 5:00 PM–6:00 PM — Traveling show "Vauban, an Engineer at the Service of the Sun King" · Citadelle · registration required, ages 10+
A total of 34 events across 24 sites and 73 time slots, as published by the organizers on the Ministry of Culture portal. 18 require mandatory registration.
Prices Journées du Patrimoine Belfort 2026
Practical information — Journées du Patrimoine Belfort
Practical Information
Main Venue
Citadelle de Belfort, Rue du 13e Régiment de Tirailleurs Sénégalais, 90000 Belfort. Tours are also available throughout the old town and at various monuments across Belfort.
Opening Hours
Saturday and Sunday of the 3rd weekend in September, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Each site sets its own specific hours, and some tours and performances require advance registration.
Getting There
By car: Belfort city center; access to the citadel is via the old town. Public parking is available throughout the city.
By public transport: Use the Optymo network to reach the city center.
Admission
Free entry for most tours. Performances require free advance booking.
Contact
Musées de Belfort: musees.belfort.fr — [email protected] — 03 84 54 25 51
Citadel and museum tour bookings: [email protected], 03 84 54 25 51 or 03 84 54 56 40
Belfort Tourisme: www.belfort-tourisme.com — 03 84 55 90 90
The Heritage Days in Belfort: two days of exceptional opening
Each year, during the third weekend of September, Belfort (90000) celebrates the European Heritage Days with an exceptional program that opens its most beautiful monuments and spaces, usually less accessible, to the public. These days, organized on a European scale, take on a special dimension in Belfort thanks to the rich heritage of this city with a unique historical destiny.
The Vauban Citadel, a jewel of world heritage
The highlight of the Heritage Days in Belfort is undoubtedly the Vauban Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage site as part of the Vauban fortifications. This masterpiece of 17th-century military architecture is unveiled during the Heritage weekend with expanded access and enriched tours:
- Free visit of the Cour d'Honneur, the galleries, and the Grand Souterrain
- Discovery of a powder magazine and the bastions
- Access to the Tour des Bourgeois
- Belvedere and large panoramic terrace with city views
- Itinerant shows by the museum team (by reservation)
Shows to liven up the monuments
The Belfort museum team offers original itinerant shows in and around the citadel, making history come alive and accessible to all. Visitors can attend:
- "En état de siège" — evocation of the historic siege of Belfort in 1870-71
- "Ça papillonne, la Citadelle version nature" — discovery of biodiversity within the fortifications
- "Vauban, an engineer at the service of the Sun King" — portrait of the famous military engineer
- "To the defenders of Belfort" — tribute to the heroes of the siege
These shows are offered on Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 PM, by reservation with the City Museums.
The Belfort History Museum
Housed in the citadel since 1872, the Belfort History Museum offers free and guided tours of its rich archaeological, historical, ethnological, artistic, and military collections during the Heritage Days. It is here that one understands how Belfort, the only city in Alsace not annexed by Germany after the war of 1870, became a territory in its own right.
The architectural heritage of the old town
The old town of Belfort holds remarkable architectural heritage: bourgeois private mansions, religious buildings, historic fountains, and a coherent urban ensemble from the 18th and 19th centuries. The Heritage Days are an opportunity to discover certain buildings normally closed to the public, thanks to thematic guided tours organized by Belfort Tourisme.
Where does it take place — Journées du Patrimoine Belfort
Journées du Patrimoine Belfort in brief
History of Journées du Patrimoine Belfort
Edition 2025 Sep 2025Other festivals near Belfort
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