Journées du Patrimoine d'Oloron
Discovery of the historical and cultural heritage of Oloron-Sainte-Marie
2026
About Journées du Patrimoine d'Oloron
Journées du Patrimoine d'Oloron — edition 2026
The European Heritage Days will take place in Oloron-Sainte-Marie on Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20, 2026, for the 43rd national edition. Fourteen free events are on the official program: the opening of the Tour de Grède and the Maison du patrimoine over both days, guided tours of the Église Sainte-Croix and the cathedral organ, two film screenings followed by discussions, and a musical tribute to Navarròt. Two of these events take place on Friday, September 18.
2026 Edition — September 19 and 20
The European Heritage Days return to Oloron-Sainte-Marie on Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20, 2026. The Ministry of Culture has set the theme for this 43rd edition around "Photography Heritage," in honor of the bicentenary of photography, and "Heritage in Peril: Reviving, Resisting, Reimagining." Friday, September 18, is reserved for school students as part of the "Levez les yeux !" initiative.
The Oloron program published on the ministry's official agenda includes fourteen free events. Several focus on threatened or lost heritage: the organs of the Église Sainte-Croix and the former seminary on Rue Adoue, dismantled in the 1960s; the Église Sainte-Lucie de Soeix, saved after part of its ceiling collapsed in 2017; and the gaves (mountain rivers) and their preservation, with the screening of "La Rivière" by D. Marchais. The memory of the Gurs camp is highlighted in two events: the exhibition of Julius Turner's watercolors at the Maison du patrimoine and the documentary by Pierre Vidal screened at the Auditorium Bedat.
The tours are provided by local associations: Trait d'Union for the Tour de Grède and the Maison du patrimoine, Oloron.Orgues, the Compagnie des Écharpes Blanches, Transmetem, Livres sans frontières, the Amicale du camp de Gurs, and the parish La Trinité-Oloron.
Highlights Journées du Patrimoine d'Oloron 2026
- Tour de Grède, open for the occasion: 14th-century tower with a 360° panorama from the top — Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM
- Watercolors and wash drawings by Julius Turner, a painter interned at the Gurs camp — Maison du patrimoine, Saturday and Sunday
- The Sainte-Croix district in the 16th century with the Compagnie des Écharpes Blanches, featuring black powder and fencing duels — Saturday 10:00 AM, Place Saint-Pierre
- Presentation of the Cathédrale Sainte-Marie organ by Oloron.Orgues — Saturday 3:00 PM
- Musical tribute to Navarròt by the association Transmetem — Saturday 5:00 PM, Salle du bel automne
- The Hispano-Moorish dome of the Église Sainte-Croix, with historian P.-L. Giannerini — Sunday 4:00 PM
Programme Journées du Patrimoine d'Oloron 2026
Friday, September 18, 2026 — Pre-weekend events
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM — Guided tour: Restoration and creation of stained glass in a preserved church · Église Sainte-Lucie de Soeix, rue Sainte-Lucie. Presentation of the restoration project for the two Mauméjean stained glass windows and the creation of a third, following the roof repairs in 2017 and interior restoration in 2022. Hosted by the association Sauvegarde de l'église de Soeix. Information: 05 59 39 54 19. Free.
- 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM — Screening: "Gurs, banalité du mal ?", a documentary by Pierre Vidal, followed by a discussion · Auditorium Bedat, rue des Gaves. Hosted by the association Terres de mémoires et de luttes. Information: [email protected] / 06 83 41 75 05. Free.
Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026 — Continuous openings
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM — Self-guided tour of the Tour de Grède · 50 rue Dalmais. Exceptional opening of this 14th-century tower, featuring a 360° panoramic view from the top. Hosted by the association Trait d'Union. Information: [email protected] / 06 08 26 63 03. Free.
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM — Self-guided tour of the Maison du patrimoine · 52 rue Dalmais. Archaeology, ethnography, paintings, and the Gurs camp museum. Hosted by the association Trait d'Union. Free.
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM — Exhibition of works by Julius Turner, a painter interned at the Gurs camp · Maison du patrimoine, 52 rue Dalmais. About forty watercolors and wash drawings created at the camp by this German painter. Hosted by the Amicale du camp de Gurs. Information: 06 84 32 96 45. Free.
Saturday, September 19, 2026
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM — Guided tour: "Discovering the Sainte-Croix district in the 16th century" · Departure from Place Saint-Pierre. Black powder and fencing duels with the Compagnie des Écharpes Blanches, set in the time of Queen Jeanne d'Albret. Information: Richard Lacazette, President, 06 24 57 40 11. Free.
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM — Self-guided tour of the Église Sainte-Croix · Place Menjoulet. An itinerary tracing the transformations of this Romanesque building: the first restoration criticized by Prosper Mérimée, the work of Abbé Menjoulet starting in 1852, and the 20th-century restoration. Hosted by the parish La Trinité-Oloron. Free.
- 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM — Presentation of the organ at the Cathédrale Sainte-Marie · Place de la Cathédrale. A guided tour on the history of the organ, the secrets of its construction, and its sound. Hosted by Oloron.Orgues. Information: [email protected]. Free.
- 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM — Guided tour: "Christian art: from darkness to light" · Maison du patrimoine, 52 rue Dalmais. An archaeological itinerary on the art of the early Christians, from the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean, guided by P.-L. Giannerini, the exhibition designer. Hosted by the association Trait d'Union. Free.
- 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM — Screening: "La Rivière" by D. Marchais, followed by a discussion with Philippe Garcia (DMA) · Auditorium Bedat, rue des Gaves. On the challenges of preserving the gaves (mountain rivers). Hosted by Livres sans frontières. Information: [email protected]. Free.
- 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM — Musical tribute: Navarròt, a free and committed Bearnese figure · Salle du bel automne, rue Sadi Carnot. The Oloron-based group performs songs by Navarròt, who wrote "Lo rei-petit" at age 21 and was a candidate for parliament in 1848. Audience participation is encouraged. Hosted by the association Transmetem. Information: 05 59 39 54 19. Free.
Sunday, September 20, 2026
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM — Guided tour: "Tracing the lost organs of Oloron" · Église Sainte-Croix, Place Menjoulet. Discover the organs of the Église Sainte-Croix and the former seminary on Rue Adoue, works by renowned builders that were dismantled in the 1960s. Hosted by the association Oloron.Orgues. Information: [email protected]. Free.
- 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM — Self-guided tour of the Chapelle Notre-Dame du Faget · 250 Cami dera Serre. Exceptional opening of this chapel with a bell-gable, built on a ridge with views of the Pyrenees. Information: 05 59 39 99 99 (press 3) / [email protected]. Free.
- 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM — Guided tour: "The Hispano-Moorish dome of the Église Sainte-Croix" · Place Menjoulet. Historian P.-L. Giannerini explores the origins of this dome, inspired by Muslim Andalusia or Christian Armenia. Hosted by the association Trait d'Union. Free.
Official program registered on the European Heritage Days agenda of the Ministry of Culture. Friday, September 18, is reserved for school groups as part of the "Levez les yeux !" initiative.
Prices Journées du Patrimoine d'Oloron 2026
Practical information — Journées du Patrimoine d'Oloron
Practical Information
Location
Sainte-Marie Cathedral, Maison du Patrimoine (52 rue Dalmais), Sainte-Croix church, and various historical sites, 64400 Oloron-Sainte-Marie.
Dates
Third weekend of September (Saturday and Sunday).
Times
From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. depending on the site.
Price
Free for all activities.
Contact
Mairie d'Oloron-Sainte-Marie: 05 59 39 99 99. Website: www.oloron-ste-marie.fr
Journées du Patrimoine d'Oloron: A Weekend to Discover Exceptional Heritage
Every third weekend of September, Oloron-Sainte-Marie opens wide the doors to its heritage for the European Heritage Days. A city of art and history nestled at the confluence of the Aspe and Ossau rivers, Oloron-Sainte-Marie boasts an exceptionally rich architectural, religious, and cultural heritage, which these days allow you to discover or rediscover.
Heritage Inscribed on the World Heritage List
The jewel of Oloron's heritage is the Sainte-Marie Cathedral, whose 12th-century Romanesque portal is a UNESCO World Heritage site as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela. The Heritage Days offer an opportunity for in-depth guided tours of this major monument, including the discovery of the historic organ, the cathedral's treasury, and the sacred relics known as "François Ier".
Unique Tours and Experiences
The program for the Journées du Patrimoine d'Oloron offers thematic guided tours: a route along the paths of Santiago de Compostela, a discovery of the Sainte-Croix medieval quarter, an exploration of the Maison du Patrimoine (52 rue Dalmais), and architectural walks along the rivers. Children's workshops, heritage escape games, and family tours make these days accessible to all audiences.
Sensory and Artistic Experiences
Beyond traditional tours, the Journées du Patrimoine d'Oloron innovates with artistic and sensory experiences. During the 2025 edition, a "banquet of scents" offered a unique olfactory experience on the cathedral's forecourt, inviting visitors to "taste the world through smell," with refined dishes and wines served in the form of fragrances. Concerts, readings, and screenings complete this original program.
Commitment to Heritage Valorization
The City of Oloron-Sainte-Marie works throughout the year to valorize its heritage through the Maison du Patrimoine, summer guided tours, and historical publications. The Journées du Patrimoine are the highlight of this heritage policy, bringing together residents and visitors to share the discovery of a common legacy.
Free and Accessible
All activities offered during the Journées du Patrimoine d'Oloron are free, in the spirit of the European Heritage Days. Only certain ancillary sports activities (such as rafting) are offered at a preferential rate. Registration for guided tours may be necessary due to limited spaces.
Where does it take place — Journées du Patrimoine d'Oloron
Journées du Patrimoine d'Oloron in brief
History of Journées du Patrimoine d'Oloron
Edition 2025 Sep 2025Other festivals near Oloron-Sainte-Marie
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