European Heritage Days

Heritage Days 2014: the top entertainment for children

The 31st edition of the European Heritage Days (EJP) will take place this year on the weekend of September 20 and 21. The new theme entitled “cultural heritage, natural heritage” invites families to discover the link between culture and nature in places where many historical monuments are located. The event of the EHD allows children to go to meet the national heritage located in magnificent natural spaces. All over France, families are invited to leave their usual territory to participate in a dense and culturally rich program. Hot-air balloon flight, underground circuits, river or pedestrian walks, awakening workshops, discovery of listed natural sites and unusual places, treasure hunts, visits to museums, prestigious castles, artists’ residences, in all, more than 1000 prestigious sites are open to the public, including 700 new or exceptional openings. Here is a selection of cultural places to discover with your tribe in the four corners of France. Follow the guide…

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    Château de Versailles

    For the EHDs, the castle, the Grandes Eaux and the Petit Parc remain chargeable, but visits to the Trianon, the Marquise de Pompadour estate and the Marie-Antoinette estate are free. It is an opportunity for children to immerse themselves in the history of France, other than through books.

    The Château also unveils its north wing, exceptionally and free of charge, from the garden level to the penthouses, including the refurbished XNUMXth century rooms.  

    Saturday and Sunday, free visits from 9 a.m. to 18 p.m.

    Don’t forget to go to “King’s vegetable garden”, to help your children discover a very fine example of a French garden. It was built between 1678 and 1683, by Jean – Baptiste La Quintinie, at the request of Louis XIV. Moreover, the fruits and vegetables produced on site are on sale at the shop.

    For the EHDs, a festival is organized, with dance and contemporary creations around the theme “landscape”.

    Saturday 10 a.m. to 20 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 18 p.m.

    Full price: 6,50 euros, reduced price: 3 euros, and free for children under 12

    Versailles (78)

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    Petit Palais, Museum of Fine Arts of the City of Paris

    The Petit Palais is entirely devoted to Art, since its origins. Built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900, it became a museum in 1902. Trapezoid-shaped, it is organized into four building sections, around a semi-circular garden bordered by a richly decorated peristyle. Its architect, Charles Girault, from the start wanted to make it a Palace in the glory of Paris and thus celebrate Art. For the EHDs, The Petit Palais offers discovery workshops for children.

    “Museum animals” : a storyteller invites children to devour stories full of bite about the small animals of the Petit Palais, in the museum’s interior garden. 

    “Hunting for animals with the family” : with the help of a plastic surgeon, the children will have to show observation to find the animals hidden in the part of the museum.

    Average duration: 30 minutes

    Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. and 17:30 p.m.

    Paris, 8e

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    National domain of Champs-sur-Marne

    Children have a date with Nanny Rose and her guided tours in the park, to discover the small and big stories of the castle at 11 a.m., 14 p.m. and 16:15 p.m., during the two days of the EHD.

    On Sunday, a circus show by Cie le Carré Curieux will delight young spectators, at 14:30 p.m. and 16:30 p.m.

    Champs-sur-Marne (77)

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    Museum of Letters and Manuscripts

    Less known to children, the Museum of Letters and Manuscripts offers introductory origami workshops. This art of folding paper is very common in Japan. Eriko and Min-yeong from the Origamix site will help the youngest to make piano, animals or postcards in multiple shapes, all in paper.

    Sunday September 21 from 15 p.m. to 30 p.m. and from 16 p.m. to 30 p.m.

    Paris, 7e

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    Rennes municipal archives

    Visit the archives of your city, it’s possible! Discover with your children a lot of secrets about the past of inhabitants, buildings, registers …

    On the occasion of the EHD, workshops for children are planned in the form of initiation:

    Introduction to genealogy: “My ancestors the Rennais”, the Saturday

    Introduction to paleography: “Deciphering ancient writings”, on Sunday

    Free

    Rennes (35)

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    Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine

    The City of Architecture and Heritage in Paris is the ideal place to discover the wealth of heritage. The children participate in a very original workshop where the urban art artist, Armelle Caron, proposes a map of Paris transformed into a giant puzzle of 3 wooden pieces. Young aspiring architects can create or redevelop the city of Paris as they wish!

    Saturday and Sunday from 14 p.m. to 18 p.m.

    Free access without reservation

    Paris, 16th

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    Vincennes castle

    Former home of the kings of France, the Château de Vincennes is one of the largest royal fortified castles in France. The building is designed as a real fortress, with a keep 50 meters high. Located near Paris, on the edge of the Bois de Vincennes, it organizes several guided tours for Heritage Days. Not to mention the traditional treasure hunt that children particularly like, organized on Sundays, from 14 p.m.

    Vincennes (94)

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    City tour: “Fifrelin, detective of the medieval city”

    When the discovery of heritage goes through play, it’s even better! Come and experience the “Fifrelin detective of the medieval city” game adventure with your family in the town of Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne. For two hours, you lead the investigation to save the life of the beautiful Claudon! The mission is simple: to change the course of history by traversing the city, in search of clues to find the weapon, and to seal it forever in stone. Thus, Claudon will love the knight Norbert and peace will return to the city.

    The adventure kit is on sale at the Tourist Office at a price of 10 euros.

    Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne (01)

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    Robert-Lynen Cinematheque

    This former film library has for a long time been intended to screen films for school audiences, in particular by organizing film clubs. It is located in a private mansion, a listed building, dating from the early 1920s. Located in the 17th arrondissement of Paris, the Cinémathèque can be visited especially during the EHDs. This year, a discovery workshop “Everyone in the lab” is offered to children, where they discover the secrets of photographic development with silver salts.

    Saturday and Sunday from 14:30 p.m. to 16:30 p.m.

    Paris, 17th

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    edifice Romain “barn”

    Come and visit the underground galleries dating from the 1st century BC with the family. This place was in fact a warehouse during Antiquity. Today it is a museum. To celebrate Heritage Days, children are invited to participate in games from Antiquity. You will find spaces specially designed for families with the team of the Fée Bistande and the pupils of Mme Curbilé (sixth archeology class) of the Victor Hugo college.

    Saturday from 15h to 18h

    Free

    Narbonne (11)

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    Russon Mill

    In the middle of the fields, the Moulin Russon, a building dating from the 17th century, has ceased all activity since 1911. It opens its doors to young audiences for the EHD with tailor-made workshops to discover life at the mill.

    “Crunch the mill” workshop : the painter Robert Lancman helps the children to make a sketch of the Russon mill. Saturday and Sunday from 14:30 p.m. to 17:30 p.m.

    Workshop “little miller” : handling of small mills and use of sieves to make flour. Saturday 14:30 p.m. to 18 p.m. and Sunday 13:30 p.m. to 18 p.m.

    Game “How much does my bag of wheat weigh?” “ : two sacks of wheat, one for adults, and one for children will be placed in front of the mill. The object of the game will be to guess the weight of each bag.

    Saturday from 14:30 p.m. to 18 p.m. and Sunday from 13:30 p.m. to 18 p.m.

    Bussy-Saint-Georges (77)

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    Regional Museum of Contemporary Art

    On the shores of the Mediterranean, the Regional Museum of Contemporary Art (MRAC) of Sérignan is a cultural hotspot. Housed in a former wine estate, it covers 2700 m². The different spaces offer a rich and diversified itinerary: a graphic arts cabinet, exhibition spaces, a video room, a lounge-library, and a bookshop-boutique.

    Children enter the world of modern art through the front door. They participate, for the occasion, in specific workshops, thanks to discovery booklets around the Rosson Crow exhibition and its collections.

    During the day on Saturday and Sunday

    Free

    Serignan (34)

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    Castle of Nemours

    The Castle of the Dukes of Nemours dates from the XNUMXth century, it was remodeled in the XNUMXth and then in the XNUMXth century. Then in the XNUMXth century, a committee of local artists decided to restore it in order to found a museum.

    On the EHD program: educational workshops “Archeo Castle” are planned for children. They discover archeology, with an introduction to excavation and survey-drawing. Saturday and Sunday 10:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 15:30 p.m., and 16:45 p.m.

    Another very original activity not to be missed with the family: a hot-air balloon flight to fly over the Bussy-Saint-Georges valley (free, bookable on 01 64 77 27 14), Saturday at 15 p.m. Breathtaking.

    Nemours (77)

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    The Regardin farm

    This rural adobe habitat (farm) from the beginning of the XNUMXth century includes a good number of specific architectural elements, and a large educational garden, with in particular local plants (edible, medicinal …), a vegetable garden (old vegetables) and an orchard. .

    A workshop for children is organized for the EHDs: “Biodiversity: raising awareness among future adults”. They participate in the outdoor installations, learning the steps to grow organic, and visit a scent trail …

    Saturday from 14 p.m. to 18 p.m. Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 14 p.m. to 18 p.m.

    Mottier (38)

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    Museum of Arts and Crafts

    On the occasion of the JEPs, the Paris Museum dedicated to the trades of today and the past organizes free guided tours and workshops on the theme of the environment for children. In the program : “When nature inspires” for 4-6 years old, “Nature gives rhythm to time” for 7-12 years old, “The paths of water” for 4-6 years old, “Water, what energy!” for 7-12 year olds, and “The natural photo” for 7-12 year olds.

    Registration required by reservation

    Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 am.

    Free

    Paris, 3th

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    Impressionism Museum

    The superb Giverny Museum is interested in the history of Impressionism, located near the valley of the Seine. For the Heritage Days, which this year make the link between culture and nature, families discover a bucolic place renowned throughout the world. Indeed, Claude Monnet’s house is located right next door, on the banks of the Seine, which inspired the painter. You can also visit the gardens of his house, a veritable flowered sanctuary.

    For the EHDs, children participate in workshop visits and sharpen their knowledge of the works of American impressionist painters. From a few paintings on display, they reinterpret a given theme and let their imagination run wild.

    Saturday: “The landscape in focus”

    Sunday: “Colors in madness”

    Reservation required on 02 32 51 93 99

    Free

    Giverny (27)

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    The Diodorum and La Ferme d’Ithe

    Former Cistercian barn, the farm of Ithe is built on the site of the largest Gallo-Roman city in the Paris region. On the occasion of the days devoted to cultural heritage, you can show your children around this ancient city with, on the program, very original workshops, such as the “ceramic workshop” to introduce children to pottery. They will love to put their hands in the earth and make different earthen objects. Saturday from 14 p.m. to 18 p.m. Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

    Also the workshop “discover the archaeological excavation” : in groups of 10 children, the animators provide them with an excavation tank in order to introduce them to archeology. Saturday from 14 p.m. to 18 p.m. Sunday between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.

    Registration required.

    Pontchartrain (78)

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    Blandy-les-Tours castle

    Located 10 km from Melun, the castle of Blandy-les-Tours is one of the last witnesses of medieval military architecture in Île-de-France. On the occasion of Heritage Days, families enjoy two shows and the entertainment of the Fanfare Jazz Combo Box. Another event for children, a circus show from the company Le Filet d’Air which mixes breathtaking choreography and acrobatics.

    Saturday and Sunday from 14 p.m. to 18 p.m.

    Free

    Blandy

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    Church of Sainte-Bernadette du Banlay

    And if you took your child to visit the church of Saint Bernadette du Banlay, with its modern and original architecture, in the countryside, near Nevers. They will be able to participate in a workshop to experience architecture from the Middle Ages to today. In the program : construction games, removable tactile models, etc …

    Saturday at 15 p.m.

    Free

    Nevers (58)

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    Tarascon Castle

    The René d’Anjou Arts Center at the Château de Tarascon organizes workshops specially designed for young audiences during the two days of the EHD. On the program: a treasure hunt for the whole family “Investigation in the castles”. Thanks to a booklet, parents and children must discover the secrets of the fortress and elucidate a murder. Another possibility for fashion enthusiasts, a workshop which presents a pseudo parade, collection… 1449! Families also find the temporary exhibition “Fashion and costumes from the XNUMXth to the XNUMXth century” with all the secrets of medieval fashion. Exciting.

    Saturday from 14:30 p.m. to 17 p.m.

    Free

    Tarascon (13)

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    City of Art and History

    The EHDs honor Blois, a city with a heritage steeped in history. Several activities are planned during the two days of the EHD. A great treasure hunt original awaits children in the streets. Entitled “Peupeur sur la viville”, it in fact takes up the theme of a famous comic strip of the same name, which pays homage to the urban heritage of the city of Blois from the Middle Ages to the 14th century. Sunday: 17 p.m.-XNUMX p.m.

    Then, a street show “Arbor Serpentis” tells the story of Louis XII and the garden of the castle of Blois. The children discover a strange adventure in the garden, where a miraculous tree from the Orient bears a formidable story… Performed by the Cie de l’Intruse as part of the exhibition “Jardins de châteaux à la Renaissance »Of the royal castle of Blois. Duration: 1h30. Saturday: 18 p.m.

    Finally, a demonstration workshop welcomes children to help them discover the craft of stonemasonry. On site, the Guèble company, specialist in the restoration of historical monuments, will demonstrate its know-how to young audiences. Impressive. Saturday-Sunday: 10 am-18pm.

    Free

    Blois (41)

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    Asnapio, archaeological park

    Direction the North of France, in the heart of the Héron park, on the archaeological site Asnapio. Families discover the rural habitat of the regions, from the Paleolithic to the Middle Ages. All the houses present have been reconstructed according to the techniques of the time and correspond to sites where archaeologists work.

    Children can attend storytelling workshops, taste flaxseed breads and discover flax-based cosmetic products. Other appointment: archaeological excavation workshops are proposed to discover constructions in mud or ceramic of the time.

    Saturday and Sunday from 14 a.m. to 17 p.m.

    Free

    Villeneuve-d’Ascq (59)

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