European Heritage Days in Les Plus Beaux Villages de France

Over 100 villages to explore during European Heritage Days

On 19 and 20 September 2026, the European Heritage Days return across France with a packed programme of tours, exhibitions, talks and special openings. Every year, over a hundred of France’s Most Beautiful Villages take part in this unmissable event and invite visitors to discover remarkable heritage in an authentic setting.

This 43rd edition highlights two major themes: ‘Photographic Heritage’, to mark the Bicentenary of Photography, and ‘Heritage in Peril: Revive, Resist, Reimagine’, dedicated to the preservation and transmission of endangered heritage. These themes resonate particularly strongly in our villages, where monuments, landscapes, traditional skills and local memory tell the story of the regions.

On the programme: exhibitions of historical photographs, heritage trails, guided tours, insights into restoration projects, demonstrations of traditional skills, meetings with heritage enthusiasts and access to sites usually closed to the public.

Whether you’re a history buff, a photography enthusiast, keen to go behind the scenes of a restoration project, or simply looking for a cultural family outing, Les Plus Beaux Villages de France offers unique experiences throughout the weekend.

See below for our selection of highlights from the events organised across the network, and check the interactive map to discover the full programme of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France events near you.

From Friday 19 to Sunday 21 September, make the most of these lovely late-summer days to explore famous, unusual or exceptionally open buildings as part of the European Heritage Days®! A wide range of tours and activities – often free of charge – are on offer during this special weekend!

After browsing our selection of 10 events, check out our interactive map to see all the participating villages and sites.

---

What’s on for European Heritage Days®? Our selection of 10 events in the Most Beautiful Villages of France.

1. Belcastel (Aveyron) – When photography tells the story of a village’s rebirth

Exhibition: ‘Fernand Pouillon and Belcastel Castle’

Through a selection of previously unseen photographs, discover the incredible revival of Belcastel and its château, spearheaded by the architect Fernand Pouillon. A journey through time that allows you to appreciate the progress made in saving one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France.

Why not make sure you don’t miss this exhibition?

It perfectly illustrates this year’s two themes: photography and heritage at risk.

2. Flavigny-sur-Ozerain (Côte-d’Or) – Archives and photographs of a heritage site under threat

La Maison du Tisserand by Algranate

Photographs, archives and personal mementoes trace the life of a Burgundian weaver whose expertise was renowned far beyond the region. A moving journey into the history of a craft that is now under threat.

The highlight:

An event that brings together photographic heritage and the passing on of traditional skills.

3. Conques (Aveyron) – The village from past to present in pictures

Guided tour: ‘Conques: Then and Now’

How has one of France’s most famous villages changed over the decades? This tour uses old photographs to reveal the transformations in the townscape and local life.

Discover:

A unique perspective on the village’s history through photography.

4. La Garde-Adhémar (Drôme) – When photography reveals our heritage

Yves Muller, photography and heritage

Photographer Yves Muller’s eye highlights the details, perspectives and atmospheres that make up the richness of the village’s architectural and landscape heritage.

Why visit?

An invitation to rediscover heritage through an artist’s lens.

5. Blangy-le-Château (Calvados) – A village’s memories in pictures

Exhibition: ‘Memories in Pictures’

Postcards, archive photographs and residents’ accounts recount the village’s everyday history across the generations.

A treasure trove:

Personal stories intertwine with the wider history, putting a face to the people who have shaped the village.

6. Ars-en-Ré (Charente-Maritime) – A Romanesque masterpiece in need of preservation

Saint-Étienne Church and its heritage under threat

This tour offers the chance to discover the sculpted treasures of one of the jewels of Saintonge Romanesque art, whilst raising awareness of the challenges involved in preserving this fragile heritage.

Why is this event significant?

It perfectly embodies the national theme dedicated to heritage at risk.

7. Lautrec (Tarn) – Back to the 12th century

Historical re-enactment at the Moulin de la Salette

A medieval camp, combat demonstrations, crafts, archery and activities for children immerse visitors in everyday life in the Middle Ages.

For the whole family:

A spectacular journey back in time to the heart of Lautrec’s history.

8. Lagrasse (Aude) – Behind the scenes at a medieval abbey

Guided tour of Lagrasse Abbey

Architecture, monastic life, craftsmanship and the building’s transformations over the centuries: this tour reveals the secrets of one of the most remarkable abbeys in the south of France.

Not to be missed:

An exceptional monument brought to life by those who keep it alive today.

9. Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges (Haute-Garonne) – Heroes take centre stage at the museum

A heroic exhibition

An original exhibition that brings archaeological collections into dialogue with the heroic figures of yesterday and today. A fun and contemporary way to explore our heritage.

The original idea:

To view the collections from an unexpected angle.

10. Apremont-sur-Allier (Cher) – A journey back to 1900

An immersive tour of the château and floral park

Combining heritage, historical re-enactments and a collection of horse-drawn carriages, this tour immerses visitors in the atmosphere of the Belle Époque.

An immersive experience:

A different way to discover heritage, combining history, performance and emotion.

---

What’s on for the 2026 European Heritage Days®? See the programme for the Most Beautiful Villages of France on our interactive map.

Programme currently in progress.

---

Heritage at risk: support the restoration projects in the Most Beautiful Villages of France!

Preserving heritage also means taking practical action. Across France, restoration projects are underway in the ‘Most Beautiful Villages of France’. Find out how you can support these projects and help safeguard these iconic sites through the Heritage Foundation.