Themes for the 2026 Edition: Photographic Heritage and Heritage at Risk: Revive, Resist, Reimagine Two themes at the heart of the European Heritage Days For the 43rd edition of the European Heritage Days, which will take place on September 19 and 20, two themes are in the spotlight: Photographic Heritage and Heritage at Risk: Revitalize, Resist, Reimagine. On September 19 and 20—as well as on Friday, September 18, which is dedicated to schoolchildren with the “Look Up!” initiative—the European Heritage Days will open the doors of historic sites, often inaccessible the rest of the year, for two days. Two themes have been chosen this year: “Photographic Heritage,” marking the bicentennial of photography, and “Heritage in Peril: Revive, Resist, Reimagine,” a theme selected at the European level. Photography at the Heart of Heritage and Collective Memory Postcards, family photos, illustrated books, exhibitions, newspapers, and magazines—as well as phone and computer screens: the images that surround us, from yesterday and today, all trace their origins to the invention of photography two hundred years ago. The year 2026–2027 marks the celebration of the Bicentennial of Photography, an initiative of the Ministry of Culture that will spur hundreds of certified events embodying the full diversity of France’s photographic heritage. This practice—which encompasses amateur, professional, artistic, and scientific dimensions and has shaped our cultural identity for two centuries—is at the heart of the 2026 European Heritage Days. The national event highlights the artistic and technical achievements of photography, as well as the intimate relationship the medium has with cultural heritage and historic monuments. Invented by Nicephore Niepce and presented to the world by François Arago before the Academies of Sciences and Fine Arts in 1839, photography has, in fact, for two centuries, the representation of monuments through images that often serve as important landmarks—both from the perspective of local, national, and European history, and in terms of collective memory. Since the 1960s, it has acquired its own heritage value. Preserved in archives, libraries, and museums for its documentary value, it is gradually being collected for its artistic merit, with the first museums dedicated to it: the French Museum of Photography, the Nicephore-Niepce Museum, the Rencontres d’Arles festival, the Chateau-d’Eau Gallery, as well as the opening of photography galleries at the Centre Pompidou and the Musée d’Orsay. A Heritage to Be Preserved in a Changing World Faced with challenges such as increasing digitization, the acceleration of population movements, the climate crisis, and conflicts of all kinds, part of our heritage is under threat. The second theme selected at the European level for this 43rd edition highlights how we prioritize, protect, and preserve cultural heritage for future generations. This rich theme addresses the impact of climate change on heritage sites, archival collections, art collections, and intangible cultural heritage practices, highlighting innovative and sustainable measures to protect them, such as new monitoring and restoration techniques. Certain international organizations, such as UNESCO, have also implemented specific safeguarding plans. The theme also explores the issue of the durability of the materials that make up new heritage sites, particularly those from the 20th century. Finally, this theme highlights the various preventive measures taken to better balance the high visitor traffic associated with mass tourism with heritage preservation (improvements to visitor facilities, the development of virtual tours or facsimiles, etc.). In light of the under-visitation of certain sites and monuments, these two days offer an opportunity to think outside the box and explore new avenues for sustainable tourism that is more evenly distributed over time and across the entire region. Show only upcoming events Guided tour of Château Dubuc Amid the recently restored ruins, overlooking the Baie du Trésor, a museum now traces the history of the château and its occupants. More... Special Opening: Château Dubuc Visit Les Racines de Bel Air Les Racines de Bel Air is opening its doors for European Heritage Days. As part of European Heritage Days, the... Special Opening: Les Racines de Bel Air Habitation Saint-Etienne - Tour of the Notable Garden - Gros Morne Guided tour of the Notable Garden To celebrate European Heritage Days, come discover or rediscover Habitation Saint-Etienne and immerse yourself in the... Theme: Photographic Heritage Habitation Saint-Etienne and Garden Habitation Saint-Etienne - Architectural Heritage & Former Distillery Tour - Gros Morne Guided Tour - Architectural Heritage & the Former Saint-Etienne Distillery As part of Heritage Days, come discover or rediscover the Hab... Theme: Photographic Heritage Habitation Saint-Etienne and Garden Habitation Saint-Etienne - Tour of the Estate - Gros Morne Self-guided tour of Habitation Saint-Etienne As part of the 2026 European Heritage Days, Habitation Saint-Etienne opens its doors to everyone... Self-guided tour of Habitation Saint-Etienne and its garden Habitation Saint-Etienne - Photo workshop - Gros Morne Photo workshop (by reservation) As part of the 2026 European Heritage Days, Habitation Saint-Etienne invites you to see things from a different perspective... Workshop / Demonstration / Craftsmanship at Habitation Saint-Etienne and its garden Guided tour of Batimat Recyclage Come visit a site in Martinique that’s unique in its recycling of inert construction waste. Information: Limited to 15 people per session... Special Open House at Batimat Recyclage, Habitation Saint-Etienne – Cocktail Workshop – Gros Morne Cocktail Workshop (by reservation) As part of Heritage Days, come discover the world of cocktails during a friendly and creative workshop... Workshop / Demonstration / Heritage: Habitation Saint-Etienne and Les Anses-d’Arlet Garden / Habitation La Sucrerie—Self-Guided Tour 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Self-guided tour of Habitation La Sucrerie, a traditional house built atop a morne. Between 2004 and 2007, it was restored... Special Open House at Habitation La Sucrerie, Les Anses d’Arlet / Habitation La Sucrerie—Guided Tours Guided Tours | 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. A traditional house built at the summit of a morne. Between 2004 and 2007, it was restored under the direction... Special Open House at Habitation La Sucrerie Not Without Them! Caribbean Heritage: Let’s Talk About It... Join us for a two-day symposium dedicated to Caribbean heritage at La Guinguette. Fourteen speakers from Martinique and beyond will share... Conference at La Guinguette: Habitation Saint-Etienne – Heritage Quiz – Gros Morne Heritage Quiz: As part of European Heritage Days, come discover or rediscover Habitation Saint-Etienne and set out to explore... Game / Quiz: Habitation Saint-Etienne Habitation Saint-Etienne - Photo Contest - Gros Morne Photo Contest As part of European Heritage Days, come discover or rediscover Habitation Saint-Etienne and set out to explore... Game / Quiz: Habitation Saint-Etienne TOUR OF THE NEISSON DISTILLERY To celebrate European Heritage Days, the Neisson Distillery opens its doors to you for an immersive experience at the heart of a tradition passed down... Theme: Heritage in Peril: Revive, Resist, Reimagine Neisson Distillery, 97221 Le Carbet Immersive guided tour of the distillery As part of European Heritage Days, La Favorite Distillery opens its doors to take you behind the scenes of this historic site… Theme: Heritage in Peril: Revive, Resist, Reimagine La Favorite Distillery Special open house at Habitation Beausejour, Grand’Rivière. This Creole plantation, designated a historic monument, features 2.5 hectares of century-old gardens with over 400 varieties of flowers... Guided Tour of Habitation Beausejour Guided Tour of the Grand Lodge of France On the occasion of the 2026 European Heritage Days, the temple of the Grand Lodge of France in Martinique is opening its doors to the public for a special event... Special Opening: Masonic Temple of the Grand Lodge of France, Le Macouba / Bellevue Plantation - Guided tours Guided tours | 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. Discover the history of this site through the old industrial buildings and the house, rebuilt in... Special Opening at Habitation Bellevue, Le Macouba / Habitation Bellevue - Self-guided tours 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Self-guided tour of Habitation Bellevue. Discover the history of this site through the old industrial buildings and the house, rebuilt... Special Open House at Habitation Bellevue, Saint-Pierre / Memorial to the 1902 Catastrophe | Frank A. Perret Museum / Self-guided tour The Memorial to the 1902 Catastrophe | Frank A. Perret Museum commemorates the eruption of Mount Pelée and the destruction of the city of Saint-Pi... Self-guided tour of the Frank A. Perret Museum—Memorial to the 1902 Catastrophe Literary and heritage scavenger hunt Travel back in time through the works of two authors from Basse-Pointe and the surrounding area: - *Au Fond du Bourg* by Leonard Sainville - *Joanise ma me*.... Basse-Pointe Game/Quiz “Ti Koze Memwa” on the Eyma Neighborhood / Presentation of the Aimé Césaire Birthplace Project The City of Basse-Pointe’s Cultural Department is hosting a Ti Koze Memwa dedicated to the Eyma neighborhood. This will be an opportunity for residents of this… Theme: Endangered Heritage: revive, resist, reimagine Basse-Pointe Self-guided tour of the Fonds-Preville Distillery_J.M. Rum During the tour, you’ll follow the stages of rum production: from the raw materials—starting with a visit to the sugarcane field—to the final product... Theme: Heritage in Peril: revive, resist, reimagine Fonds-Preville Distillery_J.M. Rum Open-Air Exhibition of Vintage Photos The City of Basse-Pointe is presenting an open-air photo exhibition of vintage photos of buildings and heritage sites that have been the subject of... Basse-Pointe Exhibition: Guided Tour of the Fonds-Preville Distillery_J.M. Rum Nestled at the foot of Mount Pelée, the Fonds-Preville Distillery invites you to discover its industrial and architectural heritage in harmony... Theme: Heritage in Peril: Revive, Resist, Reimagine Fonds-Preville Distillery_J.M. Rum Guided tour of the Martinique Volcanological and Seismological Observatory (OVSM-IPGP) Guided tour of the Martinique Volcanological and Seismological Observatory (OVSM-IPGP). The OVSM-IPGP is opening its doors for the European Heritage Days... OVSM-IPGP Guided Tour Treasure Hunt at the Fonds-Preville Distillery_Rhum J.M Test your knowledge of rum and the distillery by participating in a treasure hunt.Event requires registration and a fee. Information: Number of... Game / Quiz at the Fonds-Preville Distillery_Rhum J.M in Basse-Pointe / Habitation Pecoul - Guided Tours Guided Tours | 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. With its main house, outbuildings, industrial facilities, and landscaped grounds, the estate... Special Opening at Habitation Pecoul: “Walks of the Maison des Volcans” During its open house days from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the Maison des Volcans offers the “Walks of the Maison des Volcans”: an off-site tour designed to... Tour / Hike: Maison des Volcans Basse-Pointe / Habitation Pecoul - Self-Guided Tour With its main house, domestic outbuildings, industrial facilities, and landscaped grounds, Habitation Pecoul today forms... Special Opening at Habitation Pecoul: Tour and Dance Introduction at La Maison Rouge: Maison des Arts Today’s program includes: - Guided tour and exploration of La Maison Rouge and its history - Dance introduction for children ages 4 to 16 -... Workshop / Demonstration / Craftsmanship at La Maison Rouge: Maison des Arts Tour of the Galion Sugar Mill Guided tour of the Galion Sugar Mill estate Information: Groups of 12 participants. Tour duration: 1 hour per group. Closed-toe shoes required... Special Opening: Galion Sugar Mill “100 Views of La Pelee” During its open house, the CDST invites you to (re)discover part of the photo exhibition “100 Views of La Pelee,” created in 2002 by... Exhibition at the Earth Sciences Discovery Center: “Saint Pierre Is Not a Ruin” by Adeline Rapon—An exhibition of photographs by Adeline Rapon... Exhibition: Department of Cultural Affairs – Featured Highlight: The Prefecture of Martinique Opens Its Doors to You Come discover or rediscover this iconic site during a weekend dedicated to photographic heritage and endangered heritage. Registration at... Special Opening: The Prefecture of Martinique Opens Its Doors to You Le François / Self-guided tour of Habitation Clement Habitation Clement is now a vast 160-hectare estate, nestled in the town of Le François, in southeastern Martinique. An exceptional site... Self-guided tour of Habitation Clement: “Let’s Talk Together” economic exhibition by IEDOM at the Aimé Césaire Theater—A fun and educational event for all ages. IEDOM has created an exhibition accessible to all audiences through educational materials... Exhibition: Aimé Césaire Theater and Museum Space DAC (Martinique Department of Cultural Affairs), Villa les Pergolas, 54 rue du Professeur Raymond Garcin, Fort-de-France, 0596 60 05 36
