European Heritage Days: A Quick Guide

Once a year, places that are normally closed to the public, such as the Élysée Palace, open their doors. If you're in Paris on the third weekend of September, don't miss it. It lasts just two days.

■ European Heritage Days European Heritage Days is a large cultural event held every September across Europe, with a theme chosen each year. Its purpose is to celebrate and preserve Europe's rich cultural heritage. On these days, venues not normally open to the public, like the Élysée Palace, throw open their doors. Most sites are free to enter, though some require reservations and some admit visitors on a first-come, first-served basis. Cultural landmarks and performance venues, such as abbeys and the Théâtre de l'Odéon, offer special guided tours, hands-on activities and special performances. At the Notre-Dame restoration event, visitors could watch artisans demonstrate how they restore the gargoyles and spire damaged in the fire.

Theater tours always come with a guide, so French or English can be a barrier. But even if you don't catch everything, you can still soak up the atmosphere, so don't be intimidated. We recommend the theater tours and a look inside the Luxembourg Palace and the Hôtel de Sully. Links with more details are under "Learn more" at the bottom of the in-app script.

■ First Sunday of every month If it's hard to fit your trip around a two-day event, there's an easier option. Europe has a regular free-admission program. On the first Sunday of each month, many museums and galleries across Europe take part, notably the Musée d'Orsay, the Musée de l'Orangerie, the Arc de Triomphe, the Conciergerie, the Panthéon and Sainte-Chapelle. Some require advance booking, and free hours and periods vary, so check each venue's website. With admission prices so high in Paris, the money you save might buy you an extra éclair.