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The 42nd edition of les Journ茅es du Patrimoine (European Heritage Days) falls this weekend (September 20 - 21), with over 2,000 sites across France opening their doors to offer free visits and events.

This year鈥檚 theme encourages participants to explore France鈥檚 architectural heritage, spotlighting a variety of buildings and monuments that 鈥渃onstitute important landmarks in terms of local, national and European history and collective memory,鈥� states the government website.

An is available to find events near you. 

We look at some of the historic and cultural sites across the country that you could visit this weekend. 

Auvergne-Rh么ne-Alpes: treasure hunt in Saint-Etienne

When: September 20 - 21 

Families can set off on a treasure hunt around Saint-脡tienne鈥檚 (Loire) 41 city-centre monuments historiques. Explore sites such as the Palais Mimard, the art-deco h么tel Subit-Gouyon, and the 18th-Century neo-roman 脡glise Sainte-Marie. 

Treasure hunt booklets including a map and clues can be collected at the reception desk of the Maison du Patrimoine et des Lettres (5 Place Boivin).

For more information, . 

Bourgogne-Franche-Comt茅: costumed castle visit in Ch芒teauneuf-en-Auxois

When: September 20 and 21, from 9:45 to 18:00

If you visit the 15th-Century Ch芒teau de Ch芒teauneuf (C么te-d'Or) this weekend, expect an immersive experience surrounded by knights, kings, queens, princesses and more fictional costumed characters. Extra dress-up accessories, guides and a photobooth will be available on-site.

For more information, .

Bretagne: 1940s 鈥楤al Clandestin鈥� in the Morbihan

When: Saturday, September 20 from 18:30 to 22:00

This festive event hosted in Cl茅gu茅rec (Morbihan) will pay tribute to the organisers of clandestine balls during World War Two in German-occupied France. Participants are invited to dress up in 1940s-style costumes for the occasion. 

Beginners can also arrive early, at 17:30, to learn traditional dances in preparation for the ball.

For more information, . 

Centre-Val de Loire: ceramics workshop in an old tram station 

When: September 20 and 21, from 9:00 to 18:00

Step inside a 1914 tram station in Dry (Loiret) that has been transformed into a ceramics studio. A young ceramicist will discuss the fundamentals of his practice and offer live demonstrations of modelling, throwing and using the potters wheel. 

For more information, . 

Grand Est: 鈥楤low Bangles鈥� glass exhibition

September 20 and 21, from 13:30 to 18:00

Le Centre International d鈥橝rt Verrier (International Centre for Glass Art) in Meisenthal (Moselle), collaborates with contemporary designers to explore glassmaking techniques, as recently recognised on UNESCO鈥檚 鈥榠ntangible cultural heritage鈥� list.

As well as visiting the site鈥檚 permanent collection, five temporary exhibitions are on offer for the European Heritage Days - including 鈥楤low Bangles鈥� by Fran莽ois Daireaux which shows a colourful display of bangles blown in historic local moulds. Glass blowers will also be demonstrating their craft throughout the weekend and on the Sunday, visitors can watch a series of documentary screenings.

For more information, . 

Hauts-de-France: Night-time visit of Cr茅py-en-Valois

When: Saturday, September 20 from 20:30 to 22:30

Lanterns will illuminate a guided tour of the historic town of Cr茅py-en-Valois (Oise), home to 13 monuments historiques including a medieval Cluniac monastery and a 13th-Century house. The tour will leave from Rue Saint-Thomas.

For more information, .

脦le-de-France: Paris鈥� 18th-Century 脡cole des Mines

When: Saturday, September 20 from 10:00 to 18:00

Visit one of France鈥檚 oldest and most prestigious engineering schools, the 脡cole des Mines - PSL. The campus is located in Paris鈥� quartier latin, in the H么tel de Vend么me, and was built by French architect Jean-Baptiste Alexandre Le Blond in 1707. 

Visitors can access the beautiful gardens and a library with decor reflecting the various architectural trends of the 19th Century. The institution is also home to one of the world鈥檚 finest mineralogy museums. 

For more information, .

Normandie: the half-timbered houses of Rouen

When: Saturday, September 20 from 10:00 to 11:00

Discover the history behind the traditional half-timbered style of French architecture during a one-hour guided tour in Rouen (Seine-Maritime). Reservation mandatory.

For more information, . 

Nouvelle-Aquitaine: the English Club of Pau at Villa Lawrence

When: September 20 and 21, from 14:30 to 18:00

Villa Lawrance is home to Pau鈥檚 (Pyr茅n茅es-Atlantiques) Cercle Anglais. This private 鈥楨nglish Club鈥� was founded in 1856 as a meeting place and centre of influence for the British elite. 

No booking is required for this 45-minute guided tour highlighting the villa鈥檚 typical period architecture, paintings and furniture that make up its rich collections.

For more information, . 

Occitanie: explore the medieval garden of Uz猫s

When: September 20 and 21, from 10:00 to 18:00

Visit the medieval garden of Uz猫s (Gard) where you will find more than 450 plant species and explore how they were used for medicinal and culinary purposes in the Middle Ages. Guided tours will also be offered in the afternoon as well as visits of two iconic towers and the ancient prison cells.

For more information, . 

Pays de la Loire: theatre at the domaine de la Turmeli猫re

When: Sunday September 21 from 14:15 to 15:15, and 16:30 to 17:30

Visit the historic domaine de la Turmeli猫re (Maine-et-Loire) and enjoy a futuristic theatre performance. Audience interaction and improvisation mean no two shows are the same, as spectators are invited to travel through time while reflecting on the present. Reservation mandatory.

For more information, . 

Provence-Alpes-C么te d'Azur: outdoor concert in Bormes-les-Mimosas 

When: Saturday, September 20 from 21:00 to 22:00

The EITV instrumental ensemble will be playing outside of the 18th-Century 脡glise Saint Trophyme in the medieval village of Bormes-les-Mimosas (Var). The programme includes compositions by Georg-Philipp T茅l茅mann and Benjamin Britten. 

For more information, .