Questions on European Heritage Days

I was lucky enough to be in Paris for the Heritage Days in 2010. Take full advantage, you'll get to see places that are closed to the general public on the other 363 days. Do not waste your time in the monuments/museums, which will likely be crowded too.

All the city and national government buildings were open to the public and all the ones I visited had several special exhibits on for the occasion. I waited in line for about an hour to see the Assemblée Nationale (Bourbon Palace) and there was a marching band entertaining us while we waited, less for the Sénat (in the Luxembourg Palace) and even less for the Hotel de Ville (city hall). All three are fabulous palaces (think Versailles). I took hundreds of photos. I happened to walk past a building with a sign (in French) that the "residence of the Russian ambassador in Paris (Hotel D'Estrees)" was open. It was a beautiful French mansion and they had special exhibits on about the last of the Russian tzars (like a dining table set for a formal dinner) and gorgeous Cartier and Faberge creations (oh, the jewels). That's all I managed.

I think there was a printed list of all the places that were open, looked like a little newspaper. I probably got it at one of the TI's.

Hmmm, now I'm starting to think about a visit to Paris in September 2016 :-)

These two days, usually the same or nearly the same days throughout Europe (although London is always off by a week from everybody else including the rest of the UK), give a real insight into places you would never have dreamed of seeing.

The lists are usually available well ahead of time, for example the London book was released yesterday according to an email I receive every year.

For London, at least, the app has been a real washout - buggy, inaccurate, and hard to search on.

Most countries and cities have on line webpages with up to date information.

One of my most favourite visits was into the attics of St Bavo's church in Haarlem, Netherlands, to see the dry wood of the ceiling below me.

It helps to have a bit of an appreciation of the architecture and the function of the building.

Other favourite memories are of going into a hidden Battle of Britain bunker at Biggin Hill airbase in Surrey, England, and a tour of the Foreign Office and Number 10 in London.

Popular places often attract crowds - and of course the price is right - and sometimes entry is by application and random draw. I have tried to get entry into the Gherkin in London many times and every time I have arrived any time of day and see the queue reaching half way to Liverpool Street Station I give up and go somewhere else.

It is always great fun, no matter where you are.

The link to the London Open Days: - http://www.openhouselondon.org.uk/index.html

The French one: - http://journeesdupatrimoine.culturecommunication.gouv.fr/ Click on the FR in the upper right corner for English.

Stephanie, I've had the same problem you've had. Not to hijack your thread, but I've been wondering the same thing for our days as we will be in Normandy. We've been contemplating going to MSM that day but were thinking it might be insanely busy if it's a "holiday" of sorts there that day.

Thank you, all, for your tips and suggestions. I'm still finding information on the official French website hard to decipher but perhaps they will add more as the dates get closer. Having been to Paris before, I'm really excited to see some new sites this time around. -Stephanie

Stephanie -- there will definitely be more sites added as September gets closer. And it really is lucky for you that you're going to be here during that time, you'll get to see things you would not otherwise get to see! The longest lines are usually for the Elysée Palace (where the French president lives) and the building called the Quai d'Orsay (where the French Foreign Ministry has its headquarters), as well as the Palais Bourbon (The French Senate) and the Assemblée Nationale (the lower house of parliament). The lines for the Elysée or the Quai d'orsay will be enormous. But there are lots of other spectacular sights/sites to see all around.

This program from last year gives you an idea -- usually the same places are open every year.

http://www.sortiraparis.com/arts-culture/balades/guides/54048-les-journees-du-patrimoine-2015