European Heritage Days
2021 European Heritage Days: discovering professions and heritage at the Quai d’Orsay (18-19 September 2021)
For the 38th edition of European Heritage Days, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs will open up four of its sites: The Hôtel du ministre (Quai d’Orsay) in Paris (75), the Diplomatic Archives at La Courneuve (93), the gardens of the Château de La Celle-Saint-Cloud (78) and the Nantes Diplomatic Archives Centre (44).
During these days, the public can learn about the work of Ministry officials, including those from the Crisis and Support Centre, cartographers and archive curators. With just a few months until the French Presidency of the European Union, we will celebrate Europe with a special programme of events.
Sign-language tours will also be available at the Quai d’Orsay.
Hôtel du ministre, Quai d’Orsay
Entrance via 37, Quai d’Orsay - free entry upon reservation, based on availability
N. B.: the COVID certificate and an ID will be required for entry. Please ensure you register using the name on your ID.
To avoid long waiting times, the Ministry has set up an online reservation system. The procedure is simple: just choose your arrival time and register with your name. You will then receive a confirmation e-mail with your invitation, which you must show upon entry.
Planned events: tour of the rooms, demonstration of art restoration work, meeting with officials from the Crisis and Support Centre, exhibition of archives, activities regarding Europe ahead of the French Presidency of the European Union and concerts by the Republican Guard!
Activities
- Introduction to professions and missions at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, with officials from the diplomatic archives, a stand presenting travel advice and the Ariane service, and discussions with cartographers
- Building Europe: exhibition of treaties, cartography
- Musical entertainment from the Republican Guard
- Quiz on the Hôtel du ministre
- Demonstrations of bookbinding and art restoration
- Interactive online treasure hunt, "Mystery at the Quai d’Orsay". Behind the scenes at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, young people can solve a historical and police investigation. You can choose your route and encounter characters, paintings, statutes and other residents of the Ministry who will assist your with your enquiries by providing valuable clues!
Accessibility
Our heritage should be open to everyone, so the Hôtel du ministre will be fully accessible to people with reduced mobility. Sign-language tours will also be available.
Registration
La Courneuve, Diplomatic Archives site
3 rue Suzanne Masson - 93120 La Courneuve
COVID certificate required for entry, mask mandatory within the Diplomatic Archives Centre.
For further information, please contact archives.lecture at diplomatie.gouv.fr
Registration required for our tours (limited number of visitors per group) and for entry to the site, including for self-guided tours.
- Introduction to letterpress printing at the Diplomatic Archives
- Introduction to the Diplomatic Archives at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
Park and kitchen garden of the Château de La Celle Saint-Cloud
Entrance: avenue Mesureur, La Celle Saint-Cloud.
Entry requirements: bring your ID in order to enter the Park and your COVID certificate.
- Historical guided tours by the city’s cultural mediator on Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
- Beekeeper’s stand
The history of the Château de La Celle Saint-Cloud has been built over the years by its many owners. You are invited to explore the 25 hectares of the landscaped parklands, look around the permaculture kitchen garden and meet the resident beekeeper.
Nantes, Diplomatic Archives site
Entrance: 17, rue du Casterneau, 44036 Nantes
Free admission, reservation required for guided tours and the show until 17 September. Visitors must show ID and a COVID certificate upon arrival. (archives.cadn at diplomatie.gouv.fr, +33 (0)2 51 77 24 59).
The Nantes Diplomatic Archives Centre houses some 45 km of archives retrieved from French Embassies and consulates all over the world, from the 16th to the 21st century. It represents a unique living heritage, documenting major international issues.
Planned events
- One-hour guided tours at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. (Registration required, by writing to archives.cadn at diplomatie.gouv.fr)
- Show at 4:30 p.m. “Cuba 1962. At the heart of the missile crisis”.
In October 1962, the U.S. Air Force observed that the USSR was installing missile launch facilities in Cuba with nuclear warhead capabilities. For several days, the stand-off between Kennedy and Khrushchev seemed to bring the world to the brink of nuclear war. Through original French, American and Soviet documents, the Compagnie de l’Écume amateur theatre group will portray this key Cold War incident, which paradoxically led to the Détente.