The Musée de Montmartre opens its doors for free during the Journées du Patrimoine
A Sunday morning in Montmartre, a free guided tour, and a talk on the soul of the Butte: the Musée de Montmartre has put together a carefully curated programme for the European Heritage Days on 19 and 20 September 2026. Two events in the 18th arrondissement you won’t want to miss.
A weekend to explore Montmartre’s heritage for free
Every year, the European Heritage Days turn cities and neighbourhoods into playgrounds for cultural discovery. Museums, monuments and venues usually closed to the public throw open their doors, often in entirely new ways, offering free activities and one-of-a-kind visits. This back-to-school fixture has become one of the most eagerly anticipated cultural weekends in Europe.
In Paris, the Musée de Montmartre is throwing itself fully into the spirit of the occasion. This landmark institution in the village-like neighbourhood of the Butte, known for its Renoir gardens and collections dedicated to Montmartre’s artistic history, is unveiling two distinct events for the 2026 edition, both free and available by reservation.
A guided tour of the Musée de Montmartre’s permanent collections
On Sunday 20 September 2026, from 10:30 to 11:30, the museum is offering a guided tour of its permanent collections. This narrated walk through the galleries will bring to life the artistic energy that made Montmartre’s reputation across the centuries.
The tour will be led by Jean-Manuel Gabert, president of the association Le Vieux Montmartre. His deep knowledge of the neighbourhood guarantees an engaging and well-documented reading of the works and objects on display. Places are limited to 25 people, ensuring an intimate atmosphere that encourages conversation with the guide.
Admission is entirely free, but booking is required. Registrations will be handled through the museum’s online ticketing platform; the opening date for bookings will be announced in due course.
What you need to know before you go
- Guided tour of the collections: Sunday 20 September 2026, 10:30 to 11:30
- Talk “À Montmartre au fil des jours…”: Sunday 20 September 2026, 16:00 to 17:00
- Both events are free, with mandatory advance booking
- Capacity is limited: 25 people for the tour, 50 people for the talk
- Book via the museum’s online ticketing platform (booking opening date to be announced)
A talk that travels through the seasons of the Butte
Later that same Sunday, at 16:00, the museum hosts a talk entitled “À Montmartre au fil des jours…”. The presentation draws on the illustrated book 365 jours à Montmartre, published to mark the 140th anniversary of the historical society Le Vieux Montmartre.
From January to December, the talk invites the audience to wander through the iconic places and figures of the Butte as the seasons turn. Dance-hall regulars, café-concert singers, artists setting up their easels on the heights of Paris: the presentation sets out to breathe new life into a Montmartre that was both popular and endlessly creative.
Christophe Arnaud, the book’s creator, will lead this lively, illustrated reading. His approach weaves together anecdotes, images and memories to capture the richness of this Montmartre almanac. The session is open to a maximum of 50 people, again with free booking through the Musée de Montmartre‘s online ticketing platform.
How to plan your visit to the Musée de Montmartre for Heritage Days
To make the most of both events, keep a close eye on the museum’s online ticketing platform for when bookings open, places are limited and will go fast. The guided tour, with only 25 spots available, is likely to fill up quickly. The afternoon talk, open to 50 people, offers slightly more room, but demand for free events during Heritage Days in Paris is always high.
The Musée de Montmartre‘s programme for the weekend of 19 and 20 September 2026 is aimed equally at locals who know the neighbourhood well and at visitors looking to go beyond the postcard and understand what made the Butte such a singular artistic crucible. The two Sunday events offer two complementary ways into that history: first through the collections themselves, then through an illustrated story.
