12 million visitors from across the territory to share their collective passion for heritage in nearly 16,000 monuments open for the 35th European Heritage Days

During the whole weekend, more than 12 million visitors of all ages celebrated this 35^e edition of the European Heritage Days under the theme European Year of Cultural Heritage, The Art of Sharing. On the programme: 24,000 events in nearly 16,000 monuments, including about 1,900 for the first time or on an exceptional basis.

The day before, on Friday, September 14, 2.5 million players took part in the special draw for the heritage lotto, the proceeds of which will ensure the restoration of the buildings designated as “heritage in danger”. in the framework of the mission entrusted by the President of the Republic to Stéphane Bern.

On the same day, nearly 23,000 students from 900 classes contributed to the success of the first national Heritage children setting up with the partnership of the Fédération nationale des Conseils d'architecture, d'urbanisme et de l'environnement (CAUE). 230 secondary school students from Île-de-France were received at the Ministry of Culture where they were able to visit the fairs. They were invited by:

- students from the National Heritage Institute (INP) to participate in scrubbing a series of engravings;

- mediators of the National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP), to handle moulds of animal bones allowing to recognize the main domestic species of the Middle Ages or to participate in the reassembly of pottery;

- René-Ginouvès, young scholars in the history of Mesopotamia at the Maison Archéologie & Ethnologie, to learn about cuneiform writing on clay;

- the teachers and apprentices of the Centre de formation de la facture d'Orgues d'Eschau in Alsace, to discover the profession of organ builder.

On Saturday, September 15, Françoise Nyssen welcomed the first visitors to the Palais-Royal, which received 10,000 visitors throughout the weekend. She opened the doors of her office before accompanying the President of the Republic to the Villa Viardot in Bougival, one of the 18 emblematic sites on the list declared "heritage in danger" by the Bern Mission.

On Sunday, the Minister went to Lyon in the communes of Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon and Chaponost to appreciate the remains of the Gier aqueduct, whose site is also part of the 18 projects selected to benefit from the heritage lotto funds.

Françoise Nyssen would like to warmly thank all the public and private owners of historic monuments, the National Monuments Centre, the network of Cities and Countries of Art and History, the Heritage Foundation, the National Federation of CAUE, the Old French Houses and the Historic House.

Under the patronage of the Council of Europe and the European Commission, this edition also benefited from the support of: Lidl, Crédit Agricole, Fondation d'entreprise Michelin, RATP, ANCV, Journée du transport public, PhenixDigital, Radio France and France Télévisions.

In 2019, the 36^e European Heritage Days will be held on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September.