Heritage Days 2026

Join us on the weekend of September 19th and 20th for Heritage Days 2026. This year's themes will be "Heritage of Photography" and "Heritage in Peril: Reviving, Resisting, Reimagining".

Two themes this year for the 2026 Heritage Days

For the 43rd edition of the European Heritage Days, which will take place on September 19 and 20, two themes are in the spotlight: "Heritage of photography" and "Heritage in peril: revive, resist, reimagine".

Photography, a witness to our history

To mark the Bicentenary of Photography , the 2026 European Heritage Days will celebrate photographic heritage . For two centuries, photography has captured our monuments, our landscapes and our memories, becoming a precious witness to our history and our collective memory.

This first theme invites us to discover our heritage in a different way , through images from yesterday and today and the perspective they offer on the places around us.

Preserving our heritage for tomorrow

Faced with climate, digital, and social changes, preserving heritage is more crucial than ever for future generations. This second theme of the 2026 European Heritage Days highlights initiatives and new ways to protect our monuments, our skills, and our cultural heritage. It also invites us to rethink how we discover them, with more sustainable tourism that is better distributed across different regions.

Heritage Days 2026 Program – Couserans Pyrenees

Several sites are opening their doors to you for free to discover some of their historical secrets during the 2026 European Heritage Days. This is the perfect opportunity to (re)discover the heritage of the Couserans region and explore places that are sometimes little-known or exceptionally open to the public. Guided tours, discoveries, and local stories will fill these two days. Here are some of the sites to discover this year in the Couserans.

Theatrical guided tour of the 18th-century pharmacy

For the 2026 European Heritage Days , step back in time in Saint-Lizier with a theatrical guided tour of the Hôtel-Dieu. Follow Marie-Thérèse, a nun serving the institution, or Jacques, a passing pilgrim, and immerse yourself in daily life at this place in the early 19th century.

An original and lively way to discover the Hôtel-Dieu of Saint-Lizier , its history, its operation and those who frequented it in the past.

📅 Dates: Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026
📍 Location: Hôtel-Dieu – Rue de l'Hôtel-Dieu, 09190 Saint-Lizier

Visit to Combelongue Abbey

Among the places to discover this year for Heritage Days , Combelongue Abbey is one of the gems of the Couserans region's heritage . This abbey, with its Mudéjar influences, opens its doors for self-guided visits, offering the opportunity to discover one of the valley's few remaining abbeys.

The visit continues in its gardens, which have been awarded the "Remarkable Garden" label . You can enjoy the calm and soothing atmosphere that this place offers; inviting you to a moment of pure disconnection.

📅 Dates: Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026
📍 Location: Combelongue Abbey and Gardens – 192 Las Costos, 09420 Rimont

The village of Galley

Perched in the heart of the Couserans mountains , the village of Galey unveils several of its treasures during the European Heritage Days 2026.

Among them, discover its Museum of Sacred Art , unique in Ariège, which houses numerous objects once used for worship, some of which are now protected as historical monuments. Guided tours will also allow you to visit the Church of Saint-Pierre and the Chapel of Notre-Dame-du-Calvaire , to learn more about the history and heritage of this village.

📅 Dates: Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026
📍 Location: Village of Galey

The Saint Valier church in Saint-Girons

On the occasion of the European Heritage Days 2026 , take advantage of a guided tour to open the doors of this church in Couserans and travel through several centuries of history, from the Middle Ages to the 19th century.

Look up to admire its remarkable painted decorations, which adorn the walls and vaults. Created by the Pedoya family , itinerant Italian artists, they still bear witness to their talent and expertise today.

Discover all the open sites on the official Heritage Days website !