From France to Europe: the history of Heritage Days.

Every September, millions of people step into monuments, museums, historic sites and places that open their doors only on this occasion. But behind this now well-established event lies a story that begins… in France.

On 23 September 1984, the French Ministry of Culture, then headed by Jack Lang, organised the first “Open Day at Historic Monuments”. The principle is simple: to allow the public to discover places and heritage that are often hard to access the rest of the year. The success is immediate.

A year later, in 1985, at a conference of European culture ministers organised by the Council of Europe in Granada, Jack Lang proposed extending the initiative to the European level. Several countries joined in.

In 1991, the Council of Europe made the European Heritage Days official. Since 1999, the initiative has been a joint action of the Council of Europe and the European Commission. Today it brings together the signatory states of the European Cultural Convention around a shared goal: to help people discover and experience our common European heritage.

And here at home?

In the Three Borders, these days have a special significance.

Here, heritage does not stop at a border. It tells French, Luxembourgish and German stories, stories of exchange, traditions, landscapes and a shared memory.

For their 43rd edition, the European Heritage Days take place in France on 19 and 20 September 2026. Two themes are in the spotlight this year: “The heritage of photography” and “Heritage at risk: reviving, resisting, rethinking”.

Two days to discover what surrounds us, understand what has shaped us and pass on what we want to preserve.

Because knowing your heritage also means understanding your region.

Radio Tripoint — the cross-border radio