European Heritage Days 2025

The best ideas for going out on the Côte d'Azur

From 19 to 21 September 2025, the European Heritage Days offer unique experiences on the Côte d’Azur. Under the banner of architectural heritage, rare sites are being opened up, architecture is being explored, workshops are being tried out, tours are being taken and family time is being shared between the sea and the mountains.

Destination the Côte d’Azur coastline

On the Côte d’Azur, the European Heritage Days are an opportunity to (re)discover cultural and historical sites and explore the richness and diversity of the region’s heritage in a different way.

Start with Antibes Juan-les-Pins and its “Peintres à porter” fashion show. Based on works by Pablo Picasso, Nicolas de Staël and Niki de Saint Phalle, the show will bring the Musée Picasso to life and set the old town abuzz. In Cannes, head for Lérins Abbey on the island of Saint-Honorat, where the Bellini Chapel reveals its secrets on a self-guided tour. In Mandelieu-la-Napoule, two works of coral by Guillaume Bottazzi, which look as if they have just emerged from the seabed, offer a poetic stroll through the heart of Absolu Mandelieu. In Villefranche-sur-Mer, visitors can discover a Bantry Yole at the Pavillon Beaudouin, a faithful reproduction of a boat dating from 1796, which has been awarded the national Bateau d’Intérêt Patrimonial label.

On the Côte d’Azur, the coast is told step by step, and each destination makes you want to stay!

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Heading for the Middle Country

From its lively village squares to its typical know-how, the Moyen-Pays can be discovered to the rhythm of your emotions.

Head to Mouans-Sartoux for asensory experience at the Jardins du MIP, with an immersive tour of the know-how of the Grasse region. In Grasse, a conference at the Institut Fénelon focuses on the destinies of women and places of memory. In Coursegoules, theexhibition “Imagine Coursegoules in 100 years” stimulates the imagination and projects the village into the next century.

In Gilette, the Lou Ferouil museum brings the art of blacksmithing back to life. Workshops, stalls, old-time trades, vehicles and an animated miniature village… Between tradition and wonder, the guided tour unfolds a thousand anecdotes and brings rural heritage back to life. In Contes, there’s theatre with “Contes et légendes” at the Musée de Contes. Saint-Jeannet will be playing the emotional card with a candlelit concert in the San Peïre chapel. Destination Vence for an open-air cinema with “Monsieur Hulot prend ses vacances” in the Passage Cahours.

Each destination promises simple moments to share with family and friends!

Get some height in the hinterland

Between sea and mountains, the hinterland of the Côte d’Azur reveals its richness and naturally invites you to marvel.

In Gourdon, a guided tour of the village reveals narrow streets steeped in history and sublime views. In Èze, head for the Fort de la Revère for guided tours, historical events and exhibitions. Echoing the theme of “Architectural Heritage”, the focus is on the distinctive features of vernacular architecture, the stonework and architectural details that reveal the history of the building.

In Tende, the Musée des Merveilles – an archaeological museum dedicated to one of the largest collections of rock engravings in Europe – offers a projection entitled “De la mer aux merveilles”, which tells the story of the valley like no other. There’s also an olfactory experience based around old photographs, a screening of rare films and a lecture on the Alpine economy. Something for everyone, from enthusiasts to novices, young and old.

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Discover Nice differently

Nice is also full of ideas for outings during the European Heritage Days!

At the Grotte du Lazaret, take a guided tour of the site and learn all about its history. Archaeological lectures, films and digging workshops for children round off the experience.

At the Micro-Folie départementale, take a fresh look at the “Vue architecturale niçoise” exhibition. On the programme: model-making workshops, façades to decode, quizzes and recycled art.

At the Musée départemental des arts asiatiques in Nice, an introduction to sumō promises to be a surprising and convivial experience.

Finally, at the Palais des Rois Sardes, which is exceptionally open for the occasion, families can play the Loto des Monuments game and explore heritage in a whole new way!

Escape to the wonders of the French Riviera

At the gateway to the Principality, the Beausoleil photo rally is a must for the European Heritage Days. Armed with your smartphone, you can explore the Moneghetti district in 10 stages.

In Menton, the Jardin des Romanciers Fontana Rosa opens wide its gates and its history. Listed as a Historic Monument, the garden invites you to take a stroll with a Spanish accent. With its ceramic tiles, pergolas, ponds and brightly decorated planters, everything here is reminiscent of the patios of Andalusia and Valencia, making for a charming stroll.

The European Heritage Days are the perfect opportunity to visit places that are rarely open to the public, meet people who are passionate about their work and enjoy a human-scale experience between the sea and the mountains. With family or friends, you can put together your own itinerary, choose your highlights and extend your discovery to marvel at the richness of the Côte d’Azur.

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