Every year in France there is a fantastic initiative called the Journées Européennes du Patrimoine (European Heritage Days) where residents and tourists have the chance to visit historical, cultural and architectural sites for no entry fee or heavily reduced entrance fees.
This year, the 35th edition is held this weekend – Saturday 15 September and Sunday 16 September 2018 – and over 17,000 monuments throughout France open their doors for special activities and events.
Journees Européennes du Patrimoine 2018 (image: JEP)
Journées du Patrimoine / European Heritage Days 2018 on the French Riviera:
Some of the participating sites on the French Riviera include:
Antibes
- Lou Pitchoun Musée chez Bernard Boetti, Jardin Thuret, Médiatheque Antibes, Musée de la Carte Postale, Musée Peynet, Picasso Museum
Biot
- Musée Fernand Léger
Cagnes-sur-Mer
- Musée Renoir
Musée Renoir, Cagnes-sur-Mer
Cannes
- Château Font de Veyre, Forrtified monastery of Abbaye de Lérins (Ile Saint-Honorat), Chapelle Bellini, La Malmaison art centre, Musée de la Castre (Le Suquet), Musée de la Mer (Ile St-Marguerite)
Fréjus
- The archaeological crypt
Le Cannet
- Musée Bonnard
Lucéram
- Église Saint Marguerite
Menton
- Jardin Fontana Rosa
Montauroux
- Moulin à huile
Nice
- Cathédrale St Réparate, Église Saint François du Paul, Espac Olympia, Fort de Mont Alban, Grotte du Lazaret, Hôtel de Ville, MAMAC art gallery, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Musée National Marc Chagall, Musée National du Sport
Musée National Marc Chagall (image: kfntravelguide)
Sospel
- Maginot de l’Agaisan
Vallauris
- Musée Magnelli
Vence
- Musée de Vence
Villefranche-sur-Mer
- Église Saint Michel
Villeneuve Loubet
- Château de Vaugrenier, the medieval fortress in the village
Chateau Vaugrenier (image: Platforme Events)
TRANSPORT for Journées du Patrimoine
In conjunction with the Journées du Patrimoine, there are various transport deals across the French Riviera this weekend offering free or reduced tickets for travel including:
– €5 unlimited travel train tickets on the TER network for travel each day on Saturday 15 September and Sunday 16 September only on the French Riviera coast. For example, a return ticket Juan les Pins to Monaco is approximately €15, or a ZOU! Carte (daily pass) is usually €15 until 30 September so make use of this great deal! Note: This €5 offer is also available on 19 September as part of the Semaine Européenne de Mobilité.
– Return ferry from Cannes to Ile Saint-Marguerite for €12.50 per adult (usually €15 per adult; no discount for children)
– €1,50 for unlimited bus travel all day on Saturday 15 September in Cannes with Palm Bus www.palmbus.fr
– Free travel all day in Saint Raphael on Saturday 15 September on the routes with Agglobus www.agglobus-cavem.com
– Free travel all day in Monaco on Sunday 16 September on the 6 bus lines with CAM and the Bateau bus www.cam.mc
JOURNÉES DU PATRIMOINE CÔTE D’AZUR SITES
The official programme for participating sites in France is available here: Journées du Patrimoine Programme
Access Riviera 