These are thousands of fragments of Parisian history that the public almost never sees. On Friday, September 18, 2026, the City of Paris’s archaeological storage facilities will open their doors to the public for a special event as part of European Heritage Days. Located in the 18th arrondissement, they cover 800 square meters and house artifacts discovered during various archaeological excavations carried out in the capital.
Above all, the tour will help visitors understand what happens once the excavations are complete. Because unearthing an object is only the beginning of the process: it must then be cleaned, studied, cataloged, packaged, and finally preserved under conditions appropriate for its material. The collections are thus organized by material—stone, ceramics, bone, metal, and glass.
Paris’s archaeological storage facilities open for Heritage Days
These artifacts document the different periods of Paris’s history and continue to be added to through ongoing excavations in the capital. In 2026, Parisian archaeology was particularly visible around the Île de la Cité, with excavations on the forecourt of Notre-Dame, at the Hôtel-Dieu, and at the Palais de Justice. Some of these excavations reveal more than 2,000 years of human occupation in the heart of Paris.
The tour of the storage facilities will therefore not simply be an exhibition of ancient artifacts. Experts will also explain the methods used after an excavation and the work required to transform an archaeological discovery into a genuine historical source.
On the practical side, four one-hour guided tours will be offered at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. Each group will be limited to just 19 participants, for a total of fewer than 80 spots throughout the day. Admission will be free, but reservations are required. The City of Paris states that the ticket system will go live during the first half of September. With so few spots available, you’ll likely need to act fast once registration opens.
Location: Department of History of Architecture and Archaeology, 11 rue du Pré, 75018 Paris
Times: Friday, September 18, 2026, at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m.; free with reservation.