
It’s true that there is always somewhere new to discover close to home, but this weekend also encourages us to explore the little-known, the unknown and the unsuspected.
Last year, more than 1,700 heritage locations were open to the public in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, some of them solely for this event and most of them free to enter, and accompanied by around 3,000 initiatives offering something for everyone. So the most difficult thing is undoubtedly choosing and coordinating your visits!
But to do that, you’ll have to wait until the programme is announced at the end of August, but you can be sure that it will include many historic monuments, cities, towns and communities steeped in art and history, some of France’s most beautiful villages, members of the Petites Cités de Caractère association, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and even unique events in private properties rarely open to the public.
With tours organised by heritage enthusiasts, exhibitions, conferences and walks, this event identifies the characteristics shared by the built heritage of Nouvelle-Aquitaine: the pilgrim’s route to Santiago de Compostela (being included in the UNESCO World Heritage listing), the increasingly valued specialist skills involved in tapestry, porcelain and winemaking, and the monuments of all periods that still testify to the history of Aquitaine.