Launched on September 23, 1984, by the French Ministry of Culture, the first Heritage Day, which took place on a single day (the third Sunday in September), has since 1991 become an initiative led by the Council of Europe and the European Commission. The event now is held during two days in all European Union member states and even elsewhere in the world.
Among the Caribbean islands, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St Martin, and St Barthélemy, which are French territories, actively participate in European Heritage Days. The theme for 2025 is “Architectural Heritage”.
This is an opportunity for residents to enter all the places open to the public free of charge, either alone or with their family. In our territories, visitors will be spoiled for choice on Saturday, September 20, and Sunday, September 21, as they are every year. But from this Friday, September 19, schoolchildren will participate in the national operation called “Look Up” to discover local architecture.
Forts, colonial and contemporary public buildings, colonial houses, Creole huts, houses in the streets of town centers, churches, presbyteries, windmills, lighthouses, distilleries, and more will have no more secrets for the public. Workshops, conferences, exhibitions, walks, and night hikes will also be offered during this major cultural event.
The Prefecture of Guadeloupe, for its part, has announced around a hundred free events throughtout the archipelago. Please note that visitors must register for certain visits.
Find the schedule for the 42nd European Heritage Days in Guadeloupe here, as well as the schedule for the 42nd European Heritage Days in Martinique.
