European Heritage Days 2025: Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris Unveils Centenary Program
From Saturday, September 20 to Sunday, September 21, 2025, the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris (CIUP) will open its doors for the European Heritage Days, offering a rich and diverse program to celebrate its centenary. This year’s event also coincides with a dedicated Architecture Week, running from September 15-21, highlighting the site’s unique architectural and cultural heritage.
What to Expect During the Heritage Days Weekend (September 20-21)?
Visitors to the CIUP will have the opportunity to explore its 47 remarkable houses, designed by leading architects and artists of the 20th century. The program is free, open to all, and includes:
- Guided Tours: Many houses will exceptionally open their doors for tours led by their teams or directors, with some offering access to historic rooms. The Heritage Center will also offer thematic tours focusing on the campus’s architectural evolution, artistic creations, and the history of its centenary park.
- Exhibitions: Highlights include “Rêver la Cité,” a prospective design competition, and a selection of modernist photographs by the CIUP Photo Club.
- Concerts & Performances: Enjoy a dawn recital on the lawn or a musical performance centered on Greek matriarchy.
- Conferences & Projections: Discussions will cover the links between architecture and society, from Bauhaus to Tunisian gastronomy. A round table, “What architecture for what living together?”, will bring together architects and researchers.
Architecture Week (September 15-21): A Prelude to the Celebrations
Ahead of the main Heritage Days weekend, the CIUP will host a special Architecture Week with a series of events designed to delve deeper into its architectural significance:
- Film screening of “The Strength of Utopia – Le Corbusier in Chandigarh.”
- Colloquium dedicated to Albert Laprade.
- Vernissage dedicated to Willem Marinus Dudok.
- Two exhibitions on modernist architecture: one showcasing modernist architectures at the CIUP and another dedicated to the genesis of the Maison du Brésil.
Discovering the CIUP: A Unique Architectural and Cultural Hub
The Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris is a unique campus spanning 34 hectares in the south of Paris. Established through the initiative of various countries, schools, or philanthropists, it hosts nearly 12,000 students, researchers, and artists from approximately 140 nationalities. Its 47 houses, built between 1925 and 1969, represent major architectural trends of the 20th century and house remarkable artistic masterpieces.
Practical Information
- Dates: September 20-21, 2025 (European Heritage Days); September 15-21, 2025 (Architecture Week).
- Location: Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, 17 Boulevard Jourdan, 75014 Paris.
- Admission: Free and open to all for most events.
- Access:
- RER B: Cité Universitaire
- Metro: Porte d’Orléans
- Tramway T3: Cité Universitaire
- Bus: 21, 88, 67
- Périphérique: Exit Porte d’Orléans or Porte de Gentilly (Public parking CHARLETY nearby)
- Vélib station in front of the Cité internationale
- Contact: 01 76 21 26 96
- Website: https://www.centenaire.ciup.fr/
The full program for the week and the Heritage Days weekend will be available on the CIUP centenary website.
Source: https://www.leparisien.fr/etudiant/sortir/paris/eve-cite-internationale-universitaire-de-paris-paris-journees-patrimoine/
