France Launches National Heritage Pass for 500 Monuments
On June 11, 2026, at the Château de Versailles, Catherine Pégard, the French Culture Minister, introduced the national Pass Patrimoine (Heritage Pass) in honor of the Fondation du patrimoine's 30th anniversary. Set to launch in September 2026, this pass will grant entry to nearly 500 locations, including renowned sites such as Versailles and Chambord, as well as lesser-known places like Maison de Colette. The annual fee will be approximately €100, with the Fondation du patrimoine overseeing its administration without owning or managing the sites. This announcement follows a study by Marie Lavandier, presented on July 3, 2025, which examined the possibility of adapting the National Trust model for France. Additionally, the CMN's current €49 "Passion Monuments" card raises concerns about how it will coexist with the new pass.
Key facts
- Announced June 11, 2026 by Catherine Pégard at Versailles
- Launch in September 2026 for Journées européennes du patrimoine (Sept 19-20)
- Access to nearly 500 monuments, museums, castles, gardens
- Price around €100 per year (final TBD)
- Operated by Fondation du patrimoine as a new membership
- Includes major sites: Versailles, Chambord, Fontainebleau, Chantilly, Azay-le-Rideau, Vaux-le-Vicomte, Vincennes, Villa Cavrois, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
- Also includes lesser-known: Maison de Colette, La Devinière-Musée Rabelais, Maison Rozier, Four des Casseaux
- Fondation du patrimoine founded 1996, works with Stéphane Bern and Française des jeux on Mission patrimoine
- Models: National Trust (UK, 1895, 500+ sites) and English Heritage (400+ sites)
- Previous minister Rachida Dati commissioned report from Marie Lavandier (CMN) in Jan 2025, report submitted July 3, 2025, not public
- CMN's existing 'Passion Monuments' costs €49/year for 100 state sites (Arc de Triomphe, Sainte-Chapelle, Panthéon, Mont-Saint-Michel, Carcassonne, Azay-le-Rideau)
Entities
Institutions
- Fondation du patrimoine
- Centre des monuments nationaux
- National Trust
- English Heritage
- Française des jeux
- Le Journal des Arts
Locations
- France
- Versailles
- Chambord
- Fontainebleau
- Chantilly
- Azay-le-Rideau
- Vaux-le-Vicomte
- Vincennes
- Villa Cavrois
- Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
- Maison de Colette
- La Devinière-Musée Rabelais
- Maison Rozier
- Four des Casseaux
- England
- Wales
- Northern Ireland
- Arc de Triomphe
- Sainte-Chapelle
- Panthéon
- Mont-Saint-Michel
- Carcassonne