Celebrating Heritage Days at La Ballue on 19 and 20 September 2026
National theme for this 43rd edition: ‘Photographic Heritage’ & ‘Heritage at Risk: Revitalise, Resist, Reimagine’
As it has done every year since 2005, the Château de la Ballue and its gardens will be opening their doors during the Heritage Days weekend on 19 and 20 September.
Programme :
- Come and discover or rediscover the 17th-century interiors on a guided tour led by the owners:
First, travel back to the 11th century, when La Ballue was still a medieval fortress forming part of the ‘marches’ of Brittany – a series of forts designed to defend the duchy. Then follow the extraordinary journey of its builder, Gilles de Ruellan, who rebuilt the fortress as a Louis XIII-style château in the early 17th century. You will be shown the architectural evolution of this heritage site, from the main courtyard to the ground floor of the château. La Ballue is a place steeped in history, listed in its entirety (château and gardens) as a Historic Monument. - A tour of the gardens, which hold the ‘Jardin Remarquable’ and ‘Monuments Historiques’ designations:
A magical and whimsical world, an architectural masterpiece, where every vista was carefully considered over 50 years ago by the publisher Claude Arthaud and the two great architects François Hébert-Stevens and Paul Maymont. - ‘Les petites fleurs de l’Apocalypse (1918–2018)’ by Régis Perray:
Discover Régis Perray’s exhibition ‘Les petites fleurs de l’Apocalypse (1918–2018)’ in the shop at the Château de la Ballue gardens, in partnership with the Bazouges-la-Pérouse Superflux Contemporary Art Centre
Practical information:
School groups are welcome at the Château and Gardens of La Ballue on Friday 18 September.
Special opening hours for the European Heritage Days: 9.00 am–7.00 pm, open all day.
Guided historical tour of the interiors (ground floor of the 17th-century château) on Saturday and Sunday: at 10.30 am, 2 pm, 4 pm and 6 pm (no booking required).
Rates :
Admission at standard rates. The guided tour of the interiors is free of charge.
Full price: €10.50.
Concession price: €8.50 (students, jobseekers, people with disabilities).
Free for children under 18.