If you happen to find yourself in Paris this September 20th and 21st, cancel all other plans, buy a copy of the newspaper, pack a good book, and prepare to stand in line for several hours.

'Are you crazy?' you might well be wondering. Why on earth would I be telling you to do such insane things in Paris, city of love, of light, of wonder and beauty? Because for these two days, you can gain unparalleled access to some of the greatest and most hidden treasures that Paris has to offer - for free.

The concept is a EU-wide program to get people to see the historic monuments of their city, whether famous or not, for free. In Paris, you not only get free admission to places like the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay, you can also gain entry to historical sites such as the old Foreign Ministry at the Quai d'Orsay, the Hôtel Matignon, home to the French Prime Minister, and of course, the star attraction, the Palais Elysée, home to the President himself.
I personally took advantage of the weekend to see the Hôtel de Ville de Paris (which is stunning on the inside), the Hôtel Sully, Hôtel Matignon, the Institut du Monde Arabe, and the Quai d'Orsay building. You can also see lesser known treasures - several ambassadors' residences are historical sites in their own right, either because of their architecture, or because they have stunning artwork or decors on the inside.

Now the practical advice: you'll find a listing of all the monuments that are open in a special newspaper supplement, along with hours, which day they are open, and addresses. If you want to see the 'big ticket' items like the Palais Elysée, you had better get there early and be prepared to spend an extensive amount of time standing in line. It's tedious, but it's well worth the wait when you're inside (I spent nearly 2 hours waiting to get into the Hôtel Matignon).

When you find yourself getting impatient, don't be - take a cue from the French people around you and find something to do (hence the suggestion of bringing a book to read), and if your French is good enough, try and strike up a conversation. Make sure that your camera has batteries (or that you know how to fix it if anything goes wrong - my camera got stuck JUST as I entered Matignon. I could have wept). Strategize what sites you want to see and be prepared to have either backup options, or to have sites that you would be ok with not seeing, because it will not physically be possible to dash all over Paris and stand in line and tour the buildings in two short days.

Should you find yourself lucky to catch the Journées de la Patrimoine, you will certainly have the experience of a lifetime in Paris, and some great memories that most tourists will never get the opportunity to create.

*Image credit - myself. The interior of the Hôtel de Ville de Paris.