Journées du Patrimoine

Yesterday and today (September 15 and 16, the third weekend of September every year) were the European Days of Patrimony (Journées du Patriomoine). This is a holiday that France began in 1984 and that other EU countries share now. Public buildings (such as government buildings) and monuments are open to the public, generally for free. It was originally called Open Doors Day in France. Is there anything like this in the U.S.? Since we pay taxes, it makes sense for us to be able to visit, say, the Senate building or the White House for free at some point.

Sénat de la France

We visited the French Senate Saturday and then dropped by the National Assembly (similar to the U.S. House of Representatives) but there was a long line that was not moving, and we had two tired children with us so we just took pictures outside.

L'Assemblée Nationale