JEP 2026 : visitez le site historique de l'Inalco !

Inalco will exceptionally open the doors of its historic site, the Maison de la recherche, to the public on Saturday, 19 September 2026, from 1 PM to 6 PM. This edition focuses on the themes: "Photography Heritage" and "Heritage in peril: revive, resist, reimagine". The second theme particularly echoes this former private mansion built in 1716, which successively housed ministries, administrations, and residents, before being assigned to the École spéciale des langues orientales. Discover the history of this very special hotel during the JEP!

1. For over two centuries, France has possessed a unique institution, open to all, dedicated to the learning of languages and civilisations from the five continents.

   The École spéciale des langues orientales, known today as the Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales (Inalco), was created in

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5. At the time, it was a new type of school, public, free, dedicated to teaching living languages of public and commercial utility.

   In the early 19th century, about ten languages were taught, compared to a hundred today. The theme "Heritage in peril: revive, resist, reimagine" of this 43rd edition of the European Heritage Days echoes this former private mansion built in

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9. After housing several successive tenants, the Hôtel de Bernage was assigned to the École des langues orientales in 1873, which adapted it to its new functions.

   The architect Louis Faure-Dujarric took the greatest care with the interior decoration, multiplying orientalist references. The public will be able to discover this very particular building with its diverse heritage riches and enjoy a free and documented visit tracing the singular history of the establishment, renovated in

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13. Several architectural elements, including the floor mosaics, the monumental staircase, and the mouldings and medallions of the historic salons, received the "Patrimoine d’intérêt régional" label from the Île-de-France Region in

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17. The public will notably have the opportunity to consult the volumes of the Description de l'Égypte preserved at Inalco, a monumental work resulting from Napoleon's military campaign in Egypt.

    Inalco, also known as "Langues O’", today offers unique expertise in languages and societies, stemming from centuries of experience. No institution, no country, offers such diversity of courses, openness, and richness of knowledge. The institution is a key player in the pr