Paris has no shortage of secret gardens, hidden passageways, grandiose homes and historic mansion but for most of the year, these sumptuous treasures are verboten to visitors. In honor of Heritage Days, which took place over the weekend, locals and visitors were exposed to a different side of the city – inside ornate halls, behind locked doors and in front of some absolutely spectacular works of art.

Among the places we visited, we were particularly blown away by the gilded gallery inside the Banque de France which arguably rivals the beloved Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. That employees are able to see spaces like this on a regular basis is simply extraordinary. Gives new meaning to the thought that Paris is, itself, a museum.

For those of you who are already thinking about visiting Paris next September (2013), it wouldn’t be a bad idea to plan around this annual weekend of discovery.

If you were in town, what spots did you visit?