Loto du patrimoine 2026: a hundred endangered sites are given a new lease of life

These include a 1960s swimming pool in Seine-Saint-Denis, a weather station on a Morvan mountain, a Breton tide mill and an industrial tower on the banks of the Loire. On 31 August, Mission Patrimoine unveiled 100 new sites at a local level, as well as 18 flagship projects from the regions and overseas territories. Since 2018, the scheme has benefited more than 1,080 sites. Seven out of ten have already been saved or are in the process of being saved.

One hundred sites, one hundred local stories

Couëron plumb line tower; Fondation du Patrimoine.

The list reveals an unexpected geographical picture. In Trégunc, Finistère, a sea wall and the Minaouët tide mill serve as reminders of a time when the sea itself provided energy for millers. In Couëron, Loire-Atlantique, a brick tower built in 1878 was used to produce shotgun pellets: the molten lead was poured from the top and solidified into pellets as it fell. It is the only lead tower built in France and one of only fifteen still standing in the world. The selection also includes a swimming pool in Marville, Seine-Saint-Denis; a weather station on Montagne du Calvaire, Château-Chinon; a Swedish chalet in Bagnoles-de-l’Orne; the former Bergesserin sanatorium, Saône-et-Loire; and a greenhouse in Strasbourg. These are familiar, often unassuming places, closely linked to the identity of their local communities.

The Loto du Patrimoine restoration projects

Stéphane Bern ; Loto du Patrimoine

The principle has remained unchanged since the scheme’s inception: combining a gaming offering with the preservation of endangered sites across the country. Since 31 August, FDJ has been offering a new ‘Mission Patrimoine’ scratchcard in three versions. This year’s design is inspired by stained glass and features a central rose window and six iconic sites included in this edition. For every ticket sold, €1.86 – the levy that would normally go to the state – is donated to the Heritage Foundation. There will be eight Loto du Patrimoine draws from 7 to 21 September, supplemented by a Super Loto on Friday 18 September, the eve of European Heritage Days. Playing each ticket also contributes to the fundraising effort: 0.54 euros from the Loto and 0.73 euros from the Super Loto.

Four criteria to select from six hundred and fifty applications

Nearly 650 new applications were submitted this year via the Mission Patrimoine platform by owners, associations, and local authorities. These applications are first reviewed by the Fondation du Patrimoine’s departmental and regional delegations, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture. Four criteria are then used to make the final decision: the site’s heritage and cultural significance, its state of disrepair, the maturity of the restoration project, and its impact on the local area. Eighteen flagship projects are selected for the regions and overseas territories, plus one site per department. The departmental winners for this year were announced at the Domaine de Plaisir in Yvelines – a site selected for the initiative this year – in the presence of the Minister for Culture, Catherine Pégard, and Stéphane Bern.

A modest heritage, often unprotected

Cap Fagnet et chapelle ; Commune de Fécamp – Fondation du Patrimoine

Religious sites account for just over a third of the selected projects, followed by castles, houses, and dwellings. The remainder make up a more surprising mix, including industrial and craft sites, rural and agricultural heritage, gardens, water-related structures and civil and military architecture. Nearly half of the sites selected in 2026 remain unprotected as listed historic monuments. Fifty-seven per cent are owned by public bodies, 39 per cent by private owners and 4 per cent by associations. The Loto du Patrimoine thus supports the Notre-Dame de Salut chapel in Fécamp; the former synagogue in Hégenheim, which is set to be given a new cultural lease of life; Haroué Castle in Lorraine; and Bonaguil Castle, which is owned by the municipality of Fumel and where work is due to begin in 2027.

Seven out of ten projects already saved

Fondation du Patrimoine

Eight editions have had a measurable impact. Since 2018, more than 1,080 sites have received support; 514 projects have been completed, while 281 are ongoing. Over €380 million has been raised for these restoration projects, including €52 million from corporate sponsorship, private donations, and the Fondation du Patrimoine’s own resources. The Ministry of Culture is allocating €118 million in funding to projects involving historic monuments. The amount awarded to each of the 100 departmental winners will depend on sales and will be announced at the end of the year. Meanwhile, the grants for the 18 iconic sites will be revealed during the European Heritage Days.

Preserving rather than freezing in time

Mural on the vault of the abbey church of Sainte-Theudère in Isère – Fondation du Patrimoine

Since 2018, more than 7,000 at-risk sites have been reported on the Mission Patrimoine platform. The survey is ongoing as restoration work progresses, and preparations for the next selection round are already underway. Applications for iconic sites must be submitted by 15 November 2026 and for departmental sites by 28 February 2027.

Every restoration project undertaken through the Heritage Lottery keeps alive a fragment of local history, a familiar landscape or a way of life. Municipal swimming pools, greenhouses, mills and weather stations are just as much a part of a town’s collective memory as major listed monuments. Heritage is passed on, lived in and admired, and it continues to exist on this basis.