Abstract: An exhaust recirculation of gases in internal combustion engines, notably for automobiles, which has a catalytic converter, recycling apparatus for recycling the exhaust gases and heat recovers apparatus for recovering heat from the exhaust gases. A single heat exchanger is arranged for cooling the recycled exhaust gases and recovering the heat energy from the exhaust gases for heating the passenger compartment of the vehicle and for protecting the catalytic converter from excessively high exhaust temperatures. Valves for diverting exhaust gases, a back-pressure valve and an EGR valve are controlled for this purpose by control electronics. The invention is particularly applicable to direct-injection petrol or diesel engines or to lean-mixture petrol engines.