The Journées du Patrimoine are back in 2025, offering another opportunity to discover France's cultural and historical treasures. During these two days, monuments, museums and other remarkable sites open their doors (for the most part) free of charge to the general public. It's the perfect opportunity to visit places that are often closed the rest of the year, and to immerse yourself in the history and architecture of our country. One of the emblematic sites not to be missed this year is the Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation, a poignant tribute to the victims of the Second World War.
Located on theIle de la Cité in Paris, the Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation was inaugurated in 1962. The monument, designed by architect Georges-Henri Pingusson, is dedicated to the 200,000 French deportees who were sent to Nazi concentration camps between 1940 and 1945. With its sober, symbolic architecture, it immerses visitors in an atmosphere of contemplation and reflection. The long, narrow, dark stone corridor leads to a crypt where an eternal flame burns in tribute to the victims, reminding us of the importance of collective memory.
This site, less well known than other Parisian monuments, offers a visit imbued with gravity and emotion. It's the perfect opportunity to discover a place steeped in history, while paying tribute to those who suffered during one of humanity's darkest periods. Take advantage of these Heritage Days to immerse yourself in this essential page of our history, and let this place remind you of the importance of memory and peace.
A monumental memorial behind Notre-Dame de Paris? It's the memorial to the martyrs of the Deportation, located behind the cathedral and designed by Georges-Henri Pingussion. (Re)discover it during the European Heritage Days!
Inaugurated by General de Gaulle in April 1962, the memorial to the martyrs of the Deportation, on the eastern tip of the Île-de-la-Cité, is one of the architect's two outstanding achievements. Georges-Henri Pingusson (1894-1978) left his mark on generations through his architecture and his words.
A charismatic figure, he was one of the last personalities of the French modernist movement. Throughout his life, his buildings and creations were marked by an artistic commitment and an intelligent, complex approach to space. Both a lesson in architecture and a place of remembrance, the Martyrs de la Déportation Memorial pays tribute to the men, women and children deported from France to the Nazi concentration camp. It also bears witness to the culture and sensitivity of its designer. "Transforming memory into monument. Memory into memorial" Remembrance Network.
The memorial to the martyrs of the Deportation on the Île de la Cité in Paris, commissioned by the Réseau du Souvenir association and designed by architect Georges-Henri Pingusson, was inaugurated by General de Gaulle on April 12, 1962. A singular work of art and architecture, it suggests certain characteristic aspects of the concentration camp world: imprisonment, oppression, impossible escape. Involving visitors, the memorial invites them to wander and reflect.
Ravensbrück, Birkenau, Buchenwald... These camps symbolize the dehumanization of thousands of deported women. Resistance fighters, Jews or gypsies, the survivors of Nazi repressive policies and the Nazi concentration camp world fought with their lives to bear witness to the unspeakable and to fight against inequality and injustice.
From the concentration camp experience presented at the memorial to the martyrs of the Deportation, to the testimonies they have left behind today, come and discover these emblematic journeys at the heart of a building designed as a tribute to those deported from French soil during the Occupation.
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Dates and Opening Time
From September 20, 2025 to September 21, 2025
Location
Memorial to the martyrs of the Deportation
7 Quai de l'Archevêché
75004 Paris 4
Prices
Free
Official website
www.onac-vg.fr
