Inaugurated in September 2012 in the presence of President François Hollande, the Drancy Shoah Memorial is a place of remembrance and a museum that complements the Shoah Memorial in Paris. Designed by Swiss architect Roger Diener, the three-storey building offers a direct view of the former internment camp through its large windows.

The museum comprises a permanent exhibition, a space dedicated to temporary exhibitions and mediation rooms. It retraces the major stages in the camp's history: its construction, its role in the deportation, the life of the internees, the end of the occupation and the slow recognition of this tragedy. The tour is enhanced by models, archives, authentic objects, internee graffiti and audio testimonials from survivors.

The Memorial also places this story in a broader context, addressing the Nazi genocidal project, Vichy collaboration and deportation logistics on a European scale.

A scientific, educational and cultural mission

To pass on this memory, the Shoah Memorial offers a wide range of activities.

Schoolchildren, from CM2 to Terminale, benefit from guided tours, workshops, screenings and debates, and meetings with witnesses and specialists. A visit to the outdoor site is systematically included. Training courses are also available for teachers and professionals concerned with the challenges of remembrance.

Every Sunday, a free program is open to the general public: lectures, literary encounters, guided tours of temporary exhibitions and the historic site, screenings, shows and debates.