The children's home was originally established in the spring of 1943 to shelter Jewish children escaping persecution in the occupied zone.
The arrest was initiated by an order from Klaus Barbie, then the Gestapo chief in Lyon.
Letters written by the children to their families while staying at the house were preserved and are now key artifacts in the museum collection.
The site was registered as a historical monument in 1991, prior to its official opening as a public memorial.
The memorial hosts an annual ceremony on April 6 to commemorate the anniversary of the raid.
The site includes a permanent collection of archives and testimonies from survivors and witnesses of the era.
Maison d'Izieu is a memorial site and former children's home located in the Ain department, dedicated to the memory of 44 Jewish children and their caretakers arrested and deported by the Gestapo on April 6, 1944. The site serves as a museum and center for the defense of human rights, focusing on the history of the Holocaust in France. It preserves the original residence where the children lived between May 1943 and their final arrest. The grounds include a contemporary building designed for exhibitions and archives that document the rescue attempts and the fate of the victims. It stands as a witness to the crimes committed under the command of Klaus Barbie. The memorial was officially inaugurated by President François Mitterrand in 1994. The exhibits feature original letters and drawings created by the children during their stay at the colony. It functions as both a site of remembrance and an educational space for reflecting on xenophobia and racism.
The garden area overlooking the Rhône Valley, which provides the view the children would have seen during their time there.
Allow extra time to read the personal letters and view the drawings, which provide the most intimate connection to the site's history.
Check the official website for current temporary exhibitions or specific memorial events before arrival.
The site is emotionally heavy; prepare for a solemn experience rather than a traditional museum visit.
Avoid treating the site as a casual park or scenic viewpoint; it is a dedicated memorial space.
Closed on Tuesdays during certain off-peak months and annually for a period in mid-winter.
Maintain a respectful and quiet demeanor at all times given the site's history as a place of mourning.
