A New Holocaust Memorial For Paris

">Written by Thomas DowsonWelcome to my blog, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Tomorrow, 27 January, is International Holocaust Remembrance Day – the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp by the Soviet troops in 1945. This anniversary had been variously observed by different groups and nationalities for some time, but it was only in November 2005 that the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 60/7 designated 27 January an international day of remembrance.

The abandoned railway station at Bobigny, Paris. Photograph by Jérémy Saint-Peyre on Flickr.

This week the national French railway company, SNCF, handed over to local officials the former railway station in the Paris suburb of Bobigny for the creation of a new memorial to the French victims of the Nazi concentration camps. Not only was the state-owned SNCF’s equipment and staff used to transport some 76,000 French and other European Jews to Germany, and on to various concentration camps, it was from the station in Bobigny that these final journeys began. Fewer than 3000 people are thought to have returned to France.

For the first time, SNCF last year expressed its “sorrow and regret” for the role the company played in the deportation of Jews during World War II.

There is no timetable for the construction of this new memorial. But when it is complete it will join the Mémorial de la Déportation on the Île de la Cité behind the Notre Dame Cathedral – looking out onto the waters of the Seine River.

Photograph by paspog on Flickr

The Île de la Cité is generally perceived to be the sacred center of France, and built on the site of a former mortuary, this is an appropriate place to remember the 200,000 people who were deported by the Nazis to their death in the concentration camps. This memorial is one of the most poignant memorials I have ever visited.

Photograph by beccabrian on Flickr

Standing behind the Notre Dame Cathedral you are abundantly aware of the hustle and bustle of a busy city all around you. You then descend a set of steps down on the very tip of the Île de la Cité, where you become surrounded by walls and the city all but disappears. You can still hear the sounds of the city, but you can only see the sky above and the river through the bars of window.

Photograph by Airships on Flickr

Another evocative part of the monument is a narrow chamber on which the walls have been covered by 200,000 crystals – each with light shining through them. Each one intended to represent the life of a French citizen who died in the concentration camps.

And, as with many other Holocaust memorial monuments, the exit of the chamber bears the words; Forgive but never forget.

Share and Enjoy:This entry was postedon Wednesday, January 26th, 2011 at 3:04 pmand is filed under France, Uncategorized.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Related posts:Gulag labor camps and the Recsk Memorial, HungaryDo you find the French rude?Horror and History at Gross-Rosen Concentration CampChartres: A Great Day Out From ParisPodcast 27 January 2011: Istanbul’s Ice Museum, Vienna’s Cafe Culture, Language (Mis)Advertures & New Paris Holocaust MemorialOne Response to “” Jean Brookes on January 26th, 2011 at 7:02 pm

Very moving indeed. I am just reading ‘Elle s’appellait Sarah’ about this very sensitive time in French history. Hopefully, nothing remotely like this will ever happen again.

Leave a Reply

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail

Popular Destinations & TopicsairportsAmsterdamBarcelonabeachesBelfastBerlinBerwick upon TweedbookscafescastlescathedralsChristmascyclingDublinEdinburghfestivalsgardensGlasgowhotel reviewsislandsIstanbulIstriakidsLondonManchestermuseumsParisparksphotosPragueRomeRyanairshort breakssportsStockholmstreet arttravel blog carnivalTuscanyvideosViennaviewswalkingwildlifewineZagreb
Country/Category IndexSelect CategoryAccommodationAir TravelAlbaniaAustriaBelarusBelgiumBosniaBudget OptionsBulgariaCar HireChannel IslandsConsumer IssuesCroatiaCultureCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkDestination GuidesEnglandEstoniaEuropean Travel TipsEventsFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceHollandHungaryIcelandIrelandItalyKosovoLatviaLithuaniaLuxembourgMaltaMonte CarloMontenegroNorthern IrelandNorwayPodcastsPolandPortugalRail TravelRestaurantsRomaniaRussiaScotlandSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandTechnologyTurkeyUncategorizedUnited KingdomWales
Latest Articles10 of the Best Cities to Visit in EuropeFive of the Best Things to Do in TuscanySix Tips on Making Time for TravelPodcast 27 January 2011: Istanbul’s Ice Museum, Vienna’s Cafe Culture, Language (Mis)Advertures & New Paris Holocaust MemorialMagic Ice – Istanbul’s Ice Museum


Listen on audioboo.fm!
More about Europe a la Carte AdvertiseComments PolicyContactDisclosure PolicyEditor’s Upcoming TripsEurope a la Carte PodcastsMedia MentionsMeet the Current WritersArchives Select Month January 2011  (40) December 2010  (57) November 2010  (55) October 2010  (48) September 2010  (57) August 2010  (65) July 2010  (59) June 2010  (59) May 2010  (66) April 2010  (57) March 2010  (45) February 2010  (47) January 2010  (42) December 2009  (68) November 2009  (34) October 2009  (49) September 2009  (33) August 2009  (73) July 2009  (37) June 2009  (51) May 2009  (38) April 2009  (45) March 2009  (36) February 2009  (25) January 2009  (23) December 2008  (32) November 2008  (36) October 2008  (42) September 2008  (32) August 2008  (47) July 2008  (59) June 2008  (35) May 2008  (16) April 2008  (28) March 2008  (28) February 2008  (31) January 2008  (22) December 2007  (46) November 2007  (29) October 2007  (34) September 2007  (29) August 2007  (38) July 2007  (34) June 2007  (35) May 2007  (47) April 2007  (47) March 2007  (63) February 2007  (51) January 2007  (51) December 2006  (48) November 2006  (18) October 2006  (7)

Travel InformationCool Travel GuideTravel Tips for Cheap FlightsMarbella HolidaysBest beaches in the WorldCruise DealsA Luxury Travel BlogHollandAirport ParkingTravel Rants BlogTop Travel Content EuropeTravelocity CouponsSpendthrift ShoestringYorkshire Holiday CottagesEasytobook.com HotelsBudget HolidaysSouth Pacific Travel BlogEurope Word BlogA View from A BroadThomson Discount CodesWhitby CottagesTrail of Ants Travel BlogParis ApartmentsTravel & Places of InterestHappy Time BlogTravel MoneyBarcelona ApartmentsFlightsGo Budget TravelCar Hire SpainOn the RoadJourneyetcBerlin ApartmentsEuroCheapo BlogEurope Travel DirectorySharing Travel Experiences


Apartments in Amsterdam Apartments in Berlin Apartment Barcelona Apartments Rome
FOR PROPER HOLIDAYS

Barcelona Apartments Paris apartments Berlin apartments ALL DESTINATIONS


Worldwide Travel Insurance

 EU Short BreaksGolf BreaksHotel ResortsCountry BreaksUK HotelsShort BreaksSights, culture, entertainment or activities, if you’re thinking short breaks, Europe has it all and Marriott has it covered, with 107 hotels in 22 countries.

Golf BreaksIf you’re looking for a golf break, take a look at these amazing Marriott golf packages available throughout the UK, Ireland, Egypt, Spain and Portugal.

Hotel ResortsMarriott hotel resorts offer sensational sojourns in some of the world’s most enticing locations. Aruba, Bali, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica – where will you go?

Country BreaksA country break in a Marriott Hotel & Country Club will get you back to nature in some style. Time to treat yourself…

UK HotelsMarriott hotels in the UK offer comfort, style and a warm welcome. Business, leisure, short-break or celebration – take a look at the options.

Find Hotels Online

 Copyright © Europe a la Carte Blog - find the best places to visit in EuropeCreated by Dosh Dosh