In Paris’s Marais district, the Mémorial de la Shoah is a museum and place of remembrance focused on the persecution of Jews in France during the Second World War. Its Wall of Names, engraved with the names of 76,000 Jews deported from France, gives the visit a solemn starting point. Inside, photographs, videos, personal objects and exhibitions explore the history of the Holocaust and the German occupation. Admission is free, and an audio guide is available to help you understand the displays.
A memorial in the Marais
The Mémorial de la Shoah is at 17 Rue Geoffroy l’Asnier in the Marais, a district with a long connection to Paris’s Jewish community. The memorial is dedicated to Jewish people deported from France and to resistance fighters. Its work includes both remembrance and education, with exhibits and archives focused on the persecution of Jews in France during the Second World War.
The institution’s history reaches back to 1956, when the Memorial to the Unknown Jewish Martyr was established. The site later became the Mémorial de la Shoah, and the museum opened in 2005. The word “Shoah” means “catastrophe” in Hebrew and is used in France to refer to the Holocaust.
The Wall of Names
The Wall of Names is one of the memorial’s central features. Its limestone slabs carry the names of 76,000 Jews deported from France. The names make the scale of deportation personal and give the memorial’s history a direct connection to individual lives.
The wall is part of the visitor’s encounter with the site, alongside a forecourt, a memorial crypt and the Wall of the Righteous. Take time here before moving into the museum. The memorial is a place for quiet reflection, and a measured pace allows room to read and consider what is presented.
Inside the museum
The museum examines the Holocaust and the German occupation of France, including the persecution of Jews under the Vichy regime. Photographs, video testimonies from survivors and personal objects help tell this history. Exhibitions and archival material provide further detail on the events and their context, while temporary exhibitions add changing subjects to the visit.
An audio guide is available free of charge. Many display texts have English translations, though not every area is translated, so the guide can be useful if you do not speak French. Security checks take place at the entrance and can lead to a wait; arriving early is a practical way to allow time for entry.
FAQ
Is admission to the Mémorial de la Shoah free?
Yes. Admission is free, including access to temporary exhibitions.
Where is the Mémorial de la Shoah?
It is at 17 Rue Geoffroy l’Asnier in the Marais district of Paris.
What can you see at the Mémorial de la Shoah?
The site includes the Wall of Names, a memorial crypt and the Wall of the Righteous. The museum presents photographs, videos, personal objects, exhibitions and archival material about the Holocaust and the occupation of France.
Is an audio guide available?
Yes. A free audio guide is available. Many display texts are translated into English, but not all areas have translations.
