Cercil Museum - Memorial Children Du Vel D'hiv
About This Museum
It's a place that makes the abstract, chilling number 4,115 suddenly, heartbreakingly real—that's how many Jewish children were rounded up in the Vel d'Hiv raid before being deported. The museum doesn't shout for attention from the street; it feels more like a quiet, thoughtful presence tucked into a repurposed schoolhouse in Orléans. Inside, you walk through deeply personal stories told with photographs, letters, and simple objects like a child's shoe, making the history feel immediate and tangible. It’s a somber but essential space that focuses on remembering the individual lives behind the overwhelming statistics.
Collection Highlights
You'll find poignant ID photos of the children, their final letters scribbled to families, and everyday items recovered from nearby internment camps like Beaune-la-Rolande. One of the most moving exhibits is a room dedicated solely to their names and faces.
Visitor Information
It's on Rue du Bourdon Blanc in Orléans—definitely set aside a couple of hours to really absorb everything. Just be prepared for a powerful, emotional experience.
Architecture & Building
Housed in a modest, renovated old school building with a simple, unassuming facade that belies the profound stories held within its walls.
Contact & Location
Address: Cercil, 45, Rue du Bourdon Blanc, Bourgogne Village, Orléans, Loiret, Centre-Val de Loire, France métropolitaine, 45000, France
Phone: +33 2 38 42 03 91
Website: Visit Website
