The Terrorism Memorial Museum is still under threat: six years of work, millions spent and a place left abandoned

On the heights of Suresnes (Hauts-de-Seine), about a hundred meters from Mont-Valérien, stands the former open-air school, inaugurated in 1935 and designed to accommodate so-called "fragile" children. After passing the entrance of the National Higher Institute of Training and Research for Inclusive Education (INSEI), which now occupies part of it, a large space of almost 7,000 square meters is revealed. A wooded park gives way to ten white pavilions, almost exclusively covered with sliding glass doors to allow light and air to circulate. Behind it, the main L-shaped building is also crossed by immense windows.

“It’s a large, open, connected and bright space , describes Henry Rousso, historian and president of the preparatory mission for the terrorism memorial museum . This corresponds to the wishes of the victims and their families: to have a place focused on life and not something that would resemble a large tomb. " For all these reasons, this is the place that was chosen by the Ile-de-France prefecture to set up this memorial museum. At the southern entrance, a faded blue sign is affixed: one can read the work permit issued on September 21, 2023. However, nothing has started. Everything is at a standstill.

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