Located in Paris’s Marais district, since its inauguration on January 27, 2005—the 60th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation—the Shoah Memorial has established itself as Europe’s foremost institution for Holocaust remembrance. It stands on the site of the earlier “Memorial of the Unknown Jewish Martyr” (1956), designed by architects Alexandre Persitz and Georges Goldberg. This crypt holds a black marble Star of David, a perpetual flame, and ashes from Auschwitz and the Warsaw Ghetto.

Visitors begin on the forecourt, where a bronze cylinder bears the names of Nazi death camps, and the Wall of Names memorializes the 76,000 Jews deported from France between 1942 and 1944. Nearby stands the Wall of the Righteous, honoring over 3,900 individuals who saved Jews at great personal risk.

Inside, the permanent exhibition mixes photographs, personal items, films, and audio testimonies, including the poignant Children’s Memorial which displays 3,000 photographs of young victims. Temporary exhibitions explore themes like Auschwitz photography (e.g., Raymond Depardon) and other genocides.

The contemporary Jewish documentation center houses one of Europe's richest archival collections: over 40 million items, 90,000 photographs, and 80,000 books. Open to researchers and the public, it includes a reading room, multimedia facilities, a bookstore, and the Edmond J. Safra auditorium, which features screenings, talks, and performances linked to memory education.

The atmosphere is solemn and introspective. Visitors often report deep emotional impact. Guided tours (€5 audioguide available) run every Sunday at 3 pm in French, with an English tour on the second Sunday each month—free and no reservation required.

Target audiences include students, families, researchers, and ethically-minded tourists. Children aged 8–12 use guided booklets avoiding graphic content, while workshops are offered (€6) . Group visits can be arranged (adults €75/€99, school €49/€69).
Interestingly, the site has featured in films like Elle s’appelait Sarah and Le Nom des gens. On Holocaust Remembrance Day, a continuous public reading of the names on the Wall of Names takes place annually .

Practical info: open Sunday–Friday 10 am–6 pm, late opening Thursday until 9–10 pm; closed on Saturdays, national holidays, and Jewish holidays . Fully wheelchair-accessible, with elevators and adapted restrooms. Served by métro (Saint-Paul, Hôtel-de-Ville, Pont-Marie) and buses 67/69/76/96; nearby parking available.
To further preserve memory, the Shoah Foundation and INA have produced filmed testimonies since 2005, now available as podcasts—featuring figures like Serge Klarsfeld discussing his father’s deportation and efforts to bring Nazi criminals to justice.