Mémorial du camp de Rivesaltes

The Mémorial du camp de Rivesaltes is a museum housed in a modern concrete structure that sits within the grounds of the former internment camp north of Perpignan. Inside, exhibition areas display documents, multimedia presentations, and personal objects that document the experiences of those imprisoned there.

The camp was established in 1938 and operated for more than 3 decades, housing Spanish Republicans fleeing their civil war, Jewish refugees seeking safety, and Harkis from North Africa. The site witnessed successive waves of displacement as different groups were brought there under changing political circumstances.

The exhibition spaces contain personal accounts and artifacts from those held within the camp, showing their daily struggles and stories. These materials help visitors connect with the human reality behind this painful chapter of history.

The site is best explored on foot, with pathways leading through both the museum building and past surviving barrack structures from the original camp. Plan adequate time to view the indoor exhibitions and walk around the outdoor areas where remnants of the former facility remain visible.

The memorial building was deliberately designed to evoke a sense of confinement and loss as visitors move through it, with its architecture reinforcing the emotional impact of the camp experience. The spatial design guides people through a journey that reflects the psychological weight of internment without resorting to literal reconstruction.