Mémorial national des Justes, War memorial at castle of Ripaille, France
The Mémorial national des Justes in Thonon-les-Bains is a copper and brass monument with three silhouettes positioned in an open clearing surrounded by about 70 trees from different regions. These trees form a green circle around the sculpture, creating the main visual element of the space.
This monument was inaugurated in 1997 and recognizes people who protected Jews during World War II. The creation of this space reflects how communities came to honor these acts of courage decades after the war.
The memorial honors those who sheltered and saved Jewish people during World War II, and their stories live on through the trees planted around the site. Walking through this space, you see how their courage is woven into a living memory that people come to reflect on today.
The site is accessible on foot with a flat path leading through the trees to the central monument, making it easy for visitors of different abilities to view the sculpture. It works best to visit during daylight hours when natural light highlights the details of the memorial.
The trees surrounding the monument were intentionally chosen from different parts of the world to represent people from many nations. This botanical element transforms the memorial into something more than stone or metal, creating a living and growing form of remembrance.
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