Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation aka: Deportation Memorial

this feels like a fitting memorial to the victims of deportation. The underground feeling of claustrophobia, the spikes and the red writing slashed into the wall all contribute to a feeling of genuine unease and offer the tiniest of glimpses into the experience of the deportees. Not an easy memorial to visit, but worth it.

This monument is dedicated to the memory of the 200,000 individuals deported from France to German concentration camps during World War II. It is located behind Notre Dame, down stairs that lead to the utmost tip of Ile de la Cité.

An inscription over the entrance to the interior reads, “Pardonne, n’oublie pas…” (“Forgive and don’t forget”). I endorse the inscription. Visiting the monument keeps me mindful.