Mémorial des enfants d'Izieu
Memorial museum in the house where a colony of Jewish children was arrested in April 1944, with a permanent exhibition and guided visits of the house.
No sound? Check your device’s silent switch.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Maison d’Izieu housed a colony of Jewish children run by Sabine Zlatin in 1943–1944. On April 6, 1944, on the orders of Klaus Barbie, head of the Gestapo in Lyon, 44 children and 7 educators were arrested and then deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau.
An association was founded in 1988, including by Sabine Zlatin, to preserve the site. The memorial museum opened in 1994. It keeps and presents the memory of the children, with letters, drawings and portraits from the Sabine Zlatin collection.
The permanent exhibition covers the children and families of the colony, the trial of Klaus Barbie and crimes against humanity around the world. The house itself can only be visited with a guide. The site also offers temporary exhibitions, a documentation centre and educational programmes for groups.
Highlights
- House of the children’s colony of 1943–1944, visited only with a guide
- Permanent exhibition on the colony, the Barbie trial and crimes against humanity
- Letters and drawings by the children from the Sabine Zlatin collection
- Audio guide in five languages
- Offer for families, with booklets from age 8
Permanent exhibitions
- Exposition permanente du musée – Interactive trail about the children and families of the colony, the Klaus Barbie trial and crimes against humanity.
- La Maison d'Izieu – The house where the children and their educators lived, with their letters, drawings and portraits; visits by guide only.
- Founded
- 1994
- Director
- Alexandre Nugues-Bourchat
- Visitors per year
- approx. 37,741
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €9 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €7Members, people with disabilities, job seekers and holders of other cards or partner schemes, on proof. |
| Children & teens | €5free up to age 7 · €5 rate for ages 8 to 25; free for children under 8. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €7companion free · Reduced rate on proof; one companion enters free if the card carries the note “besoin d’accompagnement”. |
| Students & apprentices | €5Youth rate for ages 8 to 25. |
| Museum and house ticket with guided visit of the house, full rate | €12 |
| Museum and house ticket with guided visit of the house, reduced rate | €10 |
| Museum and house ticket, ages 8 to 25 | €5 |
The €9 rate is the museum ticket for a self-guided visit, without access to the house. Admission is also free for veterans, residents of Izieu, Brégnier-Cordon and Murs-et-Gélignieux, and holders of the ICOM card.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: not available
- Easy-to-read materials
- Audio description: no information
Two lifts serve the upper levels of the museum. The house, a historic building, has no lift to its upper floor; a photo booklet or a tablet shows that floor free of charge. The path between the museum and the house has slopes of 4 to 17%; an easier route exists and can be requested at reception. Documents in easy-to-read and easy-to-understand language (FALC), magnifying glasses at reception and walking sticks with a seat on request. No guided tours in French Sign Language.
Kids & families
Only partly suitable for kidsRecommended for ages 8+
| Time needed | approx. 2 hrs |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 7 |
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
A guided visit of the house is recommended from age 8. There is a “young visitor” booklet for ages 8 to 12 and an “enquête” booklet for ages 13 to 17, a special family visit for ages 8 to 12 every Wednesday of the Zone A school holidays, and a colouring table in the permanent exhibition.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
No regular service is listed; train to La Tour-du-Pin or Culoz, then 30 to 40 minutes by car.
By car
Free parking
Two free car parks: the lower one for coaches, minibuses and motorhomes, the upper one for cars and motorbikes. Parking on the roadside is not allowed.
- Accessible parking
About 1 hour from Lyon or Grenoble, and 35 minutes from Chambéry, via the A43 (exits 10 or 11). The site is 1.8 km from the ViaRhôna and holds the “Accueil vélo” label. The main access bridge is closed for works until November 2026.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant: not available
- Museum shop
Café area without a restaurant on site; bookshop. Picnics are possible in the orchard behind the house. Services for cyclists are available on request at reception (luggage storage, e-bike charging).
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 75 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (FR, EN, DE, IT, ES) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided visit of the house lasting about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, depending on the theme; online booking recommended. Visits in English, German or Italian by reservation for a group of at least 6 people. Recommended from age 8. Part of the museum is air-conditioned; the house is not. |
