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 Did you know that nearly 10% of Valence's inhabitants are of Armenian origin? In order to recount this community's history, this city in Drôme opened the Armenian Heritage Centre in 2005. On the ground floor of the former Faculté de Droit (School of Law) - set in the city centre, a stone's throw away from the Armenian district - this place is not a mausoleum: on the contrary, it strives to be lively, interactive, progressive and open.
Lively in its recognition of the values and culture of a community that breaks away from the politically correct view of promoting integration to the host community above all else. Interactive, because the visit is filled with illustrations, texts, archives and multimedia kiosks that put the visitor in context, making him an actor as well as a spectator. Progressive considering that the Armenian genocide is not presented as a stand-alone case, but serves as a basis for evoking the History of Immigration in France and in Europe through a series of temporary exhibits. And finally, open because the centre is located in the neighbourhood where the Armenian community settled as far back as the early 1920s, and here the tour continues outside. A place that evokes emotion and reflection and is worth the trip whether you are local or just passing through.
To know more: www.patrimoinearmenien.org
Centre du Patrimoine Arménien
14, rue Louis Gallet
F - 26000 Valence
Tél + 33 (0)475 801 300
Photo: CPA - Ville de Valence
To know more about Drôme, click here
To see the Drôme in pictures, click here
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