Jewish History in Aix & Marseille Full Day Private Guided Tour

Embark on a powerful and meaningful full-day journey exploring a crucial chapter of Jewish history in France, with a focus on the Second World War. This immersive experience takes you to two major sites in Provence that illuminate both the tragedy of the Holocaust and the resilience of Jewish life: the former internment camp of Les Milles and the historic synagogue of Marseille.

Your first stop is the Camp des Milles, located near Aix-en-Provence. Once a brick factory, it became the only large French internment and deportation camp still intact today. Thousands of individuals, including many Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution, were held here before being deported to extermination camps. Now a memorial and educational site, it offers a moving and deeply informative exploration of Vichy France, collaboration, resistance, and the mechanisms that led to genocide in Europe.

The tour continues to Marseille, home to one of the most vibrant Jewish communities in Europe today. Here, you will visit the magnificent Grande Synagogue de Marseille, built in the 19th century. Its impressive architecture and enduring presence reflect both the historical depth and ongoing vitality of Jewish life in the region.

Together, these sites provide a profound and balanced perspective, honoring the memory of those who suffered during the Holocaust while highlighting the cultural strength, continuity, and renewal of Jewish communities in southern France.