Temporary exhibition from mid-June to November 5

The Preventorium of Chavaniac-Lafayette - Franco-American Friendship to the rescue of children

The exhibition tells the remarkable story of the Chavaniac-Lafayette Preventorium, a social and medical institution born in the heart of the First World War, at the castle.

The Preventorium was created by the Lafayette Memorial, an American foundation that inherited Lafayette’s philanthropic ideals. Unique in France and of extraordinary scope, the institution welcomed, cared for and educated tens of thousands of children without interruption for 91 years, until 2008.

Through more than 200 objects of collections and documents from the castle of Chavaniac-Lafayette and the archives of Haute-Loire Department, this exhibition proposes to reveal the little-known history of the Preventorium which has durably changed the life of the castle and continues today to make a lasting impression.

The Department of Haute-Loire is taking advantage of this exhibition to launch a national call for testimonies in order to intensify the collection of memories about the institution, which has already been undertaken by the Departmental Archives for several years.

A short tour designed especially for children will make the exhibition accessible to the youngest.

Date: from mid June to November 5, 2023

Location: temporary exhibition rooms of the Chavaniac-Lafayette castle.

Free entry