Jewish history here goes back to Roman times in cities such as Orléans and Tours that were once great centers of Jewish scholarship. [January 2008]
Monument aux Israélites: Square Max Jacob. Close to the railroad tracks, and near the present Parc Municipal des Sports, is the site of one of two camps used in World War II to imprison foreign Jews and members of the French resistance. The other is Beaune-la-Rolande, 18 km southeast of Pithiviers. Some 16,000 Jews were deported from Pithiviers and Beaune-la-Rolande. Pithiviers was liberated on August 9, 1944, after which the camp was razed and the land sold. The memorial was dedicated in 1957. [January 2008]