This is a large-scale project for which Calvados is a candidate. The National Library of France is looking for a place that can accommodate the archives of the French press. She therefore launched a call for applications including the deadline for submission was Friday. It was therefore at the last moment that the Calvados department, the Caen-la-Mer urban community but also the city of Bayeux and the University of Caen officially presented their candidacy.
The objective is to build by 2027 a national press conservatory. The chosen site is located in Colombelles “on the former SNM plateau” explains the mayor of the commune Marc Pottier. “It is a gigantic building of 15,000 square meters with 500 kilometers of archival linens” to conserve “the most important press collection in the world”. “From the treasures of our democracy from La Gazette by Théophraste Renaudot to” J’accuse … “by Emile Zola” enthuses Marc Pottier,
This project is the completion of the renewal of our city
For the councilor, this is an opportunity to seize: “More than a quarter of a century ago it was in Colombelles the iron and steel industry and the blast furnaces that illuminated the Caen sky and today we could have in the immediate vicinity this new place of culture, knowledge, knowledge. . It is in a way the completion of the renewal of our city “. But nothing is done yet. The competition is fierce and the applications numerous. In Normandy alone, six sites are candidates. The BNF will announce its choice next January.
This Calvados project estimated at more than 70 million euros is not only of interest to the urban community of Caen-la-Mer. Very advanced on subjects related to the press and freedom of expression, the City of Bayeux has chosen to run a common race, just like the University of Caen, for which its center represents a gold mine for its research programs.
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