During the Nazi occupation, this village in the department of Ain was the scene of a raid ordered by Klaus Barbie on 6 April 1944. Forty-four Jewish refugee children and their seven teachers were arrested and deported. Only one survived.
The Memorial Museum of the Children of Izieu (Musée-Mémorial des enfants d’Izieu) exhibits letters and drawings in honor of these victims of Nazi barbarity, who lived in the village for nearly a year. An adjoining building has audiovisual displays that recall those dark years, exploring the concept of “crimes agains humanity” and showing excerpts from the Barbie trial concerning the crime at Izieu.