Organized in collaboration with the Association for the Renovation of Military Vehicles of the Center region (ARVMC) on Saturday September 16 and Sunday September 17 to celebrate the presence of the 2nd DB in the Indre department in March/April 1945, "Les Journées Européennes du Patrimoine" 2023 (European Heritage Days 2023 - JEP2023) attracted nearly 150 visitors to La Martinerie, despite the Napoleonic days happening the same weekend.

A high-level conference delivered by Dr Didier Dubant, historian; a magnificent exhibition produced largely by Georges Rebardeau, president of the ARVMC; around ten vintage vehicles marked with 2nd DB signs, to discover or rediscover the vehicles of American origin used by the French armies during the reconquest of the French territory: Everything was there to please the public.

Thank you to the volunteers of “Les Amis de La Martinerie” and the ARVMC for their enthusiasm and their availability; thank you to Didier Dubant for the quality of his conference which required long hours of research; thank you to our cooks who took care of the meals for the twenty volunteers present on the site.

It is worth noting that Mr. Charles Antoine Bonzon, Delegate of the French Federation of Vintage Vehicles, also attented the conference and toured our premises. For the occasion, Mr. Bonzon presented 3 plaques to the presidents of “Les Amis de La Martinerie” and the ARVMC as well as to the speaker.

A special thank you to Gil Avérous, Mayor of Châteauroux, President of Châteauroux Métropole, vice-president of the Departmental Council, for his morning visit and for his presence during the event.

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Photos credit: Jean-Jacques Bérenguier