Decree-Law Laval-Daladier 1935 (≈ 1935)
Expropriation for Seven-Fund Powdering
octobre 1939
Start of work
Start of work octobre 1939 (≈ 1939)
Construction of camp by Spanish
mai-juin 1940
Project abandonment
Project abandonment mai-juin 1940 (≈ 1940)
Stop work after German invasion
1941-1944
Occupancy by youth projects
Occupancy by youth projects 1941-1944 (≈ 1943)
1,500 young people mobilized on the site
1944-1947
Post-Liberation Military Use
Post-Liberation Military Use 1944-1947 (≈ 1946)
Air and Ukrainian prisoners
1956
Arrival of returnees from Indochina
Arrival of returnees from Indochina 1956 (≈ 1956)
Transformation into CAFI (1 160 people)
1966
Closing of the center of Noyant-d-Allier
Closing of the center of Noyant-d-Allier 1966 (≈ 1966)
Sainte-Livrede becomes the last CAFI
1978
Destruction of four barracks
Destruction of four barracks 1978 (≈ 1978)
Commencement of partial decommissioning
29 juin 2012
Classification of historical monuments
Classification of historical monuments 29 juin 2012 (≈ 2012)
Pagoda protection and four buildings
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The north-western part of the camp, composed of four bars, the pagoda and its cultural monument, as well as the Madonna in its vegetal setting, in full (Box AS 141): inscription by order of 29 June 2012
Key figures
Pierre Laval - Politician
Author of the decree-laws of 1935
Édouard Daladier - Politician
Co-author of decree-laws of 1935
Hélène Mousset - Historical
Author of a camp study
Origin and history
The Camp du Moulin du Lot was originally built in 1939 by Spanish refugees to house the workers of the national powder factory of Sept-Fonds, a project abandoned in 1940 after the German invasion. The Spanish workers left the site, replaced by 1,500 young people from the youth camps until 1944. The camp then served as a military cantonment for air riflemen, colonial regiments (including Reunions), and then Ukrainian prisoners after the Battle of Royan, before being decommissioned in 1947.
In 1956, the camp became a Centre d'accueil des répatriés d'Indochina (C.A.R.I.), welcoming 1,160 French people fleeing Indochina after the Geneva Accords (1954). Managed by the administration, he offered housing, schools, dispensary and church, while imposing a cultural assimilation (baptisms, catechism). The Cimade intervened before being expelled in the 1970s. After the closing of the last similar centre in 1966, Sainte-Livrede remained the only site hosting these returnees, often employed in local fields.
Transferred to the commune in 1982, the camp was partially preserved: the pagoda, four barracks and the Madonna were listed as historical monuments in 2012. These elements today symbolize the memory of the returnees and the various occupations of the site, from 1939 to 1978. The other buildings, destroyed in 1978, marked the end of its initial use.
The camp thus reflects several major historical episodes: the failure of powdering during the occupation, the post-war military reorganization, and the welcoming of the French from Indochina, illustrating the migration and memorial policies of France in the 20th century.
