Created in 1974, the archives service manages more than 1,500 linear meters of archives, spread across two stores. The preserved funds consist of administrative files, models and newspapers, as well as numerous iconographic documents such as postcards, plans, drawings, posters and photographs.
Collect, classify, preserve, communicate
The main missions of the municipal archives:
- Collect the files produced by the services of La Roche-sur-Yon and La Roche-sur-Yon Agglomération. Every day, service agents produce numerous documents, intended to join the municipal archives after processing and elimination work.
- Ensure conservation :
- old archives: documents before 1790;
- modern archives: documents from 1790 to 1964;
- contemporary archives: documents from 1965;
- private archives: purchase and donation of company archives, associations, family archives, press archives, etc.
- Respond to requests historical, administrative and legal research.
- Acquire documents linked to the history of the City and the Agglomeration.
- Valuing funds through exhibitions, displays of old documents in public spaces, communications to researchers, articles and books.
View of a store in the municipal archives of La Roche-sur-Yon.
Construction sites in 2025
The City of La Roche-sur-Yon undertook a reflection on the management of its archives which resulted in the project of moving the funds to a site more conducive to the conservation, communication and valorization of the preserved documents. Currently, the archives service is participating in the design of the new site, which will welcome readers in good conditions. Before the move, archivists organize, carry out an inventory of the funds, design the map of their location and prepare their physical transfer.
As part of the reorganization of municipal services, many departments are expected to move in 2025. Major public archives collection operations are expected and will have an impact on response times to research requests.
During the move, physical consultation of the archives is no longer possible. Requests for documents must be sent by email to [email protected].
Historical Library
The archives service has a historical library, made up of books on the history of the city and the department, reference works on the Napoleonic period, on town planning and architecture and on the history of the ‘aviation.
References are available in the media library catalog.
Exhibition “At the heart of an imperial city”
Until 1is March 2025, in the Cyel contemporary art space, you can discover exceptional documents from the municipal archives in the exhibition “At the heart of an imperial city”.
Designed by bridge engineers to become the nerve center of the city, Place Napoléon became an ideal setting for statuary and in 1854 hosted the equestrian statue of Napoleon, a jewel created by the Count of Nieuwerkerke. Beyond the history of Yonnais town planning, this exhibition looks back at the origins of the model of the imperial square, highlights the challenges of a planned city, questions the rehabilitation of squares in the 20th century.e century or, again, questions the visitor on the identity aspect that public statuary can take on.
View of the exhibition “Shaping La Roche, a monument for the emperor, act 2: At the heart of an imperial city”, from December 7 to March 1, in the Cyel contemporary art space. (photo: Alexandre Legrand)
In pictures
Poultry market (Les ancien Halles) at the beginning of the 20th century.
View of the platforms and the canopy of the railway station at the beginning of the 20th century.
The Post Office and the municipal theater around 1960.
The railway bridge (current Morineau bridge) rue Raymond-Poincaré, at the beginning of the 20th century.
The old municipal swimming pool, rue Delille, around 1980.
Aerial view of the Forges district, circa 1960.
Map of Bourbon Vendée, 1823.
Plan de La Roche-sur-Yon, 1893.
Extract from the Napoleonic land register of Saint-André d’Ornay, 1809.
Plan of the Saint-Louis church project, 1813.
Poster announcing the inauguration of the equestrian statue of Emperor Napoleon I, August 20, 1854.
Announcement of the award procedure for the oil lighting service of the city of Napoléon, October 1, 1860.
Decree announcing the change of name of the town of Bourbon-Vendée to Napoléon, March 18, 1848.
“Arc-en-Ciel” plane designed by René Couzinet, circa 1930.
Birth certificate of Benjamin-Rabier, December 31, 1864.
Jean Parois project for the development of Place Napoléon, 1974 competition.
