Students of the BTS CNJ program at EBS Montpellier recently had the opportunity to visit the Departmental Archives of Hérault, located in the prestigious Pierrevives building. This exceptional site, designed by the renowned architect Zaha Hadid, has been home to two major institutions in the department since 2012: the Departmental Archives and the Departmental Media Library, while also hosting the Nelson Mandela Departmental Sports House, a facility dedicated to sports for all.
Pierrevives embodies an innovative model of public service focused on culture and citizenship, providing free and accessible services to all, with a particular emphasis on the most vulnerable audiences. The building regularly hosts captivating exhibitions that seamlessly integrate into the remarkable architecture of the venue.
During their visit, students were able to appreciate the wealth of the Departmental Archives and understand the importance of this heritage for their future field of activity. In a room dedicated to reading archives, they had the opportunity to delve into the reading of notarial archives, thus discovering the purpose and interest of these precious documents. It is worth noting that the consultation of documents is allowed up to 20 per day, offering visitors an authentic immersion into departmental history.
It is important to recall that the Departmental Archives play a crucial role in archiving the administrations of the State, the Departmental Council, and municipalities depositing their archives. In addition to these legal missions, they welcome private archives and host a heritage library specializing in history, thus providing the public with varied and valuable resources.
This outing was a profoundly enriching experience for EBS Montpellier students. The Departmental Archives now hold no secrets for them, and this immersion into notarial history has not only broadened their academic horizons but has also strengthened their understanding of the challenges of their future profession. Pierrevives, as a cultural and civic center, has thus contributed to forging meaningful links between education, culture, and the community.
