Celebrating Cultural Heritage at the Denise Masson House
A new permanent museum space dedicated to the life, work, and intellectual legacy of Denise Masson will officially open on October 3, 2026, in Marrakech. This significant addition aims to honor a pivotal figure in the cultural dialogue between France and Morocco. The inauguration event will feature notable attendees, including Philippe Lalliot, the French Ambassador to Morocco, Chloé Goupille, the General Director of the French Institute in Morocco, and Flora Boillot, the Director of the Marrakech branch.
Denise Masson, an esteemed Islamologist, writer, and a key figure in intercultural dialogue, made history as the first woman to translate the entire Quran into French. Her translation, published in 1967 as part of the Bibliothèque de la Pléiade collection by Gallimard, continues to be a significant reference point in the Francophone world. The newly established museum space will showcase an array of unique archives, manuscripts, personal letters, artifacts, paintings, antique books, and life narratives, all aimed at illustrating Denise Masson's remarkable journey and her profound connection to Morocco.
In conjunction with the inauguration, two temporary exhibitions will also be featured: "Moroccan Interreligiosities" by Manoël Pénicaud, in collaboration with the Jacques Berque Center, and "I Have Known God" by Youssef El Mekaoui, in partnership with Galerie 208 Paris-Marrakech. These exhibitions will further enrich the cultural landscape of Marrakech and provide visitors with deeper insights into the interwoven tapestry of Moroccan culture.
As reported by aujourdhui.ma.
