La Maison d’Espagne de la région parisienne was established in the 2000s, at a time when many Spanish emigrants were reaching retirement age in France, often not speaking French and struggling to find places to gather.
The idea then emerged to create a meeting and exchange space on land owned by the Spanish state, in Saint-Denis, in the aptly named "Petite Espagne,” a neighborhood that has welcomed many Spanish emigrants over the years.
"We thought we would help these Spanish retirees to speak French well, to rewrite, to take some time for themselves now that their children are grown,” recounts Dino Carracedo. “It is primarily a place that aims to be friendly, modeled after the Spanish concept of day centers.”
Over the years, the place gradually opened up, but always with the desire to promote Spanish culture while keeping in mind the importance of caring for the elderly.
Thus, numerous activities are organized in an intergenerational manner, including painting workshops, collage, nutrition, singing, sports, yoga, sophrology, and wellness meetings. There are also internet training sessions for seniors, guidance on using phones, new technologies, and artificial intelligence, as well as support for administrative procedures.
Many festive activities are also organized, as this is another characteristic of Spain. Evenings are held to bring together as many people as possible in a very musical atmosphere, sometimes featuring groups that come directly from the Iberian Peninsula. La Maison d’Espagne has also been able to organize its own book fair.
"What we want is to bring people together,” explains Dino Carracedo. “We are good-living people in Spain and we seek to show that side to everyone. We try to break away from daily gloom, and perhaps that’s where we aim to make a difference.”
