[en] Within the frame of the public debate organized about the project of creation of a deep reversible disposal for high-level radioactive wastes in Meuse/Haute-Marne, this publication review the history which has led to the start-up of the Cigeo project and the main steps of its implementation since 1991 when the Andra was commissioned to study the feasibility of such a disposal facility for the most radioactive French wastes: 1950-1990 - the embarrassing question of the long living radioactive wastes management; the democratic debate and the Bataille law of 1991; 1991-2015: 15 years of research (site selection, underground laboratory, feasibility study); 2005-2006: the deep underground disposal choice; 2007-2012: first steps of the Cigeo project and still many steps to come