LEWISTON – The Franco-American Heritage Center is a unique symbol of French culture in the midst of the United States, according to Consul General Francois Gauthier.

That’s why he wanted France’s new ambassador to the United States, Pierre Vimont, to see it.

“It really is a jewel, and it’s something this country’s Franco-American community can be proud of,” he said.

Vimont and Gauthier were in Maine on Tuesday morning to honor Augusta attorney Severin Beliveau and name him to the Legion of Honor, France’s highest honor. Beliveau served for 16 years as honorary consul for France, is president of the Forum Francophone des Affaires, the mission of which is to create and promote business partnerships and economic development.

They stopped in Lewiston afterward. After a brief ceremony at the Franco Center, they continued on south, stopping at the Ecole Francaise du Maine, Freeport’s French immersion school.

All are regular stops for Boston-based Gauthier and his staff, according to press attache Alexis Berthier. But it was Ambassador Vimont’s first visit to Maine. He was appointed to the position in August by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

“He tries not to spend all of his time in Washington, but gets out once a week to see some part of the country,” Berthier said.

In Lewiston, he was greeted by a small group of French-speaking Mainers, including Mayor Larry Gilbert and Center Executive Director Rita Dube. Both welcomed Vimont to Lewiston and the center.

“There is so much history here, and we wanted him to get a feel for it,” Gilbert said. “A lot of hard work has gone into this, and we are proud.”

The former St. Mary’s Catholic Church, built between 1900-1910 in Lewiston’s Little Canada, was closed in 2000. A group of supporters banded together to purchase the building and restore its former glory. That work, a $4.5 million capital campaign to restore and renovate the building into a performance hall, heritage museum, library and learning center, is nearing completion.