The Maquis

The "Maquis of Gembes" does not refer to a specific place or a single camp, but rather to a resistance group that operated in the Gembes, Graide, and Haut-Fays region during the Second World War. It is best known for a tragic and memorable event.

The event of September 1, 1944:

• The context: On September 1, 1944, shortly before the arrival of Allied troops, a group of Belgian maquis fighters from the Secret Army, based in the woods between Graide and Haut-Fays, was surrounded by a large number of German soldiers.

• The battle: A fierce and uneven fight broke out. Despite determined resistance, the maquis fighters were vastly outnumbered.

• The losses: At the end of this clash, fifteen maquis fighters were killed, their lives cut short in their youth.

The Maquis monument:

To commemorate this event, an imposing monument was erected on a rock in the Rancenne valley, not far from Gembes. It is an important memorial site in the region, honoring the sacrifice of these resistance fighters. This monument is often a point of interest for hikers following the "Maquis Walk" (G4 trail), an 8.3 km route that crosses the region’s forest and farmland landscapes.