Mémoire du Maquis, history resource

Things to see on the Les Glières Plateau, a site which is emblematic of Resistance values:

The Mémoire du Maquis history resource is open to the public approximately ten months of the year, and activities, events and visits are regularly organised there. Run by the Haute-Savoie Departmental Authority, this multimedia space is equipped with interactive terminals that enable you to freely consult the CD-ROM ‘The Resistance en Haute-Savoie’ and the website ‘Mémoire des Alpes’. It also has a projection room, where you can watch a historical portrayal of Les Glières, ‘To live in freedom or to die’ (52 mins) or the documentary ‘August 1944: the liberation of Annecy and Haute-Savoie’ (25 mins). There is also a gift shop.

The historical discovery trail: In the middle of the plateau, around the parachute drop zone, this waymarked trail charts the organisation and everyday life of the Les Glières battalion during the winter of 1944. Lasting two hours, it is accessible to walkers of all abilities. A worksheet is available for children to complete by reading the information boards along the path.

The National Monument to the Resistance: This work of modern art by Émile Gilioli symbolises resistance and hope. It was built in 1973 on the initiative of the Association des Glières. Inside the monument are other works by the artist. When you approach the Les Glières Plateau, the National Monument to the Resistance appears to sit on the grass of this vast meadow, its geometry mimicking the shapes of the mountains, in particular the Montagne de Jalouvre, which serves as its backdrop. It is a sculpture without substance, a bas-relief that appears disproportionately larger against a background of nature, its white mass standing out from the rest of the landscape.

Sources: © Mémoire du Maquis, accueil historique