The Polish maquis monument

This easy, short walk through the woods in the heart of the Grand Bois in the Pilat Regional Nature Park is a chance to remember a tragic event from the Second World War, around a small monument that has been somewhat forgotten as it does not appear on any maps.
Route updated on 18 July 2020.

Details

2300510
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.01 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 215 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 215 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,267 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,138 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking next to the Auberge du Grand Bois.

(S/E) Cross the D1082 and take the wideGR® 7 path opposite the inn, which climbs into the woods. Continue along this path.

(1) 700 m after the start, at the Fourvière junction (signpost), take the path on the right. After a short climb, the path generally follows the contour line. Continue along this wide main path, ignoring the paths that branch off to the left or right.

(2) When this path turns 90° to the left, go down the path on the right. Continue downhill, staying on this path. You will come to a small clearing.

(3) Turn right onto the "Sentier du Maquis" (Maquis Trail), marked by a sign. Be careful! The sign is designed to be read from below, so don't miss it! The trail climbs slightly into the woods, then levels out. After 300 m, you will arrive at the area where the maquis was located. On the right, accessible via a 20-metre return trip, is the "rocher du rescapé" (survivor's rock), under which the sole survivor of the massacre hid. A little further on are the ruins of the Loges de Monteux barn. Go down the grassy path on the left to reach the monument, about a hundred metres below.

(4) The monument is on the left, in a small enclosure bordered by spruce trees. Although somewhat forgotten, it is well maintained. Continue down the same path. You will arrive at a clearing at a crossroads.

(3) Take the right-hand of the two ascending paths, which is also the wider one. Follow a wide curve back up the ridge. Stay on the main path.

(5) At the crossroads of four paths, continue straight ahead. After about 100 metres, leave the path that veers to the right and follow the grassy path on the left. Continue straight ahead. The path crosses the hill at an elevation of 1,269 metres and joins theGR® 7.

(6) Turn left onto theGR® 7 and stay on this wide path until you reach the Fourvière junction.

(1) Turn right to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,138 m - Auberge du Grand Bois on the D 1082
  2. 1 : km 0.74 - alt. 1,197 m - Fourvière junction
  3. 2 : km 2 - alt. 1,230 m - Bend in the road
  4. 3 : km 2.58 - alt. 1,159 m - Junction with the "Sentier du Maquis" (Maquis Trail)
  5. 4 : km 2.99 - alt. 1,165 m - Monument to the Polish maquis
  6. 5 : km 4.38 - alt. 1,236 m - Crossroads of four roads
  7. 6 : km 5.15 - alt. 1,252 m - Junction with the GR 7
  8. S/E : km 7.01 - alt. 1,138 m - Auberge du Grand Bois

Notes

Large car park next to the inn.

Worth a visit

Monument to the Polish maquis
In 1944, a small group of immigrant workers of Polish origin from La Ricamarie decided to form a maquis in the Grand Bois forest to intercept German convoys crossing the pass. They settled in the abandoned barns of Les Loges de Monteux. But someone betrayed them for the reward. On 20 July 1944, the German army attacked the maquis and killed all its members. Their names are listed on a plaque affixed to the monument.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 28 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
User 3978576

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A route through the woods that is fascinating from both a natural history and historical perspective (the Resistance in the
Pilat massif)
Thank you, Visiorando

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Steph DM
Steph DM

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route is easy to follow, although we did miss a few turnings as we were following our noses!
The best part of this walk was discovering the Polish Maquis monument. We knew nothing about this part of the Loire's history, so it was a moving experience.
As for the route, it is well described, but we always use the Visorando GPS to make sure we don't stray too far.

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gilbert421
gilbert421

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful and shaded walk 👍

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DDx
DDx

Perfect... Introduced us to events we didn't know about...
WELL DONE

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DDx
DDx

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

well done, discovering an unknown event...
Great... Well done.

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Mado42
Mado42

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

pleasant, with beautiful undergrowth all along the route, ideal when it's hot, and unfortunately educational with the Polish monument, a moment of remembrance.

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FRAYSSE Jacques
FRAYSSE Jacques

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I used this hike as a base for a longer one that suited what I wanted to do that day.

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Patberpilat
Patberpilat

Unfortunately, the signposts in the Pillat Regional Nature Park are often vandalised and disappear, which is why they are not mentioned in the description. If we had mentioned "signposts" and there weren't any, we would probably have been criticised!
The whistleblower was actually a woman, tempted by the generous reward promised by the Germans. Her name is known, but it is best left forgotten.

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Guignol38
Guignol38

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

At the start of the route, on the climb, there is heavy traffic of trucks transporting stones for the road.
At each junction (1, 2, 3 and 4), there is a sign for the Pilat Regional Nature Park; it's a shame that this isn't mentioned in the description. Be careful, as the signs are not always very visible due to the vegetation.
To get to the monument, there are two paths that form a loop.
This is a moving place steeped in history, where 23 brave men lost their lives.
The only survivor, Pierre Rouby, who was not in the camp, hid under a rock when he heard the shooting.
I hope the informer was found after the liberation

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PAULLYNE
PAULLYNE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful route, all in the woods.

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Patberpilat
Patberpilat

I'm sorry to hear that. Tree cutting is unpredictable. The Pilat Park has clearly marked the paths, but not the access to the monument, which is a shame. I hope you won't let this setback get you down and that you'll try this walk again.

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monique delunel
monique delunel

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

We couldn't find the Polish resistance monument! Instead, we stumbled upon an old logging road that we had trouble crossing before finding our way again. After that, no problem, the Pilat park is well marked.

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Pierre Cochat
Pierre Cochat

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pleasant

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Patberpilat
Patberpilat

I did this hike in early May and the "sentier du maquis" sign was still there. Yes, the vegetation has grown and it's not easy to get to the monument, but in fact, you just need to turn left when you see the ruins and you'll come across the monument without any trouble. The climb up the Patural de Monteux shouldn't pose any difficulties; the path is wide and you just need to follow it.

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Bouclette
Bouclette

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Well-documented itinerary, but sign definitely missing, access path to the monument not visible from point 3 point 4 not found. On the section between Repaire 4 and 5 towards Pâtural de Monteux, the path is not visible or poorly signposted.

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