Chemin de la Liberté Association
The Chemin de la Liberté Association is based in the Pyrenees town of St Girons, the starting point for the 4-day arduous trek over the Pyrenees to Esterri D’Aneu in Spain. It is a route representing the many wartime crossings over the high Pyrenees taken by guides and their evaders – Allied airmen, persecuted Jewish families, resistants and others fleeing occupied Europe.
The Chemin de la Liberté Association is based in the Pyrenees town of St Girons, the starting point for the 4-day arduous trek over the Pyrenees to Esterri D’Aneu in Spain. It is a route representing the many wartime crossings over the high Pyrenees taken by guides and their evaders – Allied airmen, persecuted Jewish families, resistants and others fleeing occupied Europe.
During WW2, there were many routes over the high Pyrenees, the main one being the Pat O’Leary Line, and later the Dutch-Paris line and others, but the actual routes taken at the time varied and were dependent upon the local guides and the conditions at the time. The original commemorative route was developed in 1994, taken on by international military teams as a ‘Home Run’ event. It was a commemoration of all wartime routes in the area, and was soon to be way-marked as a commemorative trail.
As well as being the starting point for the 4-day memorial trail, the town of St Girons also hosts the Maison du Chemin de la Liberté museum, which holds educational and historic archive.
The 4-day memorial trail, organised by the Chemin de la Liberté Association, usually takes place in July each year. It is an arduous, high-level trek, requiring registration, fitness and training.