Mémorial aux Victimes du 23 Août 1914

About

The Mémorial aux Victimes du 23 Août 1914 stands as a solemn reminder of one of the darkest days in Dinant’s history. On that August day, during the early weeks of World War I, hundreds of civilians lost their lives in a tragic massacre that left a lasting scar on the city. The memorial honours these victims with a simple yet powerful design that invites reflection and remembrance. Set in a peaceful location overlooking the Meuse, it contrasts the beauty of the landscape with the gravity of the events it commemorates. Visitors come here to pay their respects, learn about the historical context and acknowledge the resilience of a community that rebuilt itself after immense suffering. The site remains an essential stop for understanding Dinant’s past and the human cost of conflict.

Dinant Belgium

Location

Mémorial aux Victimes du 23 Août 1914 is located at Avenue des Combattants 16-20 in Dinant, Wallonia, Belgium, next to the former Capuchin convent (Couvent des Capucines) on the left bank of the Meuse River, south of the town centre. Inaugurated in 2014 to mark the centenary of the WWI massacre where 674 civilians were killed by German troops, this modern monolithic stele features engraved victims' names visible only from within and symbolic dimensions reflecting the death toll. Nearby are Maison Leffe and Grotte La Merveilleuse at La Merveilleuse Resort just north, Église Saint-Georges de Leffe further south, the riverside quays, Charles de Gaulle Bridge, Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame, Citadel, and town centre cafés within a 10-15 minute walk across the river.