Visit the remains of the Maginot Line

The Maginot Line crosses Alsace from one side to the other along its border with Germany. The visitor can see concrete blocks topped by a bell and metal turrets scattered throughout the landscape of the region: these are the remains of the gigantic fortified system. Some of the works of the Maginot Line are now open to the public, mainly in the Lower Rhine. The Schoenenbourg Fort is the most imposing of them. It is the one that participated most in the fighting during the Second World War. Accessible to visitors since 1978, the Schoenenbourg Fort is located in the fortified area of Haguenau and has preserved all its original elements. It offers a unique opportunity for tourists to put themselves in the shoes of a soldier of the war and to learn about a period which is certainly dark, but which is an integral part of Alsatian history. The Esch casemate, located in the same sector and transformed into a museum, is also worth a visit.

The Maginot Line, an imposing fortified system

The Maginot Line is a line of fortifications built by France following the First World War from 1928 to 1940, along its borders with Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland and Italy, under the mandate of André Maginot, then Minister of War. This imposing defense system is a complex and heterogeneous construction, spread over several levels and including various works of varying importance, from modest outpost blockhouses to colossal underground fortresses. The Maginot Line was sometimes in the hands of the French army, sometimes occupied by German troops during the Second World War. It suffered significant damage during the violent battles that raged in the region in 1940 and 1944, and was then partially restored during the Cold War, before losing all interest in defense because it had become obsolete. Today, the vestiges of the Maginot Line have a perfect place in the French historical heritage.