Whether you're a history buff or just curious, don't miss out on visiting the remains of the Maginot Line on your holiday in Alsace.
The Maginot Line is a defence line built by France between the wars, which took ten years to construct. These fortifications are part of a gigantic defensive system 700 kilometres long, following the borders with Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Italy and crossing Alsace from one side to the other. It was named after the French Minister of War, André Maginot, and was intended to protect France from further German invasion after the First World War. The Maginot Line offers multiple structures to visit, ranging from small, well-preserved and restored casemates to gigantic forts.
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In Alsace, over some 200 kilometres, the Maginot Line comprises almost 2,000 structures, including:
Visitors can see ça and là in the landscape of the r´gion blocks of béton overhung by a bell and turrets métalliques : these are the remains of the gigantic fortified systemème;. The forts of the Maginot Line were designed for warfare and were characterised by their high degree of technical sophistication. The Maginot Line was both held by the French army and occupied by German troops during the Second World War. Today, the remains of the Maginot Line have a perfect place in France's historic heritage.
This imposing defence system is a complex construction spread over several levels and comprising various structures of varying size, from modest outpost blockhouses to colossal underground fortresses. It suffered major damage during the fierce fighting that raged in the region in 1940 and 1944.
.The Fort de Schoenenbourg offers an unforgettable visit along galleries 3 km long à 30 mètres underground. Located in the Wissembourg region, in the communes of Hunspach and Ingolsheim, it is the largest structure on the Maginot Line and the largest visitable artillery fort in Alsace. In total, the Fort could house up to 630 men. Open to visitors since 1978, the Schoenenbourg Fort has retained all its original features. It offers a unique opportunity to put yourself in the shoes of a soldier during the war and learn about a period that is an integral part of Alsace's history. Its strategic and exceptional location offers a panoramic view of the landscapes of the plain and hills of the Northern Vosges.
A gigantic structure, one of the most representative vestiges of the Second World War, the Maginot Line, built in the years leading up to the great conflict, is one of the main places of remembrance in Alsace.