Military heritage

The Kilian de Carspach gallery, or Kilianstollen (in German), is a German military underground gallery, a vestige of the First World War, partially buried on March 18, 1918 during a French artillery bombardment and discovered during development work road (Aspach deviation). Between 1914 and 1918, this shelter was located on the first German front line, fixed to the west of Altkirch on the Lerchenberg hill,

Archaeological excavations carried out in 2011 by the Pôle d'Archéologie Interdépartemental Rhénan unearthed the remains of Kilianstollen as well as the 21 remains of German soldiers until then still buried in an old gallery, allowing the identification of 18 of them. .

The Kilianstollen 1918 association, created in 2015, aims to perpetuate the memory of this tragedy, extended to all the conflicts that occurred in southern Alsace in the 19^nd and 20^nd centuries, through the organization of exhibitions, events, publication of documents, conferences, visits, etc.

The Km 0 trail allows you to discover on a 7,5 km course, in flat and wooded terrain, the various vestiges of the three fronts: French, Swiss and German. The route can be done in both directions.

From 1871 to 1914, Pfetterhouse was the village of the three borders. The terminal of the three powers, where the borders of France, Switzerland and Germany met, had become a tourist attraction and a place of international conviviality.

In the fall of 1914, the French fixed the start of the Front at the Swiss border of Largin. The boundary marker n ° 111 then became the Zero Kilometer of the Western Front.

The Friends of the Zero Kilometer association works, through this discovery trail, to promote and promote this place steeped in history and symbols.

The work it has undertaken has made it possible to restore several concrete structures on the front line, freely accessible and secure. Topoguide downloadable from the website of our partner Visorando.

On this 1914-18 war memory trail, you can observe, in addition to many bunkers, the traces of the mine war, with the pond called "funnel", 9 m deep, the result of an underground explosion, provoked by the German army, under the French positions.

You will cross Gildwiller le Mont, a former pilgrimage site, and its way of the cross to reach Ammertzwiller, which is distinguished by the presence of fields of miscanthus, a plant resembling rushes, sown to replace corn, which pollutes too much in nitrates.

Fifteen didactic panels complete the route.

Departure: Church of Ammertzwiller or Gildwiller on the Mont.

Map of 55 walks and hikes in Sundgau and the Alsatian Jura on sale at the Tourist Office for the price of 8€

The farm of Ebourbettes, a few steps from the Swiss border, was used during the Second World War, as a clandestine base for the passage of resistance fighters and all those who refused the enlistment of force in the Wehrmacht. It was here that on April 26, 1942, General Giraud's famous escape to Switzerland took place. While the owner of the premises was talking with the soldier in charge of monitoring the border, promising him eggs and cheese to improve his everyday life, the future head of the French National Liberation Committee, accompanied by smugglers, slipped into the deep Swiss beech groves to reach Algiers some time later.

To access the farm, park at the pass between Winkel and Lucelle. Count 2 km (1/2 hour walk) on a beautiful white path to reach the site characterized by a superb view of the Voges and the Swiss Jura.

Porte du Sundgau, Illfurth is also a high place of history. The fighting of the 1st World War fell in the Sundgau from August 1914. Indeed the French blew up the viaduct of Dannemarie and the front stabilized and extended from the Vosges to the Swiss border.

The front line passed a few kilometers from Illfurth on the Heidwiller side. During this visit, you will discover several bunkers with multiple uses, both ammunition depot, observation post or location of artillery pieces, also the location of a second large cannon located near the Church de la Burnkirch and several casemates.

 Topoguide downloadable from the website of our partner Visorando.

In the forest of Bettlach, directly accessible from the town, a path called "casemates" of about 2km, connects three imposing forts of the Maginot Line, built between 1937 and 1940.

This path is lined with excellent explanatory panels that tell the story of this Maginot Line, the colossal efforts it required and the ephemeral role it played at the start of the Second World War.

A beautiful view of the Jura massif spices up this little loop.

Koestlach has a rich heritage that we offer to discover thanks to the heritage circuit. You have two choices :

1)      The historical circuit through the village to discover the prestigious furniture of the Saint-Léger church, but also the Notre Dame des Sept Douleurs chapel, the legends of Kugele and the village of Erzach, the presbytery of Nicolas Delfis and the remains of 'a former Gallo-Roman establishment.

2)      The walking trail lasting 2h30/3h will take you up the slopes of Burgerwald to explore the Celtic oppidum of Kastelberg before visiting the village (blue ring markings, distance 7 km, elevation gain 215 m).