Military heritage of the Sundgau

Located at the strategic crossroads between France, Germany and Switzerland, the Sundgau is one of the territories of Alsace most marked by military history. From 19th century fortifications to the front line of the First World War , passing through the works of the Maginot Line and the traces of the Second World War, the region offers an exceptional heritage, still visible on the ground.

The Sundgau was profoundly transformed by the Franco-German border of 1871, whose route has left many boundary markers still in place. Iconic sites, the Three Powers Boundary Stone, the website of Zero Kilometer, or even the villages d'Illfurth, Pfetterhouse ou carspach, testifiesnt of the first clashes of 1914 and the defensive systems implemented during the trench warfare.

Added to this memory are the remains of the Maginot Line built before 1939. So many places steeped in history, now accessible via walking routes and themed circuits, allowing us to understand the major role played by the Sundgau in the conflicts that shaped Europe.

A free 70-page guide tracing the Sundgauvian remains of the last three major wars (1870, 1914-1918 and 1939-1945) is available on request.

This guide to Sundgau remembrance tourism offers thematic discovery routes, enhanced with maps, illustrations and articles on important subjects, such as the delimitation of the Franco-German border in 1871.