memory trails
Alsace - Vosges

From August 1914, the Vosges was the scene of fierce fighting, marked by clashes, ambushes and artillery destruction. This trail allows you to explore the remains and traces along a two-kilometre stretch of the front line. It was along this stretch that one of the deadliest battles of the Great War took place in the Vosges, between July and October 1915, resulting in the deaths of over 20,000 young soldiers on both sides.

The summit of the Tête des Faux rises to 1208 metres. In August 1914, the Germans occupied this key observation point and erected a veritable concrete fortress on the Alsatian slope. This installation was equipped with a water and electricity supply system, as well as a funicular railway for supplies. Numerous remains can still be seen along this hiking trail, which passes through the Duchesne cemetery in the middle of the forest.

The declaration of war in August 1914 marked the start of clashes between French and German troops along the Vosges ridge. A front line was formed after several months of movement warfare. The Reichackerkopf, in the Munster valley, became the meeting point of the first battles, as the Germans pushed the French back beyond the Sattel pass. On this trail, you can discover numerous relics of the 1914-1918 war, including memorials, shelters, galleries, blockhouses and trenches.

Despite their proximity, Mittlach and Metzeral experienced very contrasting fortunes during the Great War.

This historical trail explores the impact of the war on the architecture of the two communes, and on those who lived through the turmoil of that era in our peaceful landscapes today.

The Kilometer Zero trail takes in the remains of the three fronts (French, Swiss and German) in a flat, wooded setting. Pfetterhouse, the village of the three frontiers from 1871 to 1914, was home to the Three Powers milestone, which became Kilometer Zero on the Western Front in 1914.

The Friends of Kilometre Zero association is working to preserve and enhance this historic site. Concrete structures from the front line have been restored and are freely accessible and secure.

Illfurth, located in the Porte du Sundgau, is a place steeped in history. During the First World War, the Sundgau region was the scene of fighting as early as August 1914, with the destruction of the Dannemarie viaduct by French forces. The front line then stretched from the Vosges to the Swiss border, a few kilometers from Illfurth on the Heidwiller side. During your visit, you'll discover several bunkers that served as ammunition depots, observation posts and artillery emplacements, as well as the site of a large cannon near the Burnkirch church and several casemates.