The best walks and hikes around Sankt Bernhard

Ammertzwiller – destroyed front village and mine warfare Ammertzwiller was one of the particularly contested locations on the Sundgau front during World War I. From September 1914, the front line ran immediately west of the village. German troops held Ammertzwiller, while French positions were located near Gildwiller-le-Mont, among other places. On January 1, 1915, the entire population was evacuated. Shortly thereafter, the abandoned village itself became a combat zone. The church was destroyed on January 8, 1915. By the end of the war, Ammertzwiller was almost completely devastated. The place became particularly known for mine warfare. From May 1915, French sappers and German pioneers dug tunnels under the enemy positions and detonated them. The underground warfare lasted until early 1916 and left numerous explosion craters. A striking event was the German mine detonation on July 11, 1915. The explosion under the German outpost Sautter created a massive crater. The mine crater, now filled with water, is preserved as the "Entonnoir" and serves as a reminder of this form of warfare. German troops also built an extensive system of bunkers, shelters, and underground facilities. Today, the approximately 10.5 km long "Circuit de la mémoire d’Ammertzwiller" leads through this former front landscape. Around 15 information boards explain the local history. After the war, the residents returned to a largely destroyed village. Reconstruction left a lasting mark on Ammertzwiller. Today's Saint-Étienne church, with its depictions, preserves the memory of evacuation, war, and return. Particularly worth seeing: the water-filled mine crater and the Circuit de la mémoire d’Ammertzwiller.

The cannon must have been huge. It had a range of up to 40 km. It terrorized the inhabitants of Belfort. This was the response to the bombing of Freiburg, among other places. It was then used as a feint to distract from the attack on Verdun.

The German soldiers who died in the Battle of Mühlhausen in August 1914 are buried there, including the first casualty of World War I. It's a bit off the beaten track and very well maintained.

Beneath the forest canopy, you can discover numerous traces of bygone times, still visible or legible; only the "barracks" have disappeared. During a guided tour with one of the site's enthusiastic volunteers, you can explore the underground tunnels and discover the organization of this impressive military infrastructure. Of course, you can also visit the surface infrastructure yourself, following the marked route, where the panels provide detailed explanations. An application, "Site du Grand Canon de Zillisheim," is also available for download.

In 1720, the religious building was recorded as a ruin. Reconstruction work began in 1765. The chapel was destroyed during the Revolution and rebuilt in 1870, expanded in 1925, and the last restoration was carried out in 1998.

The Illfurth German War Cemetery was established by the French military authorities in April 1920. As a collective cemetery, it housed some of the fallen soldiers from the battles of August 7 and 17, 1914. The transfer of war dead to Illfurth, who had been provisionally buried in 64 municipalities and districts during the war or who had died in French captivity, ended in 1924. Among those reburied was the first German casualty of the 1914-1918 War on the Western Front, Lieutenant Albert Mayer, who fell on August 2, 1914, while on patrol. The first French soldier also lost his life in this battle. Several memorials erected in field cemeteries during the war were also relocated to Illfurth.

The 38 cm Schnellladekanone L/45 (38 cm S.K. L/45) was a gun used by the Imperial Navy and the German Army during World War I. Originally designed as a naval gun, it was also used on land under the designation 38 cm Geschütz Max or Langer Max. The "38 cm SK L/45" had a barrel with an inner diameter of 38 cm, making it one of the largest calibers used at the time. Its range was up to 48 km. Between 1915 and 1916, the German army installed a naval gun called the "Langer Max" in the Zillisheim Forest. This gun, designed to fire long bursts at Belfort and the Saint Amarin Valley, was actually a diversionary plan....

Ammertzwiller is a quiet Alsatian village that is surprisingly convenient for cyclists on the road. There are a few mini markets, restaurants and even a chemist – ideal for stocking up on provisions or taking a break. The village is set in rolling countryside and offers lovely picnic spots overlooking the fields. Information boards in the village tell the story of the local history during the First World War, making this stop not only practical but also meaningful."