The best MTB trails around Bernwiller

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.

Anyone who wants to know more about this should visit this page: https://sundgaufront.pharmafix.com/index.php/interaktive-frontkarte

Anyone who wants to know more about it should visit this page: https://sundgaufront.pharmafix.com/index.php/interaktive-frontkarte

the Michelbach lake is a place where you can stop for a picnic during hikes or bike rides

Please take the nature conservation restrictions seriously. Otherwise, you will not only disturb the fauna, but the rangers on site are also very conscientious and ensure strict adherence. Dogs on a leash, take your trash with you, stay on the paths, and do not picnic in the grass. But that goes without saying.

The French and European National Cycleway is a great cycleway winding along side of the Rhine Rhone Canal with very little climbing, for those who do not like to climb. However those who are climbing shy, must be aware of the wind in this area. A lot of the locks still have the former lock man’s house which adds a bit of charm to every lock. One is never alone on this route as there is a constant passing of bicycles, both leisure and racing bikes.

here people watch birds

The World War I Bunker Trail in Burnhaupt-le-Bas On the Bunker Trail, you can discover World War I fortifications built by the German army. After the fighting in the summer and autumn of 1914, the front in Upper Alsace stabilized on the Cernay-Dannemarie line. The municipal district of Burnhaupt-le-Bas remained on the German side. In December 1914 and January 1915, French offensives in this sector regularly clashed with the German lines. Numerous bunkers, command posts, and artillery posts. The tour can be done by mountain bike or on foot (hiking boots).