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Elsasshausen Memorial Tower – Napoleon's Bench Drachenbronn loop from Soultz-sous-Forêts

Elsasshausen Memorial Tower – Napoleon's Bench Drachenbronn loop from Soultz-sous-Forêts

Hard

riders

Elsasshausen Memorial Tower – Napoleon's Bench Drachenbronn loop from Soultz-sous-Forêts

04:30

61.9km

890m

Gravel riding

Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: July 22, 2026

Tips

Includes segments that go up or down a series of steps

You may need to carry your bike.

After 136 m for 9 m

After 61.8 km for 9 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

24.9 km

As a memorial to the many dead, such a "MONUMENT AUX MORTS" (usually called a "Central Memorial" or "War Memorial" in German-speaking countries) is still very important today. "Now, Lord, you let your servant depart in peace, as you have said..." it says in the so-called "Hymn of Simeon" (Luke's Gospel, Chapter 2, Verse 29). However, the people who are remembered here did not depart in peace, but became victims of war and tyranny. Therefore, the term "fallen memorial" is now sometimes used instead of the "war memorial" that was previously common in German. In the French-speaking world, however, this aspect of commemoration of the dead has long been included in the most commonly used term "MONUMENT AUX MORTS". Regardless of language and nation, such a memorial has two important and at the same time everlasting tasks:
-1- To keep alive the memory of the suffering and horror of war,
-2- and to remind people of the need to maintain peace in the long term.

Translated by Google •

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26.3 km

Elsasshausen Memorial Tower

Highlight • Viewpoint

Walkable, monument in memory of the regional battle of August 6, 1870 of the Franco-Prussian War.

6aout1870.com/de/doc.php?nom=belvedere

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27.0 km

Monument to the 83rd Hessian Infantry Regiment

Highlight • Monument

The Battle of Frœschwiller-Wœrth, or Battle of Reichshoffen, took place on August 6, 1870 in Alsace, at the start of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. It is famous for a series of charges by French cuirassiers (heavy cavalry).

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29.2 km

Church of Peace of Frœschwiller

Highlight • Religious Site

This neo-Gothic Protestant church is unquestionably the largest commemorative monument of the Battle of August 6, 1870, known as the "Battle of Reichshoffen", which killed no less than 20,000 people. It was built from 1872 in place of the village church, burnt down during the battle, on the plans of the architect Charles Winkler and under the authority of Emperor William I thanks to subscriptions collected throughout Germany. It was inaugurated on July 30, 1876 and dedicated to Peace. Above the main portal, a Christ carved in sandstone is surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists.

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29.2 km

Froeschwiller Church

Highlight • Religious Site

Lutheran Church known as the Church of Peace

The old church of Froeschwiller, dedicated to Saint Michael, became Protestant in 1552, when the Eckbrecht of Durckheim took possession of the village.
During the simultaneum, the choir was reserved for Catholics.
In 1824, the architect Dufau took charge of the reconstruction of the interior facade, then from 1841 to 1845, a new nave was built, with an entrance on the street, according to the plans of the architect Albert Haas.
During the battle of August 6, 1870, the church was destroyed, and a promise was made by the Germans, to rebuild it, as well as a Catholic church.
Charles Winkler, architect of historical monuments, proposed a neo-Gothic building project, which was accepted, and allowed the new church to emerge, it was inaugurated in 1876.
The reconstruction work was under the supervision and authority of the Prince Royal, Frederick William, the work was financed by German donations.
The inaugural address was delivered by Pastor Chales Klein on July 30, 1876, and the Church Dedicated to Peace.
patrimoine-religieux.fr/eglises_edifices/67-Bas-Rhin/67147-Froeschwiller/174747-EgliselutheriennediteEglisedelaPaix

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30.8 km

Maison des Turcos

Archaeological Site

47.0 km

Farmhouse Inn of the Mill of Seven Springs

Highlight • Restaurant

Very nice auberge.
We prefer to go there at lunchtime, so no reservation is necessary and there are nice menus.
A tart for dessert, if there is still something left. 🤗

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47.7 km

Napoleon's Bench Drachenbronn

Highlight • Monument

Napoleonsbank in Drachenbronn on the D65
Anyone who drives through northern Alsace on historic roads will often pass strange stone structures whose meaning and purpose cannot be recognized at first glance. There are the so-called Napoleon benches, benches for women to rest on the market.

There are several legends about its creation: Napoleon rested here or held an army parade - or: he personally ordered its formation to make the women's work easier. And since the Southern Palatinate belonged to the Lower Rhine department (Bas-Rhin) at the time, the order naturally also applied there.

What is certain is that the order to erect such benches came from the Strasbourg prefect Adrien Lezay-Marnesia. On the occasion of the birth of the long-awaited heir to the throne on March 20, 1811 - the "King of Rome", the later Napoleon II and Duke of Reichstadt - large celebrations were to be held to give the population the opportunity to pay proper homage to the emperor.

Our far-sighted prefect now knew how to combine the pleasant with the useful: On April 14, 1811, the mayors of Strasbourg were asked to send in plans within eight days. By Pentecost Sunday, June 2nd, the baptismal festival of the imperial offspring, tree-shaded resting places and tube wells were to be created along the country roads. In the arrondissement of Strasbourg alone, 125 benches were set up at a distance of “une demi-lieue” (half an hour’s walk), which were called “Bancs du Roi de Rome” or “Bancs Marie-Louise”.

Such benches had already existed before: in the Palatinate, one is documented in the town of Ruhbank near Pirmasens in 1748, even if its exact appearance is not known. In Alsace, the bench was placed under the high lintel. In order to ensure headroom when sitting, a greater height of the upper lintel is required.
[Text Rudolf Wild, Annweiler]

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61.9 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

29.7 km

20.3 km

7.42 km

4.18 km

140 m

105 m

Surfaces

26.6 km

22.5 km

10.7 km

1.19 km

1.03 km

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (480 m)

Lowest point (150 m)

Weather

Tuesday 28 July

36°C

16°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 12.0 km/h

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Elsasshausen Memorial Tower – Napoleon's Bench Drachenbronn loop from Soultz-sous-Forêts

View of Woerth

Monument aux morts

Elsasshausen Memorial Tower

Monument to the 83rd Hessian Infantry Regiment

Church of Peace of Frœschwiller

Froeschwiller Church

Farmhouse Inn of the Mill of Seven Springs

Napoleon's Bench Drachenbronn

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