Fort de Mutzig

Mutzig, France

The Fort de Mutzig, also known as Feste Kaiser Wilhelm II, is located near the town of Mutzig. It is one of the fortifications built by Germany at the end of the 19th century to defend Strasbourg.

The province of Lorraine had been captured during the Franco-Prussian War, prompting an arms race in the form of fixed fortifications on the parts of France and Germany. The fortress saw no significant fighting during the First World War, and was handed over intact to the French Army after the Armistice of 1918, with the exception of about half of its 105 mm guns, salvaged in 1917 by the Germans. The French Army designated Mutzig a rear defense of the Rhine frontier.

During the Second World War the fortress was occupied for a time by German artillery and infantry regiments but on June 13, 1940 forces were ordered to evacuate the area and all the guns were decommissioned. Despite this, it was later bombed by the German Luftwaffe when it was suspected that French troops had taken possession. However, part of the Wehrmacht's 215th Infantry Division was in fact in the fortress at the time and more than 70 German soldiers were killed in the Stuka attack.

In November 1944 the US Third Infantry Division took the fortress, which was then thinly occupied by German forces who were forced to surrender after a short time for want of ordnance and reinforcements.

After the Second World War the fortress was used by the French Army for exercises up until the 1960s when it was abandoned but remained in the possession of the military. As the fortress never saw substantial military action, it remains one of the best preserved pre-World War I sites in existence. This enormous site, which retains almost all its original equipment, has been under a process of restoration by a joint German–French group since 1984 and in 1995 a Museum was opened to the public together with some restored areas of the site. Local historical reenactment groups also make use of the fortress. Since 2014 the fortress has been known by its original name, the Kaiser Wilhelm II fortress.

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Mutzig, France
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Details

Founded: 1893
Category: Castles and fortifications in France

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4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Margot (3 months ago)
Ancient war fort, the first ever with an electric supply and a phone line. Although only 10% of the site is available to visit, it's remarkably well preserved by the very engaged local French-German association that even made stunning models of the fort and its surroundings. Deemed impregnable, it's an under the Earth city, including an hospital and a bakery. Inside the fort the temperature is of 14°C all year long - plan accordingly for the visit. Free parking and toilets are available at the entrance. The staff is friendly, always eager to explain and to answer questions all along the visit. A must see, especially with children.
Tasha G (4 months ago)
A unique and fascinating experience, visiting an underground fort dating back 130 years and representing the peak of technology over the period its construction. The self-guided tour is clearly presented and comprehensive, covering the history, construction, technologies and the lives of the 7,000 soldiers stationed there. The entire fort was vast and the part covered by the tour takes a good 1.5 to 2 hours to fully appreciate all the details. The route starts at ground level before diving deep underground to chambers protected by 2.5 metre thick concrete walls and connected by tunnels running up to 150 metres long. The tour includes the bunk rooms, hospital, kitchen, bakery (with 300kg bread maker!), water well and storage tanks, the underground electric power generators and their massive diesel storage tank, and last but not least, the latrines, which posed their own technological challenges to the fort's designers! Outside, the restored trenches, concealed observation positions and impressive armoured artillery battery conclude a fascinating tour of late 19th century / early 20th century engineering. Unfortunately the forests have grown up around and in front of the fort so that you will have to use your imagination to visualise the commanding position that this fort held over an army advancing from the west. (Indeed in 1914 it did repel such an advance using the weight of its artillery firepower.) Many thanks to the wonderful and enthusiastic guides stationed at the entrance/ticket office and at various points along the tour to help answer questions, including Juliette at the power generator for her knowledgeable explanations about the the 4 generators and how they were restored to working condition, and the young Scotsman for his explanation of the artillery technology. Highly recommended to anyone in the vicinity of Strasbourg.
Felipe Laux (7 months ago)
Nice museum The association is doing a very good job renovating the bunkers ! Take a coat with you because it's cold inside.
Ali Mohamed (13 months ago)
First, if you follow the GPS it will make you pass in the forest, very small road and hard to drive.a lot of holes. If I have one advice try to take the highway even if u will pay. But its worth it to do, everybody is nice, its very well kept and fun fact there was no fight in this bunker. A big part of the visit its underground. You can see how they use to live.
Joanne Legg (15 months ago)
On a hot day it was a great location, the tunnels were nice and cool ? Very interesting, great for kids!
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