The best walks and hikes around Pfetterhausen

At border post 111, on the French-Swiss border near Pfetterhouse, the Western Front of the First World War officially began in the autumn of 1914. This spot, where the borders of France, Germany and Switzerland had previously met, became the symbolic Kilometre Zero of a front line that stretched over 750 kilometres to the North Sea. Today it is a peaceful spot along a hiking and cycling trail, where you literally stand at the start of one of the most defining fronts in modern history.

This old railway bridge in pink sandstone, located on the route of the former railway line between Bonfol (Switzerland) and Pfetterhouse, is today a charming part of the cycle route on the Altmühlenweg trail. The bridge was rebuilt to allow cyclists and hikers to pass safely and is a tangible reminder of the time when Pfetterhouse was a strategic border station between France, Germany and Switzerland. From 1871 to 1914, it was the "tri-border point" of Europe, and during the First World War the Western Front began here at the so-called Kilometre Zero.

The boundary markers mark the border and demarcate the territory. After the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71), Alsace became German and a D replaced the fleur-de-lis. After the First World War (1914-18), Alsace became French again and an F was carved over the D, which sometimes still appears, despite the oblique erasure. 1743: Ancien Régime, likely installation of the old boundary markers with the crozier of the former bishopric of Basel and the fleur-de-lis. 1817: The Bernese bear replaced the bishop's crozier following the Congress of Vienna (1815), which reorganized Europe after the fall of Napoleon and assigned the territory of the former bishopric of Basel to the canton of Bern.

Near the border stone 111, the official Kilometre Zero of the Western Front, there was a wooden observation post of the Swiss army during the First World War. This Poste d'observation N°2 offered a view of the French and German lines, while Switzerland maintained its neutrality 1. The post was a symbol of the tense calm at this unique border location, where three armies followed each other closely. Today, the site has been partly reconstructed and forms a special historical point along the hiking and cycling path in the far south of Alsace.

Beautiful pond on the edge of the forest. Many paths lead through the woods, enough to make a nice little outing from Vendlincourt.

In the centre of Bonfol the path is signposted

Vegetation is not very exciting, like in Switzerland, in a normal forest. The only highlight is the Étang de Bonfol.

If you want to take a quick break from your running, this observatory couldn't be better placed! With a view of the Etangs de Bonfol, you can enjoy the view of the water, wildlife and wildflowers.