The best MTB trails around Zässingen

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.

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.

In 1913 and 1914, following the ideas of Johann Knauth, architect of Strasbourg Cathedral and curator of the M.H., the nave, the side chapel of the Sacré-Coeur, the Saint-Joseph Chapel in the basement, and the sacristy were rebuilt in the Gothic style by the architect Alexandre Louvat from Mulhouse. The old Gothic nave, remodeled in the 18th century, was decorated with murals dating from 1491. To the south of the choir was a small chapel dating from the 14th and 15th centuries, with cross-ribbed vaults on consoles. To the north were the remains of the old priory cloister. On the site of the present Sacred Heart Chapel was the 18th-century Mount of Olives, the rood screen of which was removed in 1861.

Remarkable trees and view

This small hill is known in the region as an ancient Roman camp, certainly because of the Roman road located nearby. However, no remains have been found to date.

The many old timber-framed houses are impressive

This site is the location of a “KW” cannon of the “Kaiser Wilhelm Geschutze” or “Max le long” type whose mission, during the First World War, was to fire large detonations at Belfort to provide a diversion during attacks. on Verdun and the forts of Vaux and Douaumont.