Anne-Charlotte Passera
One great thing about traveling is when you stumble upon places that you didn’t know existed such as WWI trenches in Alsace.
While I was visiting my brother Zazou before he passed away in Alsace, an eastern region of France, I visited actual trenches dating back to WWI at Col du Linge Memorial. I had never even heard of them!
When we think about the trenches of WWI, we usually think of the ones of Verdun. But in Verdun, you don’t actually see them. What’s left of them and the battlefields is just scarred earth where nature has taken over.
One thing to know about this place is that in 1914, when WWI started, Alsace was part of Germany. You can read about the history in our article on Strasbourg.
The goal of the French army was to take over the valley of Munster by going over this ‘hill’. It was mission impossible.
How to get there
Col du Linge is located 96km away from Strasbourg and 24 km from Colmar, in the Vosges mountains. The only real way to get there is by car.
However, you could see with Day Trip if it’s feasible to make a stop at these WWI trenches in Alsace on your way from Strasbourg to Colmar and vice versa. I used this company during my trip to Vietnam and it’s perfect if you don’t want to drive nor rent a car.
Visiting the WWI trenches of Col du Linge
My older brother, a WWII Guide in Normandy, took me, Blondie Bear, and two of my nephews to visit it. Amazingly, these kids, ages 12 to 14, really enjoyed it!
Since dogs are not allowed on-site, and we had one with us, we visited the Col du Linge in two teams.
While you wait or after your visit, there is a very nice trail that leads from the parking lot to a quarry. It’s perfect if you want to continue walking in nature or are traveling with a dog and can’t visit the site of Col du Linge.
Hours of operation
The museum and site open at 9 a.m. every day. During the Summer, it’s open continuously. However, the rest of the year it closes for lunch between 12h30 and 2 p.m.
You’ll need a good 2 hours to visit these WWI trenches in Alsace.
How much does it cost?
The entrance fee is 5 euros for adults and FREE for kids under the age of 16. This gives you full access to the museum, the super interesting 20-minute movie, and the outdoor part of the museum where the WWI trenches are.
Parking is FREE.
Accessibility
The trenches are accessible for strollers and wheelchairs, but only on the blue trail which loops around the trenches.
The red and black trails take you through the trenches and are the hardest. They are not accessible to strollers or wheelchairs as there are steps and the trenches are really tight to walk through.
I barely fit through them with just a t-shirt and shorts on. I don’t know how the soldiers were able to move through them with all of their gear!
It’s best to walk through them with comfortable shoes on.
What you’ll see at Col du Linge
As with any places you visit that talk about war, it might be wise to talk about it beforehand with kids prior to your visit. That way, they’ll be able to better understand the context and what they are walking into.
The first part of the visit is the museum.
The museum is very detailed and interesting. If your kids are old enough, they will actually enjoy it.
Wax figures complement the exhibition and are dressed in the various uniforms that were used at the time.
What’s particularly fascinating, which my nephew Loulou actually noticed, is that the figures represent a soldier that lived. Their actual picture is presented next to the wax figure. It’s creepy yet interesting at the same time.
On display, you’ll see weapons that were used at the time, objects that were found on-site, and a very thorough collection of uniforms from both sides.
Take as much time as needed to read and look at the museum to fully grasp what life in the trenches was like.
The trenches
The trenches that you can visit at Col du Linge represent only a small portion of the original battlefield that was 2km long. The rest have been taken over by nature all around.
Walking around them can be a lot of fun, especially for kids. However, just remember that over 17,000 soldiers (10,000 were the French ‘Poilus’) perished during the span of 4 months. So, use your own judgment when you are visiting as to what is appropriate to do or not.
Each trail takes you on a different path and is of a different level of difficulty. The blue trail is the easiest if you have reduced mobility. You’ll have access to the French and German sides along with the no man’s land.
On the Vosges front, animals play a major role. Horses and bulls help bring the artillery needed and dogs bring the wounded to safety. In the trenches, cats and dogs help bring some much-needed affection to the soldiers. Over 14 million animals were mobilized during WWI, almost 10 million perished to help mankind and 120,000 animals will be decorated for their part after the war.
Where to go after the trenches of Alsace
There is a restaurant nearby, Ferme Auberge Glasborn, 5 km from Munster, and 5 minutes away from Col du Linge.
Make a right from the parking lot and then take the first left.
This farm was destroyed during WWI and rebuilt in 1920.
Although we didn’t eat there, their outdoor terrace provides a great view of the Vosges mountain range.
They are open every day except on Mondays.
War theme visits
If you’d like to stay on the war theme, you can visit the German cemetery (black crosses for the ‘defeated’) and the French cemetery (white crosses for the ‘victorious’). Just make a right from the parking lot and follow the signs. They are both really close by.
A more intense visit can be the concentration camp of Natzweiller-Struthof, located 1h30 from the WWI trenches of Alsace. It’s the only remaining camp of this kind in France.
Finally, for a Sound of Music moment without too much effort, stop by the ski slopes of the Markstein. Without over doing it, you can get a nice view of the Alps, on a clear day. Just watch where you step as you’ll be walking in pastures where bulls and cows like to graze.
Also, bring a jacket as it’s 1,000m in altitude.
Otherwise, head down to Colmar for a drink or back to Strasbourg for a delicious Tarte Flambée.
You will not be disappointed by these trenches dating back to WWI in Alsace as the site is not only beautiful but completely authentic.
Really interesting post. I’m a big fan of learning what I can about history, I think it’s really important to keep the information going so that future generations can hopefully learn from it. I remember visiting Northern France to some of the WWI sites with my family years ago after my Mum wanted to find out where her uncle had died. It was really moving and such a saddening experience, but I’m so glad we did it. I’d definitely visit Alsace and the trenches. I hope to get there one day. Great tips and guide
Thank you!
Yes, Alsace is definitely a beautiful region of France to explore and very rich in history.
Wow, this looks so intriguing. So much history and such a gorgeous view!
Yes it is indeed. It was a great discovery.
Wow I love some shots in this blog that takes back to time. Great one to explore. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you! Yes, it’s definitely worth a visit.
[…] Read More […]