Borne des Trois Puissances, Border monument near Pfetterhouse, France.
Borne des Trois Puissances is a border monument in a forest setting that marks the exact location where the borders of France, Germany, and Switzerland meet. Multiple stone columns of varying heights stand at this point, with inscriptions identifying each of the three nations.
The stone was erected in 1871 following the Franco-Prussian War, when France ceded Alsace-Lorraine to Germany and new borders were established. This boundary marker documents this turning point in the regional geography of Europe.
The markers display engravings showing France and Germany, representing how borders between nations are physically marked in this landscape. Visitors can see these carved details which remind them of the three countries that meet at this exact spot.
The site is located in the Bois Défendu forest area and is accessible via marked hiking trails from several nearby villages including Pfetterhouse, Réchésy, and Beurnevésin. A small shelter built by the Swiss army provides visitors with a place to rest during their visit.
The site sits at roughly 500 meters elevation in a wooded area that was once important to border smugglers. The geographical position makes this point where three European nations meet quite uncommon in a natural forest setting.
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