Fort Kléber, ouvrage de la ceinture fortifiée de Strasbourg (1875-1888)
Fort Kléber is a fortified structure in Wolfisheim with a low irregular hexagonal shape, thick stone and brick walls, and a deep dry moat about 20 feet (6 meters) wide. Inside, it contains firing platforms for artillery, narrow defensive corridors, casemates for soldiers, and ammunition storage rooms connected by covered passages.
Built between 1872 and 1875 by Germans who had taken control of Strasbourg in 1870, it was designed to defend the city from attacks coming from the north or south. France renamed it Fort Kléber in 1918 and took control after the First World War.
The fort's name honours Jean-Baptiste Kléber, a French general, chosen in 1918 after the French reclaimed the area. Today it serves as a public park where people can walk around the historic walls and learn about the region's shared past through guided tours and open exploration.
The fort's outdoor areas are open for exploration, but the site is closed to the public from September 2024 for maintenance and safety work. There is a playground for children, a walking trail through the old moat, and a small farm animal enclosure, making it a place for families of different ages.
The fort was originally called Fort VI and was designed by General Hans Alexis von Biehler using an innovative layout that spread multiple forts across a wider area for better coverage. Despite plans for at least 36 forts, only about 14 were actually built in the region.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
