Festungsgürtel Kreuzlingen, Military fortress in Thurgau, Switzerland
The Festungsgürtel Kreuzlingen is a system of about 42 bunkers and firing positions that stretches along the border between Switzerland and Germany near Lake Constance. The installations consist of underground rooms, gun emplacements, and trenches that are all connected to each other.
Construction of the installation began in 1937 when Switzerland wanted to strengthen its borders in response to growing tensions in Europe. The system was active during World War II, but was partially abandoned after the war and later opened to visitors.
The fortress belt shows how Switzerland wanted to protect itself and what fears people had at that time. Visitors can see today how soldiers lived and worked in cramped bunkers, which makes the reality of war very direct.
Several marked walking trails lead through different parts of the installation and can be walked without special equipment. Most bunkers are accessible, but require sturdy shoes and caution in the narrow spaces.
Some bunkers were camouflaged as ordinary structures, including one disguised as a woodpile to remain unnoticed during the war. These deception tactics show the creativity of Swiss engineers in hiding the fortifications.
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