Hartmannswillerkopf National Monument

This national monument sits at 956 meters above sea level on a rocky ridge of the Vosges mountains, overlooking the Rhine valley and the Alsatian plain below. The complex features preserved trenches, bunkers, a cemetery with graves, and a museum that offers visitors an overview of the events that unfolded here.

The monument commemorates over 7,000 French and German soldiers who died during fierce fighting for this strategic mountain position between December 1914 and January 1916. The memorial structure itself was completed in 1932 through the collaboration of architect Robert Danis and sculptor Antoine Bourdelle.

The site is named after the mountain and now serves as a place where visitors walk through preserved trenches and defensive positions from the conflict. The exhibitions emphasize how former enemies have learned to cooperate, making this a space for reflection on shared European history.

The site is accessible by paths that wind through the former combat zone and are marked with informational signs to help visitors navigate. Visitors should dress warmly and prepare for mountainous terrain, as altitude and weather conditions can change quickly.

The mountain was the scene of one of the longest battles of World War I, with French and German troops engaged in intense fighting for months over the summit position. This prolonged conflict left deep marks on the region and transformed the site into a symbol of the vast losses and suffering the war inflicted.

Location: Wattwiller

Inception: 1922

Architects: Robert Danis

Creator: Antoine Bourdelle, Eugène Rudier

Official opening: October 9, 1932

Part of: Funerary and memory sites of the First World War (Western Front)

Website: http://memorial-hwk.eu/monument-national.php

GPS coordinates: 47.85882,7.15017

Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:47