le fort de schoenenbourg

Toured the Maginot Line Fort de Schoenenbourg in early October. It was a group tour. The tour guide was excellent, spoke perfect English. Toured the entire fort complex including the living quarters, kitchen, medical area and the gun turrets. Turret was operational and several of us were given the opportunity to cranking the canon up into position. The entire fort was carved into a hill. The interior includes 2,800 meters of underground halls and corridors at a depth of 30 meters underground. Amazing construction that took place after WWI but was mostly made obsolete due to the airplane but was still manned until the armistice took effect. A lot of walking and cool temperature but well worth the time especially if you're a history buff.

I decided to take this tour as I was in the area and read about it on a flyer in my hotel, the tour can be in 3 languages, mine being in English. It was long but detailed and informative, the tour guide Michel Klein spoke great English and was happy to answer questions. If you go take warm clothes as it is cold down there and the thing lasted 3 hours. A lot of walking. I would recommend it to people who are interested in the 2nd world war I came away amazed at all the work that went into building and stocking this fort

Le Fort de Schoenenbourg was one of the highlights of my holiday.The place is absolutely massive, there are a lot of rooms that are just bunk rooms but the other areas are amazing to see. The sheer scale of the site is overwhelming.The gun positions and guns still there are enormous, the shells that they fired are massive.Well worth a visit if you are interested in underground structures / world war historyFriendly guy at the ticket desk who suggested other sites to visit alsoHighly recommended

Count at least 3 hour for this visit. it is cold there 12 deg C. There is a lot of walking, 3 km if you want visit turrets with guns. Do not hesitate ask guides - they are very enthusiastic and able give different informations about history and life and operations in this fortress. Guides speaks french and german.

We spent over 3 hours exploring the underground facilities of this Maginot Line fort. The entire complex has been kept in very good condition and there are enough tunnels and rooms to keep you busy and enthralled for an afternoon. Entry cost is also very modest. Unfortunately, our visit coincided with an 'art' exhibition entitled "Underground" to celebrate (or denigrate) the 100th anniversary of the start of the first world war. To be quite honest, the artistic items were irrelevant and puerile. They were a significant distraction to what the fort was offering: namely, an understanding of what people were thinking back in the 1930s and what the defenders at the beginning of WW2 must have gone through when the Germans attacked this section of France. The sooner this display is removed, the better. But don't let it stop you from visiting. The fort is well worth a visit.

We marveled at the ingenuity of the times of those who conceived and built what was France's grand-oeuvre to resist future attacks from Germany after the devastating toll of WWI. As you descend (via a modern elevator) into the ground some 30 meters below the surface, you enter into the lives of the men who once inhabited this underground world. We took a self-guided tour before the regular season got up to full steam. There were various multi-media shows that had not yet been placed into service that would have made the experience even more enjoyable. Too bad for us. Placards in French, German and English describe the many interesting aspects of the fort. We would arrange for a guided tour next time around. Dress warmly because of the cool damp conditions below. And be prepared to walk.

Fascinating historic site constructed just after WWI to prevent a future German invasion. This site is just a small segment of the Maginot Line. The facilities are meticulously preserved and maintained by volunteers. There is a significant amount of walking to be done if the entire site is visited. I estimated about 2-2.5 miles total. Due to the structure's depth, I highly recommend a coat or light jacket for comfort. It is incredible to imagine so many soldiers living in such tight quarters under ground. The scope of this bunker is very extensive. We had a 20-25 minute drive from Strasbourg to access the site. It is well worth the trip and I very much recommend a visit if in the area.

A group of 15 went on a guided tour of this historic place. Our guide, Michel Klein, was great about keeping us on track and answering any/all questions. At some points on the tour, there were children being a little noisy, but Michel quickly silenced them...with a stern tone. The items inside this historic site are amazing. On the outside you see the markings where bullets hit the outside walls, and on the inside you see and feel the coldness of the times it was in use. Make sure you wear a good pair of walking shoes. I planned on using my flip-flops (August) but glad I changed into a pair of sneaker type shoes. Even though there's an elevator taking you down to the tour level...there's quite a bit of walking and narrow passages that allow you to see and feel how cramped and tight quarters were. At some points they also play recordings to take you back in time and try to let you get a sense of what it was like during the fully operational period of this fort. You will also need something to wear, such as a jacket, as the temperature is a steady 13°C year-round on the tour level. We went in August (really warm up top, the entrance) and they still offered blankets for anyone visiting. Again, highly recommend a guide, a good pair of walking shoes, and a coat (long sleeved sweatshirt). Allow at least 2 hours for a tour, you will not be disappointed, nor will it feel like 2 hours. I am not a guide, nor am I affiliated with tour guides or this location, but our group did tip Michel because he was such a wonderful guide and took his time with us. He allowed us to check out areas and still keep us on a generous schedule.

Highly recommended to anyone interested in history and looking for something different to visit. The fort emerges from the trees as you approach it via some sleepy villages, around 20 mins north of Strasbourg. The entry fee is only 7 Euros for adults for around a 2.5 hour visit. After entering you can take a lift or the stairs down 30 metres where a large tunnel runs about 1km long in an almost straight line, so be prepared to walk - wear comfy shoes and take a warm jacket. It's not freezing down there but after two hours in the slighly damp and old air, it gets chilly. Check opening times before you go - on the weekend we went there were morning and afternoon fixed opening times, but perhaps this is seasonal as it was the end of October.

A bit of WWII history: the engineering involved in the construction and maintenance of this structure is impressive. The details about the every day life of soldiers living in this bunker is fascinating. A great visit, highly recommended.

Teenaged boys are not always easy to please when 'sightseeing' with the family, however I spotted a big grin on my 14 year old son's face for much of this visit. There are big guns, shells, buttons for explosive sound effects, tin hats to try on and more than 1,000 metres of underground tunnel to treck. Do wear coats as the visit would be marred by a couple of hours or so of feeling chilly! On the plus side, it was also chilly and raining outside so this was an excellent outing for a day with bad weather. My husband is very interested in military history and was equally enthralled by the many explanatory boards, signs and special displays of photos, posters, old newspapers etc. Since most things are left in place, the visitor can get a really good idea what life was like for the soldiers who lived there for three months at a time. There are barracks furnished with beds, kitchens and storerooms full of 1930's food. The hospital and command centres are also there to investigate. My daughter and I (mum) are not military history buffs but we did find the fort fascinating and I have to say I found myself engrossed by the fort's history. I saw many families with young children who were also really excited by the visit. Facilities for visitors with disabilities appeared to be excellent with lifts and wheelchairs at their disposal. Do check the official site for opening times before you visit as Maginot Line forts often have irregular opening hours. http://www.lignemaginot.com/

The Fort de Schoenenbourg is a "must see' for the military history buff. The prior review is spot on, but some additional facets of this specific Maginot Line fortification are worth addressing. First, the guide who conducted our tour was superior, and friends who have visited at other times have echoed this observation. Though quite apologetic for her English language skills, she communicated all concepts thoroughly. Further, though not missing any operational details, she had an admirable focus on the individual's soldier's experience and local history during the period. Second, the facility was renovated by local enthusiasts. While possibly not in as good a condition as the Maginot Line fort at Hackenburg, the scale of this fortification is staggering. Third, the operation of the disappearing cupola is perfect and the chance to try one's hand raising and lowering the 110 ton system (beautifully counter-balanced) is not to be missed. Fourth, the Fire Direction Control Center is excellent condition. Whether original or restored, any military history buff will appreciate the systems devised to accurately communicate the battlefield view of the forward observers to the plotters (pictures with range information, maps with "dead zones" annotated, etc.). Give yourself at least three hours for a visit.

The Maginot line was a line of fortifications stretching across the German border between France and most of Belgium. Fort Schoenenbourg is one of these bunkers, and is 100% recommended to visit if you are into WW2 history.The bunker itself is a feat of civil engineering, as its underground tunnelsn (30m underground) extend to literally many kilometers. The underground hospital, barracks, generators, command centre, gun carriages, shower rooms etc etc, are all as they were left when the site was closed down after the war.Be prepared to spend at least 3 hours at this site if you want to do it justice, and because of the limited opening hours out of peak season, this means getting there as they open.Wheelchairs are available if required, and take a jumper as the temperature is a steady 14 degrees down there (shorts and a T shirt will not suffice!)I think it was 7euros for adult entry - please check this and the entry times on the website though.Great for kids (and big kids!). There are a number of these bunkers within driving locality of this one, so look up 'Maginot line' on the internet to see the location of the others.

Le fort fait partie de la ligne Maginot. Outre la visite émouvante, ou on apprend que le fort a tenu et que ce n'est que la capitulation de la France qui a conduit à l'abandonner, c'est un ouvrage impressionnant de technique et de génie civil. La visite est conseillée à tout âge.

Superbe ouvrage bien restauré qu' on ne peut que conseiller aux visiteurs.On ne gâche pas son plaisir.Un très bel exemple de la ligne Maginot !