Casemate of Neunhoffen

" Découvrez la casemate de Neunhoffen, un ouvrage témoin de la ligne Maginot des Vosges du Nord. Réaménagée à l'état d'origine elle reconstitue le quotidien d'un équipage de forteresse. Un circuit pédestre dans la vallée permet de découvrir diverses installations de la ligne Maginot. "

This Interval casemate of the Maginot Line (Vosges Fortified Sector) protected the Schwarzbach river valley with its two light machine guns ('fusils-mitrailleurs') mounted in armored cupolas ('cloches') and its twin Reibel machine guns providing supporting fire to adjacent casemates. Moreover, twelve dams along the stream could flood the valley. The casemate has been restored to its original state in order to re-create the soldiers' life in 1940 (room with twelve bunks and a wood-burning stove - well of drinking water - ventilation system - seatless latrines with detailed instructions - generating unit...) and exhibit the armament (firing chambers - tube or chute for throwing grenades - ammunition ...). Photographs of the destructions in the village on display.
A walking trail takes the visitors to various Maginot Line installations along the valley : dams, officers' quarters, shooting range, foundations of barracks...