Association Internationale des Sites et Musees de la Guerre de 1914

Presentation of the site

This famous battlefield of the 1914-1918 War, classified historic site, is located at a height of 1000 meters on a crest separating the Orbey and the Munster valleys,20km to the west of Colmar.

This battlefield, perfectly well preserved, highlights the infrastructure of the solid German defence system : trenches, blockhaus, forts,various armours, commanding posts etc…

The remains of the French trenches in light soil, are the moving witnesses to this battle which, after the terrible fighting between the 20 th July and the 15 th October 1915, resulted in 17000 dead and was followed by a war of position until the 11 th November 1918.

Historic reminder

Site of the Memorial of the Linge – battle of the High Vosges
Site of the Memorial of the Linge - battle of the Linge

The Memorial of the Linge, a long concrete building, half buried , is constructed directly on the battlefield; it recalls the history and the everyday life of both camps, the German and the French; it was inaugurated on the 9 th August 1981 and its aim is to welcome many visitors.

The Memorial museum recalls the history and the everyday life of both camps, through several show-windows, showing: model figures, reconstituted scenes, weapons, photographs, operation maps, relics found around, 70 years after the battle. A projection room with 60 seats will allow you to relive the tragic events of the Linge, through a video setting with commentaries.

School visits must be pre-arranged.

As well as the historic side, the Memorial also offers other practical facilities, such as parking for buses and cars, a shop which has a wide choice of books written in French, German and English and postcards.

You can find on the Website www.linge1915.com the chronological unfolding of this battle