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Bruce Oliver - Enfield, CT

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Zurich, Switzerland  and Eastern France

Lembach, France - Ligne Maginot Ouvrage Du Four A Chaux

AKA Line Maginot or the Maginot Line.

Named after Andre Maginot, French War Minister

The decision to build Maginot Line Fortress (Four A Chaux) or forts in Lembach, France came in 1919, by the French government, one year after its altercation with Germany in World War I.    The Alsace Region in Eastern France has been in the hands of the Germans and French alternately over the last few centuries.  The French said that enough is enough and decided to build an 23 connected under ground fortresses and 27 lesser forts along the border of Eastern France and Germany.    It was so deep in the earth that a ventilation system and rail road had to be built to provide the troops with the fortress with air and supplies.  It served the French for a short time during World War II but the Germans went into Belgium and around the line to capture the fortress from the back side.  Interestingly enough, this fortress in Lembach, France was liberated, by my Uncle Charlie and the US Marines towards the end of the war.  The forested area now surrounding the entrance was in the middle of a field back in that era (click on the photo to the left to enlarge).

Today the Line Maginot is a museum which I spent several hours in taking photos and video footage in 1993. In the video of this portion of the Maginot Line you will see photos and footage of the massive gun or turret that was the signature of this line of defense. This massive underground gun is one of many found along the entire border between France and Germany. To my knowledge this museum is the only one open to the public.

(17 minute Video Below)

A tank outside of the Maginot Line Fortress Entrance

Protection for the men's entrance to the Maginot Line Museum & Fortress

Men's entrance to the Maginot Line Fortress

The kitchen

Enlisted Men's Latrine

Bunks for the staff were occupied 24-hours per day in shifts of 8 hours.   Soldiers manned their stations for 8 hours, had 8 hours personal time and slept for 8 hours.

The infirmary

The tunnels go into the earth five miles and are as much as a mile under ground. Each step we got closer to the massive guns that made the Line Maginot the fortress it was.

Maginot Line Fortress Control Center (left)

Pictures of the escape route from the fortress under ground (right)

Casings used by the massive guns

Cross section of the Maginot Line Turrets

(massive guns stored underground)

The staging for aiming the massive gun.

Picture depicting the way the massive gun rises above the ground in the country side.

The turret appears as a mound on the top of the landscape

German propaganda posters distributed during WW II

The power generation equipment used by the French in their underground fortress.

We enjoyed wine and a French lunch at the top of the 14th Century ruin of Chateau de Waldeck

Bitche, France - Citadelle

The long walk up the ramp to the French Citadelle.

The fantastic tour was conducted with multi-language ear phones that triggered sounds, dialog, and sprays that made us feel like we were there back in time.

The last French Fortress that fell to the Germans during one of the wars between Germany and France.

Center of Strasbourg, France

STRASBOURG: EUROPEAN CAPITAL

Today, Strasbourg, capital city of Alsace, counts along with its urban community a population of 400 000 inhabitants, It is both the seat of the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights and of the European Parliament. Its geographical position on the borders of Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland has made it a hub of international trade. Its privileged position is reinforced by the activities in the "port de Strasbourg" which is the second biggest inland port in France and on the Rhine. Strasbourg is also an active cultural centre due to its centuries old university, the biggest in the East of France.

The cathedral - a marvel of inspired majesty which towers over the Maison Kammerzell (15-16th c.) and the oldest chemists in France, the "Pharmacie du Cerf' -took almost 4 centuries to build thanks to the genius and skill of the master builders who came from throughout France and the surrounding Rhineland.

La Petite France (Little France) with its attractive half-timbered houses huddled along the canal, is a marvellous illustration of the traditional image of Alsace. Many examples of these typical houses are to be seen in the ((guarder des Tanneurs» (Tanners district). This old part of the town has been caringly restored and transformed into a pedestrian precinct.

The 18th c. uhotelsn (town mansions) - In 1681 Strasbourg became a part of France. A century later all the important people in the town dreamt of having a Parisian style ehotel». The cardinal Armand-Gaston de Rohan-Subise set the example in having a palace built for himself whose lush appartments distinctly resemble those of Versailles.
The museums - in order to discover more of the town's treasures one only has to visit the museums. They housc large collections of great interest and variety; new exhibitions periodically provide an additional attraction.

Apart from the collections in the Rohan palace, among which may be found the famous painting the "Belle Strasbourgeoise" (the local version of the Mona Lisa), the cathedral museum of l'Oeuvre Notre-Dame and the Alsatian museum house artistic treasures which are beautifully presented. Other museums such as the History museum, the Archeology museum and the Modern Art centre have their adepts, too.

Cultural activities - Music has a very special place in Strasbourg. Once a year, an international music festival is held in June as well a contemporary music festival, MUSICA, in September. The Strasbourg Philarmonic Orchestra is famed throughout Europe. The works of the Percussions of Strasbourg in the field of modern music have also acquired a world-wide reputation. In addition to these concerts, there are
also performances given by the Rhine Opera company, the Strasbourg National Theatre house, the Rhine ballet company, not to mention the aD'Choucrouterie», a satyrical cabaret, and the Alsatian Theatre which each in its own particular way characterises the sparkling life and wit of the region.

The <<Winstubsu>>, (informal restaurants) are a true illustration of the Strasbourg cart de vivre». In a friendly, relaxed atmosphere you can sample a glass of locil wine and a wide range dishes.

Strasbourg, a <<green town>> - since time immemorial Strasbourg has managed to maintain a perfect balance between buildings and parks. It is literally riddled with greenery from the surrounding forests. These parks and gardens such as the famous gardens of the Orangerie and the Citadel park, not forgetting the alardin des Contades» whose name wilt always be associated with the Marshal of that name and whose chef had the good fortune to invent the famous Strasbourg foie gran, rank among the most beautiful in France.

Strasbourg, a meeting place for all - there are many contemporary achievements in the town of which two stand out more especially as far as universal meeting places are concerned: the Palais des Congres and the Palms delEurope. The main auditorium of the Palais de la Musique et des Congres (Music and Conference centre) with seating for up to 2.000 music lovers, is acoustically speaking one of the best concert halls in Europe. The hemisphere in the Palais de ('Europe stages sessions for the members of the Council of Europe as well as those of the European Parliament consecutively.
 

STRASBOURG CATHEDRAL - Strasbourg, France

The only cathedral left standing during the French Revolution - the cathedral at Strasbourg

The Astronomical Clock is in the Strasbourg Cathedral

Between 1547 and 1574, there was much ado in this part of the south transept, as the clock prepared by Dasypodium «The Archimedes of Strasbourg» was built. The Habrecht brothers, assisted by Tobias Stimmer, installed and embellished it from 1572 to 1574.

In its present form, it dates from 1838/1842, after it was rejuvenated by a brilliant autodidact, the local mathematician clockmaker John-Baptist Schwilgue.

The central section, 18 meters high and 11 meter 70 wide, has 7 levels.

The lower dial indicates the months of the year, date, sun time and liturgical calendar. A computation on the left calculates the dates of the main religious feasts.

In the center of the level above, two pairs of hands tell the local sun time and the official time. A cherub on the left of it rings the quarters and another on the right upends a sand glass at every change of hour.

Next, a Copernician planetarium gives the signs of the zodiac and a representation of the solar system.

A copper ball, half clear and half black, shows the aspects of the moon seen from this part of the world.

From six in the morning to six at night a skeleton on the lower projecting balcony surveys the ages of man as they file past: childhood, youth, maturity, senility; when the last has gone, Death strikes the hour.

On the upper balcony, at 12. 30 p.m., official time, the twelve apostles parade past Christ who blesses them as they bow before him, while a rooster perched on the counterweight turret (to the left of the central section) crows three time to recall the renial of St Peter.

The clockwork is surrounded by legends: the clockmaker has been blinded, because he threatened to build a similar clock in another town; to avenge, he withdrew screws to prevent lions from roaring. Of course, none of both events mentionned ever happened.

Astronomical clock : built from 1572 to 1574, it has been remade by the local craftsman Schwilgue between 1838-1842; his portrait has been painted by J.B. Guerin at the bottom of the left hand pillar. The lions symbolize the bishop's power and the code of arms of the town.

The alter in the cathedral at Strasbourg

From the top of the cathedral

The oldest drug store in France.

Schiltigheim, France - Brasserie de Schiltigheim

Heineken Brewery on the French German Border

Hops - the flower used to flavor the beer

The royal treatment - sampling beers not normally available to the public.  Saw the Company President.

Playing with the swords that we bought to bring home.  Claude clowns around.

Catherine our guide as we leave to go home.

THE END

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©1994-2009 Bruce L Oliver, Enfield, CT

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