Hotel Luisenpark

Maginot Line of Schoenenbourg

Visit the Schoenenbourg Fort which was the most important fortress, which in turn was part of the Maginot Line that protected Alsace. The fort consists of 8 blocks with room for 650 men.

It is possible to visit the barracks, the kitchen and the command centre as well as see the various gun positions, ammunition dumps and life at the fort as part of the famous Maginot Line is documented continuously during the visit. Explore Alsace, France on a self-drive holiday. Find the cheapest hotels at Risskov.

Work of the Lime Kiln

Ouvrage du Four à Chaux was built between 1930-1935 and was part of the many fortifications that made up the Maginot Line, a French fortification line that defended the Alsace region from the German border between Luxembourg and the Rhine. As is well known, the Germans went around the fortifications and over the Ardennes mountains, and thus the Maginot Line fulfilled its defensive function.

When Hitler annexed Austria, Sudetenland and Bohemia, the Ouvrage du Four à Chaux was manned and also became an important part of the area's growth thanks to the very industrious soldiers. Discover the fascinating history of one of the great fortifications of all time, the Maginot Line.

The fortress covers an area of 26 hectares, with 6 man blocks, 3 artillery cannons and 4.5 km of underground passages. The site housed about 600 men.

The fortress served as a defence until 1 July 1940, when the French regiments were forced to surrender after the fighting between May and June 1940.

Museum of the Battle of 6 August 1870

This unique museum is completely dedicated to the battle that took place on August 6, 1870 in the Franco-Prussian War and which ended with a French defeat. The battle was between France and Prussia's leadership and the southern German states of Baden, the Kingdom of Bavaria and Württemberg. The war led, among other things, to the start of the Third Republic following the capture and subsequent surrender of Emperor Napoleon III. As for Germany, after the war it was united under Prussia's leadership. Further consequences for France were the loss of Alsace and Moselle, which remained German for 48 long years.

The museum exhibits swords, firearms, uniforms and helmets as well as everything a soldier in the French army in 1870 needed in the art of survival. There are also many beautiful paintings and a total of 1,300 fascinating objects on display, all bearing witness to the tragic past.

Karlsruhe

Go on a car holiday in Germany with Risskov and drive yourself to Southern Germany. Visit the young city of Karlsruhe, located just northwest of Stuttgart. Karlsruhe is known for its magnificent castle in the centre, from which avenues and streets radiate like a fan. The city, which first emerged in 1715, was unlike other German cities an open and liberal city that was not hidden away behind great walls. Visit the market square, where you'll find both the town church and the town hall. Around the square you'll find cosy beer gardens and restaurants from where you can keep up with city life. The city is also full of green spaces. Take a walk in the botanical gardens, the palace gardens or the zoo. Find cheap and child-friendly hotels in the area and go exploring in the beautiful area.

Château Dietrich

Château Dietrich, also known as the Reichshoffen Castle, is a fantastic castle with a lot of interesting history attached to it. The lovely grounds are also surrounded by a beautiful park. The castle was originally founded and built for the Duke of Lorraine in 1232, but after wear and decay the beautiful pink sandstone castle was rebuilt and today belongs to the wealthy Jean de Dietrich family.

Haguenau

Take a driving holiday to the small town of Haguenau, located in Alsace Haguenau Nord, about 35 km north of Strasbourg. Today, the town is home to over 35,000 inhabitants and has acted as a hub throughout history thanks to its central and beautiful location, in the middle of a large forest of over 14,000 hectares. Surrounded by greenery, Haguenau, with its 580 shops and markets, is also a good place to stop for a spot of shopping. There are restaurants and bars and in fact it's quite a lively little town.

Haguenau was founded around 1115 by Frederick Borgne and after a rich and turbulent period including fire and German takeover, Haguenau is today the largest centre of employment in northern Alsace.

The city has two museums and there are many monuments in the heart of the city.