Entrance to the Fort of Mutzig in Alsace

Have you ever heard of Fort de Mutzig? Whether you're a family, a couple or a group of friends, come and discover history's first modern fortification on a self-guided tour. Located 20 minutes from Strasbourg, on the heights of Dinsheim-sur-Bruche, this astonishing architectural, technical and military site will take you back in time to the history of Alsace.

With its original name of Feste Kaiser Wilhelm II, this unique military structure is the first concrete, armoured and electrified fortification in Europe. Built by the Germans in the commune of Mutzig in Alsace, it took a quarter-century to complete (1893-1918), and housed a garrison of 7,000 soldiers over the years. In 1914, it was the largest and most powerful fort in Europe, with 50 buildings and 22 heavy guns. All spread over an area of 254 hectares.

On this tour, you won't just be exploring a giant fortress. You'll also learn about the living conditions of soldiers during the First World War. Armed with a leaflet (in French, German or English), you'll cross narrow galleries and climb several staircases that will take you into the different spaces that made up their daily lives: the bedrooms, the kitchens, the wells, the power station, the hospital... In fact, Fort de Mutzig is the only pre-1914 fortification in the world to retain all its original equipment.

As you can see, a visit to this site, which today represents a symbol of peace and Franco-German reconciliation, promises to be particularly rewarding and moving. A word of advice: bring a sweater. It's quite chilly inside the fort.