Ouvrage Hackenberg, one of the largest of the Maginot Line fortifications, is part of the Fortified Sector of Boulay. It is situated twenty kilometres east of Thionville, in the Moselle département, near the village of Veckring, on the Hackenberg.
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Auberge du Hackenberg
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Don't visit if you dont know!
One of the icons of the periods between WWI and WWII, the fort represented the best of French military ingenuity and might before whatever happened in WWII.
Prior to visiting Hackenberg, the beast or Monster, you must read up a bit on the post WWI scenario, wherein the French did not want to fight the germans on the french soil, wanted some sort of fortification to reduce their casualties and also wanted to avoid any war altogether.
We were on a 3 day trip to Metz so visiting the Maginot line was a total no brainer. Easily accessible by car, with plenty of parking available, the place is well marked on the roads.
Going there requires a bit of planning, you must check the website for Open hours and preferably book in a ticket online (which comes with a guided tour, both in French and English). In case you are unable to book an online ticket, dont worry too much - just check the opening hours and be there 5 minutes before the open time, as once the tickets are sold and tour starts you might end up waiting quite a bit!
I can vouch for the English tour, it was conducted by Monseigneur Frederic, a large bespectaled gentleman with a penchant for story telling and amazing level of focus on minute details. His conducting our tour made the entire visit very memorable!
As you enter the facility you get an idea of a France which was still an imperliast super power for that time, for building this level of construction in that period required a very concerted focus and a good sum of money. Depending on the time of the year, you would see some bit of machinery working as well!
Definitely worth a visit and sadly the place doesnt get too many visitors. Please pack food items and drinks along for the trip and wear something warm in the...
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Visiting the Ouvrage Hackenberg Maginot Line Fortress was an unforgettable experience. This historical site is an absolute must-see for anyone interested in history, military architecture, or just looking for a fascinating day out.
The guided tour was exceptional. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the history of the fortress. He brought the stories of the soldiers and the strategic importance of the fortress to life, making the tour both educational and engaging.
Walking through the tunnels and seeing the preserved rooms, including the barracks, ammunition storage, and even the original artillery pieces, gave us a real sense of the scale and importance of the Maginot Line. It was amazing to learn how this massive structure played a crucial role in WWII.
The fortress is remarkably well-preserved. The efforts to maintain and restore the site are evident everywhere you look. From the well-maintained pathways to the detailed displays, it’s clear that a lot of care goes into keeping this piece of history alive.
The tour included several interactive elements, such as demonstrations of the fortress’s defensive mechanisms and a ride on the original narrow-gauge railway used to transport ammunition. These hands-on experiences added a fun and immersive aspect to the visit.
The fortress is set in beautiful, serene surroundings. After the tour, we enjoyed exploring the picturesque area around the fortress, which provided some great photo opportunities.
Overall, our visit to the Ouvrage Hackenberg Maginot Line Fortress was outstanding. It's a well-organized and deeply enriching experience that offers a unique glimpse into a significant piece of history. Highly recommended for history buffs and curious...
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Absolute stunning site showing the structure, strategic positioning of defense weapons and reconnaissance in the fortificated tunnel system. They also have a huge selection of WWII weapons including the MP40 and the MG41, handgrenades, mortars and many many pictures of life in the fort. Amazing the menu if the canteen. Boeuf Bourgignon and red wine while ze Germans had to eat their MREs. Please bear in mind that this fort is only a part of the Maginot line which borders the Germany West flank from Luxembourg down to Basel for around 480 km. Some kind of a real impressive and espensive structure which has naver lived up to its purpose. A must visit for everybody visiting the Moselle, Luxembourg, Saarbrücken area. They speak French, German and English and if you need one of these languages you should book in adance. Otherwise just show up. In the beginning they take you on a little rain trip which was used for transporting ammo and personell. At this stage I like to thank the organisation and the volunteers who signe responsible for restoring and maintaining...
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