Natzwiller: Memorial Sites and the Sentier panoramique

Memorial Sites and Historical Perspectives

If you are considering Natzwiller as a destination for a stay, two interests stand out: the historic memorial sites and the Sentier panoramique, with its views over the Rothaine Valley. When looking for a hotel for your stay, this distinction can help you choose the focus of your trip according to your interests.

The former Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp in Natzwiller is now the Musée des Déportés. The former camp is protected under France’s historic monuments system. The museum in Barrack No. 1 displays various objects collected at the camp; at the same time, it traces the history of National Socialism. The combination of tangible objects and historical overview defines the focus of this museum. Its current function as a museum and the site’s former use belong to different periods.

The Centre européen du résistant déporté (CERD) has a different thematic focus. Its 2,000 m² of exhibition space presents the history of resistance in Europe to fascist and Nazi rule. Its perspective is therefore resistance on a European scale, distinct from the account of the camp’s history through objects from the camp.

The Nécropole Nationale in Natzwiller contains 1,118 graves of French people who died during deportation at KL-Natzweiler or in other camps. The reference to other camps is important for context: the cemetery commemorates not only people who died at KL-Natzweiler, but also people who died in other camps during deportation. The Nécropole thus offers its own approach to remembrance, distinct from an exhibition about the history of the camp or resistance.

Chapel and Landscape

The Chapelle de Notre-Dame de Lourdes in Natzwiller is dedicated to Notre-Dame de Lourdes and probably dates from the late 19th or early 20th century. As a chapel, it is a distinct religious point of reference within Natzwiller’s cultural offerings. Its approximate period of construction sets it apart from the history of the former camp and gives it its own historical context.

The Sentier panoramique invites visitors to discover the local trees and plant life and offers views of the Rothaine Valley landscape. One variant provides a round trip to the former granite quarry at the Struthof camp. The trail thus combines impressions of nature and landscape with a named site from the history of the camp, although these are not the same kind of visitor experience.

Getting to the Memorial Site

There is a clear restriction on getting to the Struthof memorial site: it can only be reached by private car or chartered coach. Take this requirement into account when planning and check the conditions before setting out. This is particularly important if visiting the memorial site is the main focus of your stay.

Discover more destinations: Ohnenheim, Ichtratzheim, Gries, Osthoffen, Mothern, Kintzheim, Mittelhausen, Molsheim

For the higher-level travel overview: Bas-Rhin.