Have you noticed the subtle undulations in the landscape? These seemingly natural features are actually remnants of a historic defensive line. We are standing before the Ettlinger Linie. It is also known as the Lower Line. The Ettlinger Linie was constructed in 1707 during the War of the Spanish Succession.
Picture this. French troops are advancing. The Ettlinger Linie was built to stop them. This line replaced the Bühl-Stollhofen Line. The French destroyed the Bühl-Stollhofen Line in May 1707. The Ettlinger Linie was made from brushwood and palisades.
George Louis of Brunswick-Lüneburg ordered its construction. He was the commander of the Rhine Army. Later, during the War of the Polish Succession, the line was reinforced. Watercourses were added. These could be impounded to create further obstacles.
In 1734, French troops broke through the line at Spessart. It was subsequently destroyed. However, it was rebuilt in 1735. After that, the Ettlinger Linie lost its military importance.
Today, only fragments of the Ettlinger Linie remain. These remains offer a glimpse into the past. They remind us of the strategic importance of this area. The line stretched between the Black Forest and the Rhine meadows. It lay south of Karlsruhe. Karlsruhe did not even exist back then.
Imagine the scene 300 years ago. Five-meter-deep ditches and high earth walls stretch as far as the eye can see. Wooden palisades stand tall to hinder the enemy’s advance. About 100 meters in front of the lines stood watchtowers. These so-called redoubts were about ten meters high.
You can still see parts of the fortified line. Look for breastworks and a redoubt southwest of Karlsruhe. They are near the Heidenstückersiedlung settlement. The visible section extends for about 500 meters in the Hardtwald forest. An even longer section is visible in the woods of Rheinstetten.
Information boards mark the line in Karlsruhe and Rheinstetten. One is located on Pirschweg in Rheinstetten. You can also find visible remains near Schöllbronn and Spessart.
The Ettlinger Linie was part of a larger defensive system. This system stretched from Neckargmünd to the High Rhine. The Malscher Landgraben flanked the Ettlinger Linie. The line ran through Daxladen, Ettlingenweier, Spessart, and the Alb Valley. It continued to Dobel and into the Eyach Valley. There, it connected to the Eppinger Linie and the Schwarzwaldlinie.
Over time, cultivation and construction have taken their toll. The building of the Autobahn and residential areas damaged the lines. Natural earth movements filled the trenches. Despite this, remnants of the Ettlinger Linie still exist. They can be found along the eleven-kilometer path in the Hardtwald. Also, explore the forest area between Ettlingenweier and Spessart to discover more.
The Ettlinger Linie stands as a testament to a turbulent period in European history. Its remains remind us of the constant struggle for power. They also highlight human ingenuity in the face of conflict. As we move on, consider the echoes of the past. They still resonate within this landscape.