Eppingen lines

(the "Sun King") made claims to the inheritance of Liselotte of the Palatinate (Elizabeth Charlotte).

[1] Louis William of Baden understood the geographical advantage and the need for a state line of defence (Landesdefensionslinie).

The ditch and bank system of the Eppingen lines was guarded by watchtowers, called chartaques.

These so-called schanzers came from the area in front of the Eppingen lines and were thus at the mercy of French forces.

The German generals, for their part, threatened executions if the population did not assist with building the defences.

This replica of a chartaque may be seen on the southern edge of the village of Niefern-Öschelbronn .
A chartaque in Eppingen.
A carved wooden watchkeeper near the entrance to the Eppingen chartaque .