©Cyril Servettaz, Jan Becker, Uwe Müller
Crest lines, front lines, French lines, German lines…
All are winding lines that have crossed territories, around which peoples have clashed. Offensive and defensive positions continuously shifted these lines.
The site of Hartmannswillerkopf is the very symbol of this shifting battle for territory, marked by the constant advances and retreats of both fronts.
The Entre les lignes project aims to establish a fixed, enduring line of unity and peace—one that may inspire and support future generations in building stable and lasting foundations for peace between nations.
This line takes the form of a long bench, allowing visitors to share the space, to reflect, or to meditate on the principles of peace.
Granite from the Vosges massif, visible throughout the paths that cut through the trenches, is used in three forms within the project:
first, as massive blocks forming the benches; second, as gravel surfacing for the pathways; and third, as smaller stones of varying sizes set among the planting beds.
Across a surface of 250 m², the planting scheme brings life and renewal to soil once marked by war, transforming the scars of history through the beauty of the living world.
The white colour of the flowers, a symbol of peace, will dominate the garden, interspersed with soft purples. Together with the greens of the foliage, these tones will bring a sense of gentleness, poetry, and light to the shadows and hollows of our shared past.