Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The glass mural of old Zacatlán
Vitromurales de Zacatlán
Ancient City of Histria
Heksens Hårbånd (The Witch’s Headband)
The Georgia Room at Switzer Library
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è pasta... E pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Tripe is fried to a crisp.
L’Osteria della Trippa
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Rats didn’t take over the city by being foolhardy.
Do New York City Rats Deserve Their Bad Rap?
about 6 hours ago
The Secret Gardens Saving the World’s Rarest Plants
about 9 hours ago
Solo travel can be challenging and sometimes lonely, but it also often leads to the greatest adventures.
Dear Atlas: How Do I Unplug on a Solo Trip?
1 day ago
Museum of Friends
The Art in This Museum Was Donated for Free
1 day ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Germany Mettlach Höckerlinie Westwall
AO Edited

Höckerlinie Westwall

Now overgrown, these anti-tank barriers from World War II are sometimes called "dragon's teeth."

Mettlach, Germany

Added By
Robin Simon
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  robinrocket / Atlas Obscura User
  robinrocket / Atlas Obscura User
  robinrocket / Atlas Obscura User
  robinrocket / Atlas Obscura User
  robinrocket / Atlas Obscura User
  robinrocket / Atlas Obscura User
  robinrocket / Atlas Obscura User
  robinrocket / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The Höckerlinienweg is two things: an interesting walk of approximately one hour through nice landscapes and weird anti-tank barriers, but also a close-up view of Germany's dark history.

Walking through the moss-covered barriers in the woods is a special experience. You can feel how soldiers were supposed to hide behind the lines, wait for attacks from France. The barriers are all in good condition and even some bunker ruins are accessible along the hike.

The Höckerlinie was originally part of the so called Westwall, a defense line between Germany and France. It was planned and built between 1936 and 1940 by the National Socialist regime. The wall is made up of more than 17,000 concrete bunkers, and a long span of armored barriers. The single barriers weigh up to nine tons and the wall is more than 700 meters long.

Related Tags

World War Ii Military History Walls Hiking Military

Know Before You Go

There is a clear hiking trail, so you won't get lost. There's also a small restaurant along the hike so you won't starve. And finally, it seems kids enjoy running around the barriers, and the hike is not hard at all

Community Contributors

Added By

robinrocket

Edited By

btaylor1881

  • btaylor1881

Published

May 3, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Höckerlinie Westwall
996 Moselstr.
Mettlach, 66693
Germany
49.503082, 6.499423
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Europe 1 Transmitter

Überherrn, Germany

miles away

Gräinskapell

Luxembourg, Luxembourg

miles away

Schetzel Grotto

Steinsel, Luxembourg

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Germany

Germany

Europe

Places 755
Stories 68

Nearby Places

Europe 1 Transmitter

Überherrn, Germany

miles away

Gräinskapell

Luxembourg, Luxembourg

miles away

Schetzel Grotto

Steinsel, Luxembourg

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Germany

Germany

Europe

Places 755
Stories 68

Related Places

  • The water tank

    Oxford, England

    Slade Camp

    A lost World War II military camp and post-war suburb swallowed by the woods.

  • The Victoria Lines in the Binġemma Valley.

    Mġarr, Malta

    Victoria Lines

    These 19th-century military fortifications spanning the island of Malta now form a nice countryside hiking trail.

  • A floating Valentine tank, note the turret in the middle of the canvas

    Dorset, England

    Valentine Tank Wrecks

    The site of a dress rehearsal for D-Day that ended in disaster.

  • Some names were clear as day, Eddie Meyer engraved the date, name and location

    Southampton, England

    The D-Day Wall

    This little-known wall in Southampton stands as one of the most unique and personal monuments to D-Day.

  • F14 Fighter Jet

    Alameda, California

    USS Hornet Sea, Air and Space Museum

    After serving in World War II and picking up Apollo astronauts, this aircraft carrier has been turned into a museum overlooking the San Francisco Bay.

  • Helfaut, France

    La Coupole

    This bunker in northern France was built by Nazi German forces with the intention of launching up to 50 V2 rockets at London each day.

  • View of the hangar from the Pasquotank River.

    Elizabeth City, North Carolina

    Weeksville Airship Hangar

    During World War II, blimps were a key part of the United States' defense against German U-boats—this building could house a dozen of the armed airships.

  • Zephyrhills, Florida

    Zephyrhills Museum of Military History

    This facility, now a museum, once housed and trained U.S. Army Air Force pilots who flew during the Allied invasion of Normandy.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.