Construction of the fortress XVIIe siècle (≈ 1750)
Vauban erected Huningue to defend the Rhine.
1796, 1814, 1815
Seats of the fortress
Seats of the fortress 1796, 1814, 1815 (≈ 1815)
Huningue resists in major conflicts.
1951
Acquisition of the first collections
Acquisition of the first collections 1951 (≈ 1951)
Lucien Kiechel buys engravings and Swiss documents.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Lucien Kiechel - Founding collector
Acquire the museum's first pieces in 1951.
Vauban - Military engineer
Designs the fortress of Huningue.
Origin and history
The Huningue Historical and Military Museum originated in 1951 when Kiechel acquired a collection of engravings and documents relating to the city in Switzerland. These collections, enriched by donations and subsequent purchases, illustrate local and regional history, including military objects, traditional costumes and tools related to ancient crafts. Huningue, located at a strategic crossroads of the Rhine civilization, was above all a coveted crossing point, before Louis XIV had a fortress built to lock the Rhine border.
The fortress of Huningue, one of the last realized by Vauban, played a key role in defending the river, as evidenced by the sieges of 1796, 1814 and 1815. The museum now occupies a 17th century civilian building, the former home of the steward of the square and the war commissioner. Its collections cover various fields: modern archaeology, weapons, uniforms, furniture, and religious practices, reflecting the daily and military life of this border region.
Among the museum's assets are a model of the city, as well as objects evoking the military life of the fortress. Labelled Museum of France, it offers a unique insight into Alsatian history, between the Vaubanian heritage and the geopolitical stakes of the Rhine. Its address, 6 rue des Boulangers, makes it a central place to discover the local heritage.
