The Eppingen Lines were a defensive line fortified at the end of the 17th century that stretched from Weißenstein near Pforzheim via Mühlacker, Sternenfels and Eppingen to Neckargemünd. It had a total length of 86 km.
The French King Louis XIV (called the "Sun King") laid claim to the inheritance of Liselotte von der Pfalz. She was married to Duke Philip of Orléans, brother of the "Sun King" Louis XIV. This conflict gave rise to the Palatinate War of Succession.
The Eppinger Lines were erected between 1695 and 1697 under Margrave Ludwig Wilhelm von Baden, also known as "Turkish Louis", in order to prevent French raids in the Palatinate War of Succession (1688-1697). The location of the Eppinger Linien had the advantage that the area could also be held against stronger opponents. These lines passed their first test in May 1696, when French forces (36,000 men) broke off their advance on Heilbronn after having satisfied themselves of the strength of the new lines.
The bulwark consisted of an approximately 40 meter wide barricade made of branches and tree trunks, which was followed by a ditch approximately 2.5 meters deep. The soil excavated from the ditch was heaped up to form a wall behind it. The wall-ditch system of the Eppinger Linien was secured by watchtowers, called Chartaque - a tower-like blockhouse with a floor area of 6 × 6 m and a height of about 12 meters.