ANGLEMOG  journeys to Alsace pictures by Willie Harrison and Paul Edwards
Monday 9th May - a scenic run  to the most popular spot in Alsace – Haut Koenigsbourg for a morning tour of the castle.

Haut Koenigsbourg was lost to Germany following the Prussian wars and between 1901 and 1908 the 12th century ruins were rebuilt under Kaiser Wilhelm II.  The castle was used as a lookout post and radio transmission centre during World War 1.  Alsace was returned to France in 1918 but seized by  Hitler in 1940, when he banned speaking French or the use of French road signs in some towns.  Alsace was finally returned again to France in 1945.

Storks in the car park Clock TowerLunch at Ribeauville, a beautifully preserved half timbered town surrounded by vines and 3 imposing chateaux. Enjoy lunch in a weinstube of your choice on Grande Rue, shop for local pottery and admire the fountain and clock tower.

Continue to Riqwihr.

Dubbed the “pearl of the vineyards” this town is celebrated for its delightful position and its superb architecture and delicious wines. This town is pedestrianised, so we may have to park outside the village. The double rampart built round the village was built in 1320 and is famous for the fortified gateways, the tall balconied Dolder belfry, now the symbol of Riqwihr and the Tour des Voleurs, served as a prison, and now contains an authentic torture chamber. Beautiful half timbered and carved medieval and Renaissence houses abound , complete with cantilevers, gables, towers and oriel windows. Peep into courtyards at massive wine presses or stand in the narrow old ghetto at the cours des Juifs.
Stopped to admire the viewTuesday 10th May - Colmar: Much of Colmar’s architecture is modern, on account of the destruction of World Wars I and II, but head to the heart of this proud merchant town, to a web of well preserved pedestrian streets that fan out from the church of St Martin toward the 15th century Customs House, the twin turreted Maison aux Arcades (1609). Calm canals wind through La Petite Venise (Little Venice) an area of bright Alsation houses with colourful shutters and window boxes in the centre of town. Colmar is home to the finest art museum in Alsace and was once home to Bartholdi, designer of the Statue of Liberty, Take a gondola ride or the little train to view the sights.

La Petite Venise

Wednesday 11th May - Day at leisure.

 Give the brakes a day off and recharge your batteries (as well as the Morgans’) , and pootle round Gerardmer, have a swim in the heated pool or take a scenic run into the nearby hills.

[ please send me the photos you took for inclusion ]

Richard cools his feet. Picture by Willie Harrison

 

 

Thursday 12th May - Obernai is picture perfect, with half timbered houses, bright red roofs, ancient church the Germanic steeple and its wide main square with cooling fountains. Obernai has six guilds of merchants and you can spot the guild badges on various homes.

 
Simon tries his luck with the bin also Graham gets a 10 second head start in the race with the binMont St Odile. Park in the carpark and go through the gates to beautiful courtyards, gardens and elegant convent buildings to a pathway which leads to a viewpoint looking across the valley to the Vosges. . If you wish you can trek down the steep hill to the holy spring of St Odile

Thanks to the bin we all managed to appear in the group photo
Friday 13th May - Hightlight of the holiday for the boys – Visit to the Collection Schlumpf at the Musee National de l’Automobile in Mulhouse