15.08.2021 - Along the vineyards of Alsace (F)
15.08.2021 - Along the vineyards of Alsace (F)
15.08.2021 - Along the vineyards of Alsace (F)
Duitsland
15th August 2021 - Finally we get some nice weather. We left for a trip through the vineyards of The Alsace, a region small in size, but great in diversity. A region of tradition and gastronomy in the heart of Europe. The region is particularly known for its dishes such as flammkuchen or tarte flambée in French (a base of thin bread dough topped with crème freche, onions and strips of bacon), sauerkraut dishes, a baeckeoffe, but also its exceptional white wines and crèmants, not to mention the charming villages full of flowers, half-timbered houses and medieval castles.

In 2015 we already undertook a bus trip to Alsace. On that trip we visited a number of highlights from the region. One of them was Strasbourg. A city that we visited extensively and which we will not visit now.

During our current journey, we mainly follow the Route of the Alsace Wines, a fascinating 170 km route from the north to the south of Alsace.

Even now I don't drive too many miles. After about 330 km we stop at a motorhome in Amnéville. It is a quiet place with many trees. What I initially did not know is that the camper place is located next to a zoo.
Day 2
It's 7 a.m. We wake up to the roar of the lions. We then drive to Marlenheim, the entrance door to the "route des vins".
We install the motorhome in the car park of the wine estate Xavier Muller. A winegrower with whom we will also spend the night (France Passion). On top of the farm house we soon spot a number of storks. A bird species that we will encounter a lot in Alsace.
We stroll around in the cosy village, but it is Monday: all shops, restaurants and wine shops are closed. We don't meet many people. We are followed by the curious eyes of the storks that nest on top of the roofs of the mansions. Beyond the town hall, the 15th century Saint-Martin well and Renaissance turrets. The Church of St. Richarde is higher up on a small square. In the facade we see a bas-relief from 1653.
15th August 2021 - Finally we get some nice weather. We left for a trip through the vineyards of The Alsace, a region small in size, but great in diversity. A region of tradition and gastronomy in the heart of Europe. The region is particularly known for its dishes such as flammkuchen or tarte flambée in French (a base of thin bread dough topped with crème freche, onions and strips of bacon), sauerkraut dishes, a baeckeoffe, but also its exceptional white wines and crèmants, not to mention the charming villages full of flowers, half-timbered houses and medieval castles.

In 2015 we already undertook a bus trip to Alsace. On that trip we visited a number of highlights from the region. One of them was Strasbourg. A city that we visited extensively and which we will not visit now.

During our current journey, we mainly follow the Route of the Alsace Wines, a fascinating 170 km route from the north to the south of Alsace.

Even now I don't drive too many miles. After about 330 km we stop at a motorhome in Amnéville. It is a quiet place with many trees. What I initially did not know is that the camper place is located next to a zoo.
Day 2
It's 7 a.m. We wake up to the roar of the lions. We then drive to Marlenheim, the entrance door to the "route des vins".
We install the motorhome in the car park of the wine estate Xavier Muller. A winegrower with whom we will also spend the night (France Passion). On top of the farm house we soon spot a number of storks. A bird species that we will encounter a lot in Alsace.
We stroll around in the cosy village, but it is Monday: all shops, restaurants and wine shops are closed. We don't meet many people. We are followed by the curious eyes of the storks that nest on top of the roofs of the mansions. Beyond the town hall, the 15th century Saint-Martin well and Renaissance turrets. The Church of St. Richarde is higher up on a small square. In the facade we see a bas-relief from 1653.
15th August 2021 - Finally we get some nice weather. We left for a trip through the vineyards of The Alsace, a region small in size, but great in diversity. A region of tradition and gastronomy in the heart of Europe. The region is particularly known for its dishes such as flammkuchen or tarte flambée in French (a base of thin bread dough topped with crème freche, onions and strips of bacon), sauerkraut dishes, a baeckeoffe, but also its exceptional white wines and crèmants, not to mention the charming villages full of flowers, half-timbered houses and medieval castles.

In 2015 we already undertook a bus trip to Alsace. On that trip we visited a number of highlights from the region. One of them was Strasbourg. A city that we visited extensively and which we will not visit now.

During our current journey, we mainly follow the Route of the Alsace Wines, a fascinating 170 km route from the north to the south of Alsace.

Even now I don't drive too many miles. After about 330 km we stop at a motorhome in Amnéville. It is a quiet place with many trees. What I initially did not know is that the camper place is located next to a zoo.
Day 2
It's 7 a.m. We wake up to the roar of the lions. We then drive to Marlenheim, the entrance door to the "route des vins".
We install the motorhome in the car park of the wine estate Xavier Muller. A winegrower with whom we will also spend the night (France Passion). On top of the farm house we soon spot a number of storks. A bird species that we will encounter a lot in Alsace.
We stroll around in the cosy village, but it is Monday: all shops, restaurants and wine shops are closed. We don't meet many people. We are followed by the curious eyes of the storks that nest on top of the roofs of the mansions. Beyond the town hall, the 15th century Saint-Martin well and Renaissance turrets. The Church of St. Richarde is higher up on a small square. In the facade we see a bas-relief from 1653.
06.08.2018 - Hochschwarzwald
05/08/2018: alles ingeladen, de watertank voor een derde gevuld… Op naar het Zwarte Woud. Meer specifiek het zuiden en dit tot in Waldshut aan de grens met Zwitserland, het “Hochschwarzwald”.  20 jaar geleden waren we er al en een tweede bezoek is het zeker waard.  De startafstand (625 km) die we normaal in één dag doen, doen we nu rustiger aan. De eerste middag brengen we door in Mehring, een mooi dorp aan de Moezel.  De camperplaats (met zijn restaurant) ligt pal aan het water.  Gelukkig, ondanks of dank zij de hitte zijn er geen muggen.
Meer moest dat niet zijn. Luieren in een stoel aan het water, even wandelen en dan rustig een glaasje drinken op het terras van het plaatselijke restaurant.
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Dag 2
We rijden richting Titisee. We hadden gereserveerd op camping Bühlhof. De bedoeling was om er een aantal dagen ter plaatse te overnachten. De camping is boven een berg gelegen en de weg er naartoe is zeer steil. Een ideale omgeving voor … berggeiten. De 170 pk van de mobilhome was meer dan welkom. De camping is oud maar zeer net, de plaatsen best ruim doch zeker niet vlak. Na de installatie verkennen we de camping en genieten nog na van een mooie avond.
Dag 3
Vandaag wandelen we naar het stadje Titisee aan het gelijknamige meer. Erheen wandelen is, ondanks de hitte, geen probleem. Terugkeren was een ander paar mouwen. Het gedeelte van de grote baan naar de camping was zoals eerder gezegd, een echte kuitenbijter en niet een baantje om meerdere keren per dag te voet af te leggen.
De Titisee is het meest toeristische meer van het Zwarte Woud. Een prachtig natuurlijk meer op een hoogte van zowat 840 meter. In het plaatsje zelf vind je talrijke winkels, restaurants. Het is er heerlijk vertoeven. In de hoofdstraat zijn veel souvenir winkels gelegen, waar je veel producten uit het zwarte woud zoals hammen en kersenmarmelade vindt, en heel veel koekoeksklokken. We konen niet weerstaan aan de streekproducten en kochten zwarte woudham en ‘wald’honing! Geoefende wandelaars kunnen rond het meer wandelen. Het pas is ongeveer 7 km lang. Op het meer kan je leuke boottochten maken. Met een excursieboot, roeibootje, pedalo, of een electrisch bootje. Het is ook een luchtkuuroord. Het is niet het grootste meer, dat is de Schluchsee. 
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Dag 4
Het is een weertje om luilekker te genieten op de camping. Ondanks de hoge temperaturen besluit ik, Dirk, om in de namiddag een wandeling te maken. Eén die start op de camping. Het pad naar de rand van het bos was al zeer steil. Toen ik boven aan de rand van het bos kwam, was ik blij dat ik even kon verpozen op een bankje. Een prachtig panoramisch zicht en wandelen tussen de koeien. Dat is het zwarte woud ten top.  ’s Nachts zorgt een stevig onweer ervoor dat alles opgefrist wordt.
Dag 5
Freiburg de belangrijkste stad van het Zwarte Woud. Het is nog steeds zeer warm.  Net aan de rand van de stad parkeren we op een grote camperplaats. Na een stevige wandeling (terugkeren doen we wijselijk met de tram) nemen we een kijkje in de talrijke historische straten en wandelen langs stadspoorten, de vele stadhuizen, marktpleinen, door winkelstraten en ... langs de beken! Ja, wel opletten als je in de straten van het centrum kuiert. In vele straten liggen nog kleine open beken (Bächle).
De Münsterkerk neemt prominent haar plaats in. In de Kaiser Joseph Strasse zijn vele grote warenhuizen gelegen.

Terwijl we op een terras genoten van een lekkere maaltijd werden we verrast door zowaar een windhoos. Deze trok over gans Freiburg. De zware parasols waaiden allen om, kleinere kozen het luchtruim. Servieten, tafellakens, stoelkussens, en zelfs stoelen gingen vliegen. We moesten in allerijl onze borden nemen en in het restaurant vluchten. Na twee minuten was alles voorbij en scheen de zon weer. Nu nog wat winkelen (eindelijk) en dan de tram op. Dit gratis! Dankzij onze KONUS gastenkaart.
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Wanneer op je vakantie bent in het Zwarte Woud krijg je op campings of in je hotel of gastenverblijf een Konus gastenkaart.

De uitdrukking “KONUS” komt van de vroegere universele sleutel die trein conducteurs ooit gebruikten om bussen en treinstellen te openen. Deze uitdrukking staat voor gratis gebruik van openbaar vervoer voor bezoekers aan het gehele Zware Woud. Er zijn enige uitzonderingen.
Na aankomst op je vakantiebestemming kun je je voertuig laten staan en brengt het openbaar vervoer (bus, tram, trein, om het even) je naar elke plaats die je wenst, zonder je zorgen te hoeven maken over een parkeerplaats.

Meer info over deze kaart vind je op: zwartewoud.info

Overnachten doen we voor de laatste maal op camping Bühlhof in Titisee.
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Dag 6
Triberg bezoeken bleek niet mogelijk door een totaal gebrek aan parkeerplaatsen, de massa toeristen en overal achtergelaten fietsen.  De bedoeling was om er een bezoek te brengen, niet alleen aan het “Schwarzwaldmuseum” maar ook aan de grootste winkel met koekoeksklokken. We rijden dan maar door naar Schonach voor een bezoekje aan de tot voor kort, grootste koekoeksklok ter wereld en vervolgens verder naar de Schluchsee.  In Schluchsee vinden we nog net een plaats op de camperplaats. Deze is net aan het gelijknamige stuwmeer gelegen. Het meer is drie maal groter dan de Titisee maar niet zo toeristisch uitgebaa(ui)t. Dit is onze overnachtingsplaats voor de komende 2 nachten.
Dag 7
Na een bezoek aan en een wandeling rond het leuke stadje gaan we ’s middags varen op het meer met de rondvaartboot. Een boot die drie haltes rond het meer aandoet. Vanaf die haltes kan je mooie wandelingen aan en rond het meer maken. Zoals gewoonlijk is er geen Nederlandstalige info (wel Chinees) aan boord, maar als je goed luistert kan je wel iets meepikken van de Duitstalige rondleiding.  Tenzij je natuurlijk geniet van een stuk taart, een ijsje of iets vloeibaars op de boot…
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Dag 8
Onze reis gaat verder naar Waldshut, een klein oud stadje aan de Rijn en tegen de grens met Zwitserland. De mooie (luxe) camperplaats ligt naast de camping (waarvan de douches en toiletten ook voor de campers zijn) en heeft alle faciliteiten.  Via een korte wandeling langs de Rijn kom je in het stadje vol fraaie oude vakwerkhuizen, mooie winkels en terrasjes in de verkeersvrije Kaiserstrasse, die aan beide zijden omsloten wordt door een markante stadspoorttoren. In het midden van de straat stroomt door een stenen goot water. Ook zijn er drie moderne fonteinen.
Op het terras van een patisserie genoten we van dé taart van de streek: zwarte woudtaart; heerlijk!
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Dag 9
We wippen even de Zwitserse grens over en bezoeken de Rijnwatervallen in Schaffhausen.  Er is een parking (P4) voorzien voor campers maar zoals gewoonlijk staan er ook vele personenauto’s tussen. Vroeg toekomen is de boodschap!  Je mag overnachten op de parking, maar het is er zeer duur. Waarschijnlijk komt dit door de dure Zwitserse frank!

De “Rheinfall” zijn de grootste watervallen van Europa. Je voelt het gebulder van het water door je hele lichaam. Je kan er met een boot naar de kastelen, in het bekken van de Rijnwaterval en zelfs naar het terras op de rots in het midden.
Je wordt er getrakteerd op een gratis, ijskoude douche door het opspattende water.  Het is een indrukwekkend schouwspel.
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’s Namiddags keren we terug naar Waldshut en de camperplaats voor de nacht.  In het stadje krijgen we een stevige regenbui. Lang leve de ijssalons als schuilplaats. Ook de porties ijs zijn van Duits formaat, gewoon reusachtig.
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Dag 10
Een panoramaroute liep langs de schilderachtige valleien en heuvels van het Zwarte Woud. Langs plaatsjes zoals Hochenschwand, Todnau, Bernau, Feldberg,  en via Titisee (waar we toch maar een koekoeksklok kopen) rijden we verder naar Altglashütten.  De camperplaats ligt net buiten het dorp naast de spoorweg (gelukkig net buiten gebruik wegens herstellingswerken – normaal twee treinen per dag).  Het dorp is de dag van vandaag bekend als skioord, doch heeft zijn ontstaan te danken aan de bouw van een glasfabriek in 1609. Vele glasblazers vestigden zich er. Het heeft een mooie kerk en één van de weinige resterende glasblazerijen. De man zit gewoon in zijn winkel te werken.  Er zijn prachtige dingen te koop van kleine juweeltjes (ringen, oorbellen, diertjes) tot glazen, vazen enz.  En de prijzen zijn zeer schappelijk. De omgeving nodigt uit tot het maken van lange wandelingen.
Dag 11
De laatste dag van ons bezoek aan het Zwarte Woud  rijden we terug huiswaarts. Niet rechtstreeks. Opnieuw nemen we een tussenstop aan de Moezel. Dit keer trekken we naar Minheim (het zonne-eiland), een klein maar romantische wijndorpje verscholen aan een bocht in het schitterende Moezel landschap. Het dorp telt 452 inwoners en maar liefst 13 wijnhuizen.
De camperplaats (90 plaatsen), ligt vlak aan de rivier. Mooi, rustig, ruime plaatsen met alle voorzieningen (water, elektriciteit en loospunt). ’s Morgens brengt de bakker het daags voordien bestelde brood en koeken.  Tussen de wijngaarden en wijnhuizen tref je er enkele restaurants en één winkel (van diezelfde bakker, tevens een minisupermarkt met een relatief ruim assortiment aan taart, charcuterie, groenten, fruit, kranten, boekjes en zelfs postzegels!). Tijdens ons bezoek heerste er een gezellige sfeer en drukte. Het was feest in het dorp met orkestjes die speelden op de pleinen, en drank- en wijnstandjes alom.
Dag 12
Na het optrekken van de ochtendmist die in slierten over het water hing, scheen het zonnetje opnieuw heerlijk. We besloten om toch terug naar huis te rijden.

We waren blij dat we deze streek na al de jaren, toch nog eens bezocht hebben. Terugkeren naar het Zwarte Woud is altijd leuk en aangenaam om te verblijven.
Overzicht overnachtingen
Camperplaats Wohnmobilstellplatz del Mosel – Mehring: bij boerderij/wijnboer - 72 plaatsen – 10€ - men komt ter plaatse ontvangen tussen 17 en 18u. Servicevoorzieningen water: 1€ - stroom: 2€. Mooie, rustige ligging. Ideaal aan het water. Restaurant met groot terras aan de camperplaats.

Camping Bühlhof - Hinterzarten (Titisee): 27,75€/nacht (toeristenbelastingen stroom inbegrepen). Oudere camping maar wel zeer netjes en goed onderhouden. Geen specifieke plaatsen voor motorhomes. Wel alle voorzieningen. Zeer ruime plaatsen van 120 m². Op het ogenblik dat wij er waren was het er niet zo rustig. Veel kleine tentjes en groepen. Maakten nogal wat lawaai. De weg naar de camping is zeer steil.

Officiële camperplaats Parking Aqua Fun – Schluchsee: 22 plaatsen, doch er staan ook veel campers op de rest van de parking – 10€ betaalautomaat. Normaal moet je je toeristenbelasting betaling in het toerismebureau van Schluchsee. Wij gingen er op zondag informeren. Gezien ze geen formulieren meer hadden dienden we niet te betalen. Men was verwonderd dat we wilden betalen. Nooit komt iemand van de camperplaats toeristenbelasting betalen!
Servicevoorzieningen water: 1€ - stroom: 1€/8u. ’s Avonds zeer rustig.

Camperpark Wohmobil-Park - Waldshut-Tiengen: 44 plaatsen – 12€ betaalautomaat. Servicevoorzieningen: water 1€/100l – stroom: 1€/kwh. De camperplaats is luxueus afgewerkt! De camperplaatsen zijn voorzien voor verschillende lengtes. Zo staan bvb alle vans samen. Aan de overzijde van de straat is de camping gelegen. Je mag er alle sanitaire voorzieningen gebruiken. Er is ook een groot restaurant.

Officiële camperplaats – Altglashütten (Feldberg): 16 plaatsen – 8€ aan betaalautomaat. Servicevoorzieningen: water 1€/100l – stroom: 1€/8u. Zeer rustige camperplaats. Ideaal als je op doorreis bent. Aan het begin van de parking is een café-restaurant gelegen. Dit is ook het station waar je een trein kan nemen.

Camperpark Reisemobilpark Sonneninsel – Minheim: 90 plaatsen – 7,20€, men komt ter plaatse ontvangen rond 18u. Servicevoorzieningen: water 1€/100l – stroom: 1€/2 kwh. Er is ’s morgens een broodjesservice, verzorgd door de lokale bakker.
E-mail: info@dmcamperreizen.be

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We soon walked around the village and decided to go into the vineyards. These are located on the steep slopes around the village. From afar you can see the chapel of the cross. High above the vineyards, she watches over the village. We climb the many stairs to the chapel. Upstairs we have a very nice view of the surroundings. Between the vines I just see a deer skittishly leaping away.

In the evening we still enjoy outside at the camper. The storks chatter away in the evening twilight.
We soon walked around the village and decided to go into the vineyards. These are located on the steep slopes around the village. From afar you can see the chapel of the cross. High above the vineyards, she watches over the village. We climb the many stairs to the chapel. Upstairs we have a very nice view of the surroundings. Between the vines I just see a deer skittishly leaping away.

In the evening we still enjoy outside at the camper. The storks chatter away in the evening twilight.
Day 3
After installation at the municipal campsite, we visit the town of Obernai. Obernai is also the birthplace of Sainte Odile, patron saint of Alsace. There is a very strong story attached to her.

I try to briefly outline her life:
The Duke of Alsace is expecting a first child. He hopes for a son. Big disappointment: it's a girl who is born blind. He orders her to be killed, but his wife managed to dissuade him from bringing her up in the monastery afterwards. At the age of 12, the child was baptized and suddenly she regained her sight; they named her Odile "daughter of light".

Sometime later, Odile returns to her parents. Her father then wants to marry her off. Out of love for God, Odile refuses that marriage. Later, under pressure from the church, her father donated his castle to Odile. She founded an order there and until her death she takes care of the poor and the sick.

The “Mont Sainte-Odile” is a monastery and pilgrimage site located on a high mountain. In one of the chapels: the “chapel of the grave” you can visit her grave. Her body lies in state in a sarcophagus. We already visited this site in 2015. It is definitely worth a visit. The road to get there is steep. Almost at the top is parking P3, but at the top of the monastery there is also a large unpaved parking lot where you can park your motorhome.
Back to town. We walk past the old half-timbered houses in the medieval centre and past the main sights: the granary, the ste-Odile fountain, the Peter and Paul church, the well with six buckets, the town hall and the Belfry. After our tour we take a break on a terrace on the market place.

Then it's time for a first tasting, one of the reasons for our tour of the vineyards.
But it is not wine to taste, but… whisky; French Whisky! Yes, as a lover of single malt whiskys I had to taste this one too. This French whisky can compete with its great Scottish, Irish, American and Japanese brothers.
The whisky I tasted was from the Meyer distillery. One of the three distillers in Alsace, who also work in an artisanal way. Not a single malt, but an excellent Blend superior and a pure Malt.
Day 4
Today we deviate from the “route des vins”. We visit the former concentration camp Natzweiler-Struthof. The only concentration camp now located in France. During World War II, Alsace was once again part of Germany, and the camp was in fact set up on German territory. A place that used to be a holiday and ski resort.

We left in the morning. The sky was gray and drizzle was falling. As we approached the camp, which is located at an altitude of 850m, the sky grew grayer. And there was a thick fog. In the grounds, the buildings loomed in the fog. The horror could not have been framed better.
Only a few of the barracks survived. The museum is housed in a reconstructed barracks. You see films, photos, archives, drawings of deportees, authentic objects such as tools, cutlery, ... There are rough wooden bunk beds in which people had to sleep 3 high above each other.

The further into the camp you go, the more horrific it gets. A very catchy part of the visit is seeing the crematorium and the oven. Everything about the building is still original.
The prison is located next to the crematorium. This was the barracks where medical experiments were performed on humans, ...

The gallows in the square leaves nothing to the imagination. When prisoners were hanged, the other deportees were forced to watch.

The "Kartoffelkeller" is located under the building you enter. This was dug out by prisoners. 22 cells whose ultimate purpose is never known, but certainly not for storing potatoes. Unfortunately, this one is temporarily closed due to its small size (corona measure).
The afternoon provided a cheerful note. The clouds opened and the sun came out. Again on the “route des vins” we walked through the beautiful wine village of Mittelbergheim. Many winegrowers are housed in the main street. We walked past an old public wine press and oil press from the 1700s. The millstones were powered by a horse.

We visited a centuries-old wine cellar, where the grand crus still ripen today. Owned by the Gilg family. One of the most renowned winegrowers in Alsace. And finally… yes, a wine tasting! At Gilg. The son let me taste very good white wines. They were all from the exceptional 2018 vintage. I tasted a.o. a Sylvaner, a Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Riesling and a Gewürztraminer. I finished with an excellent crèmant rosé. I couldn't any further and had to buy a stock!
Day 5
We are in Sélestat. We enter the city through the 14th century bell tower, also known as the New Tower. One of the remnants of the ramparts that surrounded the city. The Witches' Tower is also a remnant of the medieval wall.
We stroll through the city centre where there are still many medieval houses. The Ziegler House with a bay window (projecting window) where the name of the architect, Stephan Ziegler, is mentioned, and the Billex House, whose Renaissance window is two stories high.
Notable is the Romanesque Sainte-Foy church from the 12th century, built in red sandstone and granite. She was showing off in the sun.
We stayed overnight at the municipal campsite "les cigognes" (the storks), which lives up to its name. Every evening a stork visits the campers to get something to eat. He did not like bread; a sardine or canned tuna all the more!
Day 6 - 7
In the morning we are in Kintzheim, a 24 hectare monkey park located in a forest on the mountain, "la montagne des singes". You walk among the monkeys that live freely in nature in various groups. Rustling in the foliage, and suddenly a playful man skims your legs. They eat what they can find in the forest (mainly insects, herbs) and every day they get 180 kg of fruit and vegetables, and about 50 kg of grains.

Posing for the visitors is one of their favourite activities.

A fascinating walk! A male carries a young, furthermore two females are grooming themselves friendly, there small monkeys play acrobats above the pool ...
It is a unique experience among the monkeys who come incredibly close to humans, but rather see them as part of the environment.
Guides, who are present along the route, explain the specific behaviour that takes place. They also lead the feeding sessions offered at regular intervals throughout the day.

Because they live in complete freedom and are not actually dependent on humans, some of the animals are regularly released in Morocco. There they still live in the wild, but are very endangered.
Around noon we drive to Bergheim. A winegrower offers five overnight accommodations through France Passion. On site, we notice that there are just five places on the public road. There are not even demarcated parking spaces. The wine estate itself is also closed. No one is there. A disappointment richer, we decide to drive further along the wine route.
We spend the afternoon and day 7 in Ribeauvillé. An ideal place to stay with this beautiful weather.
This town is a real gem on the "route des vins". Most sights and shops can be found along the main street, "la grand' Rue". The houses are in the typical Alsatian architectural style. You can even spot remarkable half-timbered houses in some side streets. At 29 m high, the "tour des bouchers" towers above the rest and acted as a gateway that separated the old and new town of Ribeauvillé.

During the 12th and 13th centuries, Ribeauvillé was ruled by the Ribeaupierre family, a particularly wealthy and powerful family who had three imposing castles built. Together with the other sights in the town, these are one of the main reasons why you should visit Ribeauvillé. You can reach all three castles via a steep footpath.
It is the weekend and it is pleasantly busy. It is fun in the sun and we take extensive time to see everything. In the town itself you can see a number of fortress towers and parts of the defensive wall. When you visit the town hall, you can admire a collection of gilded, silver drinking cups from the Middle Ages. Since there was a big wedding ceremony going on, we couldn't enter the town hall. Then we walk on. The “Grand Rue” rises steadily and we pass the Maison des Ménétriers with a beautifully decorated bay window. The Eglise Saint-Grégoire houses one of the oldest organs in Alsace.

We buy a hunk of bread at a local bakery. They baked artisanal breads over two meters long!

A fun fact: one of the nicest Christmas markets in Alsace is organized in this town every year.
How nice the weather was during the day, how bad it was during the night. The rain was pouring down.
Day 8
No monkeys on the program today, but a small animal park with native animals in Hunawihr. The village is one like you find so many in Alsace, small and a typical wine village among the vineyards. It does have a butterfly garden, animal park and, an interesting church. Where most churches in France are in the centre of the village, Hunawihr's is on the edge of the village. It is a special specimen in several ways. The church stands a little higher among the vines. A strategic location that is further underlined by the fact that the building resembles a fortress more than a church. In addition, the church is surrounded by a solid wall with only one entrance, which has been considerably reinforced. Very remarkable is that the church is now used by both Protestants and Catholics. In the morning the Catholic worship is given, in the afternoon the Protestants use the central nave.

We park the motorhome at the animal park. The park was originally set up by volunteers to save the storks in the area and thus increase the number in Alsace. If you have high expectations of the park, you will be disappointed. It is rather modest and only houses native animal species. We spot a kind of large rats, otters, water birds, ... and of course storks.

We have a quiet day, and the rest of the day we relax at the campsite in Riquewihr.
Day 9
From the campsite we walk to Riquewihr. It is the town that attracts the most tourists in Alsace. Yet there aren't that many today. Probably due to the absence of the coaches. When we also visited this town a few years ago, you could walk over the heads.

The town is beautifully situated in a valley full of vineyards and wooded hills. Most of the beautiful half-timbered houses, restaurants and souvenir shops are located in the only central street, the "Rue du Général de Gaulle". This is bordered on one side by the town hall and on the other side by the Defence Stronghold "de Dolder", a tower built in 1291 on top of the entrance gate. Part of the city walls now serves as a museum about life in the past. It is certainly recommended to do as we do. We also visited the side streets where there are also beautiful houses in the typical half-timbered house style.
In the main street there are plenty of restaurants where you can eat well for a reasonable price. There are also many wine cellars in Riquewihr. I entered such a cellar with the intention of buying a bottle of good wine. The winegrower was very enthusiastic, and while tasting a few glasses I was immersed in the wine history and culture of Riquewihr. The riesling he suggested was exceptional and inexpensive.

In the evening we also received a visit from a stork at this campsite. After a few fruitless attempts I managed to get him to eat from my hand. As a result, Monique had a number of pink shrimp less.
Day 10
We are located in Kaysersberg. For us this is the most picturesque village we have visited so far in Alsace. You enter the village via the beautiful old fortified bridge from 1514. The river La Weiss runs right through Kaysersberg. The two halves of the village are held together by this bridge, which is a landmark in itself. Because it is relatively wide, a kind of square has formed with even a small chapel in the middle of the bridge. We walk further and immediately you see why this village is so picturesque. The cobbled alleys, the old houses with wooden walls. One beautiful house follows another.
Before we explore the rest of the village, we climb to the ruins of the castle. As in so many villages, the castle sits high above the rest of the village. Of course for a reason. The access road is steep and winds upwards. It ends where the stairs begin. 252 stairs higher we reach the restored tower. Once at the top (another 125 steps) you have a beautiful view over the surrounding landscape.
From the castle we descend to the other side of the village. We have a pleasant afternoon contemplating the many other sights along which we walk: the town hall in Rhine Renaissance style, the church “Église de l'Invention-de-la-Sainte-Croix” from 1521. Inside, the eye immediately catches the eye. on the large art wall at the end of the aisle. This wall depicts the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus. In the rest of the church there are also many beautiful carvings, statues and ornaments.
In front of the entrance of the church you will find a beautiful fountain, la Fontaine Constantin, completely matching the rest of the village with beautiful decorations. This fountain has also been here since 1521 and still works.
Albert Schweitzer's birthplace is located on the edge of the village. In 1952 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Some wonder: Schweitzer was a German after all. Yes, that's right, but at the time of his birth, in 1875, Alsace was German territory. He is commemorated in Kaysersberg, in the house where he was born, in the form of a museum opened in his name. We were unable to visit this museum, unfortunately it was closed for renovation.
Day 11
After a good night's sleep, it was time to do some shopping. Then we drove on to Colmar where we could only enter the campsite after noon. We stay there for two nights.

It was a quiet afternoon. The only activity we did was lazing in the sun with a glass of Alsatian wine.
Day 12
Today we visit the centre of Colmar, one of the best preserved towns in Alsace.
The old city centre is a veritable maze of streets and alleys. Armed with a city map, we walked through the maze of these streets and along the highlights. A former monastery houses the "musée d'Unterlinden", which houses a large collection of medieval painters and sculptors. The many beautiful half-timbered houses flank the narrow streets. Not to be missed, I think, are the maison des têtes, the maison Pfister, the "ancien corps de Garde" (the former guard house from the 16th century) and the musée Bartholdi. Bartholdi is the man who designed New York's Statue of Liberty.

We walked further through the "Rue des tanneurs", the street of the tanners, to the river Lauch. This district is called "la petite Venise", the little Venice. Houses were built on the banks, which now shine with their beautiful flowers in the summer. From the bridges over the river you have a very nice view over these idyllic banks. You can also take a boat trip there.
A nice tip perhaps: in the Grand Rue, right in the middle of the old town, we had a very good meal in the restaurant "au Fer rouge". All traditional dishes from Alsace are available there. I ate the baeckeoffe there, and Monique ate a jambonneau with honey (ham with bone)! A recipe to definitely look up;

The Baeckeoffe is a stew served in a mason jar. Its preparation takes 2 to 3 days. This is therefore not available every day in most restaurants. In different layers you get potatoes, pork, vegetables, mutton and beef. Because it is prepared two days in advance, all the flavours are mixed. Be sure to taste it when you visit Alsace!
We return to Place d'Unterlinden, and walk through the Champ de Mars park. A beautiful tree-lined avenue departs from the Préfecture du Haut-Rhin, an administrative building of the Haut-Rhin department with the secretariat and the office of the Prefect. It is not open to the public. The row of trees ends centrally in the park at the monumental fountain: “Fontaine admiral Bruat”. The monument was sculpted by Bartholdi. Admiral Bruat was born Colmar and was very important to France and its French fleet and has many victories to his credit. However, he did not die in a war, but of cholera. He is buried in the Père La chaise cemetery in Paris.
At the end of the park is an authentic horse mill and you are on the "Place Rapp". Also with a monument to a general, General Rapp. And this monument was also designed by Bartholdi.

After a very intense, but exciting day, we slept like marmots that night.
Day 13
We are approaching the end of the "route des vins" and have arrived in Eguisheim, a village with a remarkable construction and surrounded by numerous vineyards.
The narrow streets run in circles around a castle from the thirteenth century. Only the chapel remains of the castle, but it is worth a visit. The centre is completely closed off by a ring road that, like a moat, completely closes the centre of the village. Once inside the gates you will discover its specific character with a maze of blocks of houses. We walk along the cobbled streets and discover fountains, beautiful squares and beautiful coloured houses.
The church houses a 13th-century "Opening Virgin". A wooden statue of the Virgin Mary with two shutters. I can fully understand why Eguisheim is known as one of the most beautiful villages in France.

Of course wine plays a leading role in Eguisheim. The village is home to many winegrowers and you can taste wine at all of them.

We chose to spend the night in the courtyard of a winegrower. This with Pierre de Vigne (family Bannwarth). We were very warmly welcomed by the winegrower. A wine tasting could certainly not be missed and the wine flowed abundantly ...
Day 14
We are immersed in a piece of architectural history of Alsace. We visit the open-air museum in Ungersheim, the "l'écomusée d'Alsace". A living village from the 19th – 20th century. It is also our last stop on the 'route des vins'.

More than 80 buildings, both traditional and modern, have been re-erected, stone by stone, clay lump by clay lump, in a very beautiful setting. They give a perfect picture of what life was like in an Alsatian village at the beginning of the 20th century. You can see demonstrations of traditional crafts and can take guided tours on foot, in a boat or in a car. We stroll past farms, the potter, a blacksmith, a wheelwright, coopers, basket weavers, saddlers, a school, the barber (house was closed, unfortunately) ...
From the fortified tower, which stood on the ramparts in Mulhouse, you have a beautiful view of the domain. Adjacent is a renaissance garden. On the other side a herb garden.

At the time of our visit there was a folk festival going on. Several music groups played appropriate songs with the old buildings as decor.
Day 15
Our last day in Alsace. We have left the vineyards behind and are now in the South of Alsace, namely in Mulhouse. This city has the reputation of being the second largest museum city in France. The most famous of these are the Cité du Train, a museum on the history of the railways, and the Cité de l'Automobile, dedicated to old cars. We did not visit any museums.

Mulhouse is also a shopping town. But it is Sunday. All shops are closed. The city seems to be asleep and dead. Hardly anyone walks through the city. Neither locals nor tourists.

The historic centre is small, and this for such a big city. It is almost exclusively confined around the Place de la Réunion. You will find the town hall from 1551 and the neo-Gothic protestant Saint-Etienne temple.

Fortunately, a few catering establishments were open on this centre square and we were still able to eat something on a terrace.
In fact, Mulhouse is a major setback for us.
Day 16
And yet we can end our journey 'along the vineyards of Alsace' in beauty. On the way home we make a stop in Metz.

Metz is located on the Route du Soleil. Many have already taken this route towards Spain and usually just drive past this city. Next time maybe you could do like us and include this stopover.
We arrive in the afternoon and book a place for the night at the 'camping municipal' within walking distance of the centre.
Metz is a beautiful city located on the banks of the Moselle. The Moselle runs right through the city. If you have a little more time, you should definitely walk along the Esplanade. There you can see the Moselle at its best.

We walk via "L'île du Petit Saulcy", an island between two windings in the Moselle, to the city centre. In the centre are the German church Temple Neuf and the oldest active theatre in France.
As we approach the historic center, the gigantic St Etienne Cathedral immediately catches your eye. Inside, we marvel at the largest area of ​​stained glass windows in France. Just beautiful.
We pass “The Ports des Allemands”. A gigantic castle just in the middle of the city. A city gate with towers, battlements, gates and drawbridges.
Mind you, we were told that the neighbourhood between this gate and the centre would be a bit unsafe in the evening due to the many dark figures walking around.

We did not visit the Quartier Impérial, the German quarter of the city. If you have the opportunity, you should definitely do it. The station is already great, with beautiful reliefs, the beautiful bookshop (this used to be the Imperial restaurant) and exuberant stained glass windows. Be sure to check out the light purple post office across the street.
We conclude our walk at the 'Marché Couvert'. Originally built as a bishop's palace, the palace now serves as a covered market. Unfortunately we couldn't enter this one. The market is only open in the morning. We then look for a terrace across the street. Just call the home front to already share all experiences.
Day 17
Time to drive home. The route goes through the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for the necessary refuelling and the necessary tobacco products to stock up, before plopping down on the couch at home in the afternoon, happy and satisfied.

We can once again look back on a very successful trip full of highlights and fun experiences.
Summary overnight stays
Aire de Camping-car Park – Avenue de l'Europe, Amnéville – gps: n 49.247913 o 006.138168 – 32pl/12.80€ - all amenities - next to the zoo

Domaine Xavier Muller - Camperplace France Passion – 5pl/free – no facilities – gps: 48.61951 007.48116 – located in an old mill close to the centre of the village and the vineyards.

Camping municipal Le Vallon de l'Ehn - 1, rue de Berlin, 67210 Obernai – 21.90€/night – all amenities – restaurant, shop, souvenirs, postcards and stamps, bread service – 1.1km from center

Camping Municipal Les Cigognes - Rue de la Première DFL, Selestat - gps: 48.25434 / 7.44744 – 18.30€/night – all amenities – Flammkuchen available and tasting of Alsace wines in July - August - in July and August also a specific point of sale for bread and pastries, from 8.30 am. Welcome drink every Friday afternoon from July to August – 5 minutes from the center - there is also a motorhome site nearby, owned by the campsite – 15pl/9€ - all amenities

Cave de Ribeauvillé - Official motorhome parking - Route de Colmar 68150 Ribeauvillé GPS: n48.19076 o7.32955 – 22pl/15€ - all amenities included – 500m from village

Camping de Riquewihr - 1 Route du Vin, 68340 Riquewihr – gps: 48.162189 / 7.316939 – 22.5€/night – all amenities – fresh bread every day – 1.5km from the entrance to the center of the village

Camping municipal Kaysersberg - rue des Acacias, Kaysersberg-Vignoble - 22€/night – all amenities – 1.5 km from the center

Camping de L'Ill Colmar - 1 allée du Camping, 68180 Colmar – €29.65 or €32.65 (on the water)/night – all amenities – restaurant – shop with bread service (at the reception) – access to the campsite from 2 pm, they are very strict at - 2.5km from the centre. You can take the bus 1076 there: stop at grand rue (stop camping de l'ill) to Colmar centre (stop Rapp)

Official motorhome parking at winegrower Pierre de Vigne (Bannwarth family) - Grand Rue, 68420 Eguisheim - GPS: n48.04146 o7.30982 – 33pl/12€ - all facilities beware with electricity: is only 3A - when you have waste you speak best to the manager, he will certainly take your waste; there are deliberately no rubbish bins placed because he already had a lot of mi-series with them (leaving behind large amounts of waste, theft of his material, ...) – located just outside the centre – about 10 paved places have been provided in the courtyard. The other places are located on adjacent grounds behind the main building – a very warm welcome – and for wine lovers: they sell very tasty wines and the wine flows freely at the tasting. A prime location for me.

Camping de L'ill Mulhouse - 1 Rue Pierre de Coubertin, 68100 Mulhouse – 22€/night – all amenities – a food truck arrives at the campsite in the evening – 2 km from the centre

Camping municipal de Metz - Allée de Metz Plage, 57000 Metz – 17.10€/night – all amenities – shop with bread – restaurant – on the banks of the Moselle – 800m from the centre


We didn't stay overnight at every place we visited. Below you will find the car parks where we could go with the motorhome:

Natzweiler-Struthof: former concentration camp – route départementale 130, 67130 natzwiller - the parking lot is too small to park the motorhome. We parked a little further on a piece of land next to the road.

Montagne des singes: parking of the domain - Lieu-dit La Wick, 67600 Kintzheim

Hunawihr: parking lot of the butterfly garden and/or on the parking of the NaturOparC. Both parks are located on a branch of the Route de Ribeauvillé. Follow signs when entering village. From these parks it is 850m to the centre. We parked in the spacious parking lot of the NaturOparC.

Ungersheim: open-air museum – large car park - Chemin du Grosswald - 68190 Ungersheim

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We soon walked around the village and decided to go into the vineyards. These are located on the steep slopes around the village. From afar you can see the chapel of the cross. High above the vineyards, she watches over the village. We climb the many stairs to the chapel. Upstairs we have a very nice view of the surroundings. Between the vines I just see a deer skittishly leaping away.

In the evening we still enjoy outside at the camper. The storks chatter away in the evening twilight.
Day 3
After installation at the municipal campsite, we visit the town of Obernai. Obernai is also the birthplace of Sainte Odile, patron saint of Alsace. There is a very strong story attached to her.

I try to briefly outline her life:
The Duke of Alsace is expecting a first child. He hopes for a son. Big disappointment: it's a girl who is born blind. He orders her to be killed, but his wife managed to dissuade him from bringing her up in the monastery afterwards. At the age of 12, the child was baptized and suddenly she regained her sight; they named her Odile "daughter of light".

Sometime later, Odile returns to her parents. Her father then wants to marry her off. Out of love for God, Odile refuses that marriage. Later, under pressure from the church, her father donated his castle to Odile. She founded an order there and until her death she takes care of the poor and the sick.

The “Mont Sainte-Odile” is a monastery and pilgrimage site located on a high mountain. In one of the chapels: the “chapel of the grave” you can visit her grave. Her body lies in state in a sarcophagus. We already visited this site in 2015. It is definitely worth a visit. The road to get there is steep. Almost at the top is parking P3, but at the top of the monastery there is also a large unpaved parking lot where you can park your motorhome.
Back to town. We walk past the old half-timbered houses in the medieval centre and past the main sights: the granary, the ste-Odile fountain, the Peter and Paul church, the well with six buckets, the town hall and the Belfry. After our tour we take a break on a terrace on the market place.

Then it's time for a first tasting, one of the reasons for our tour of the vineyards.
But it is not wine to taste, but… whisky; French Whisky! Yes, as a lover of single malt whiskys I had to taste this one too. This French whisky can compete with its great Scottish, Irish, American and Japanese brothers.
The whisky I tasted was from the Meyer distillery. One of the three distillers in Alsace, who also work in an artisanal way. Not a single malt, but an excellent Blend superior and a pure Malt.
Day 4
Today we deviate from the “route des vins”. We visit the former concentration camp Natzweiler-Struthof. The only concentration camp now located in France. During World War II, Alsace was once again part of Germany, and the camp was in fact set up on German territory. A place that used to be a holiday and ski resort.

We left in the morning. The sky was gray and drizzle was falling. As we approached the camp, which is located at an altitude of 850m, the sky grew grayer. And there was a thick fog. In the grounds, the buildings loomed in the fog. The horror could not have been framed better.
Only a few of the barracks survived. The museum is housed in a reconstructed barracks. You see films, photos, archives, drawings of deportees, authentic objects such as tools, cutlery, ... There are rough wooden bunk beds in which people had to sleep 3 high above each other.

The further into the camp you go, the more horrific it gets. A very catchy part of the visit is seeing the crematorium and the oven. Everything about the building is still original.
The prison is located next to the crematorium. This was the barracks where medical experiments were performed on humans, ...

The gallows in the square leaves nothing to the imagination. When prisoners were hanged, the other deportees were forced to watch.

The "Kartoffelkeller" is located under the building you enter. This was dug out by prisoners. 22 cells whose ultimate purpose is never known, but certainly not for storing potatoes. Unfortunately, this one is temporarily closed due to its small size (corona measure).
The afternoon provided a cheerful note. The clouds opened and the sun came out. Again on the “route des vins” we walked through the beautiful wine village of Mittelbergheim. Many winegrowers are housed in the main street. We walked past an old public wine press and oil press from the 1700s. The millstones were powered by a horse.

We visited a centuries-old wine cellar, where the grand crus still ripen today. Owned by the Gilg family. One of the most renowned winegrowers in Alsace. And finally… yes, a wine tasting! At Gilg. The son let me taste very good white wines. They were all from the exceptional 2018 vintage. I tasted a.o. a Sylvaner, a Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Riesling and a Gewürztraminer. I finished with an excellent crèmant rosé. I couldn't any further and had to buy a stock!
Day 5
We are in Sélestat. We enter the city through the 14th century bell tower, also known as the New Tower. One of the remnants of the ramparts that surrounded the city. The Witches' Tower is also a remnant of the medieval wall.
We stroll through the city centre where there are still many medieval houses. The Ziegler House with a bay window (projecting window) where the name of the architect, Stephan Ziegler, is mentioned, and the Billex House, whose Renaissance window is two stories high.
Notable is the Romanesque Sainte-Foy church from the 12th century, built in red sandstone and granite. She was showing off in the sun.
We stayed overnight at the municipal campsite "les cigognes" (the storks), which lives up to its name. Every evening a stork visits the campers to get something to eat. He did not like bread; a sardine or canned tuna all the more!
Day 6 - 7
In the morning we are in Kintzheim, a 24 hectare monkey park located in a forest on the mountain, "la montagne des singes". You walk among the monkeys that live freely in nature in various groups. Rustling in the foliage, and suddenly a playful man skims your legs. They eat what they can find in the forest (mainly insects, herbs) and every day they get 180 kg of fruit and vegetables, and about 50 kg of grains.

Posing for the visitors is one of their favourite activities.

A fascinating walk! A male carries a young, furthermore two females are grooming themselves friendly, there small monkeys play acrobats above the pool ...
It is a unique experience among the monkeys who come incredibly close to humans, but rather see them as part of the environment.
Guides, who are present along the route, explain the specific behaviour that takes place. They also lead the feeding sessions offered at regular intervals throughout the day.

Because they live in complete freedom and are not actually dependent on humans, some of the animals are regularly released in Morocco. There they still live in the wild, but are very endangered.
Around noon we drive to Bergheim. A winegrower offers five overnight accommodations through France Passion. On site, we notice that there are just five places on the public road. There are not even demarcated parking spaces. The wine estate itself is also closed. No one is there. A disappointment richer, we decide to drive further along the wine route.
We spend the afternoon and day 7 in Ribeauvillé. An ideal place to stay with this beautiful weather.
This town is a real gem on the "route des vins". Most sights and shops can be found along the main street, "la grand' Rue". The houses are in the typical Alsatian architectural style. You can even spot remarkable half-timbered houses in some side streets. At 29 m high, the "tour des bouchers" towers above the rest and acted as a gateway that separated the old and new town of Ribeauvillé.

During the 12th and 13th centuries, Ribeauvillé was ruled by the Ribeaupierre family, a particularly wealthy and powerful family who had three imposing castles built. Together with the other sights in the town, these are one of the main reasons why you should visit Ribeauvillé. You can reach all three castles via a steep footpath.
It is the weekend and it is pleasantly busy. It is fun in the sun and we take extensive time to see everything. In the town itself you can see a number of fortress towers and parts of the defensive wall. When you visit the town hall, you can admire a collection of gilded, silver drinking cups from the Middle Ages. Since there was a big wedding ceremony going on, we couldn't enter the town hall. Then we walk on. The “Grand Rue” rises steadily and we pass the Maison des Ménétriers with a beautifully decorated bay window. The Eglise Saint-Grégoire houses one of the oldest organs in Alsace.

We buy a hunk of bread at a local bakery. They baked artisanal breads over two meters long!

A fun fact: one of the nicest Christmas markets in Alsace is organized in this town every year.
How nice the weather was during the day, how bad it was during the night. The rain was pouring down.
Day 8
No monkeys on the program today, but a small animal park with native animals in Hunawihr. The village is one like you find so many in Alsace, small and a typical wine village among the vineyards. It does have a butterfly garden, animal park and, an interesting church. Where most churches in France are in the centre of the village, Hunawihr's is on the edge of the village. It is a special specimen in several ways. The church stands a little higher among the vines. A strategic location that is further underlined by the fact that the building resembles a fortress more than a church. In addition, the church is surrounded by a solid wall with only one entrance, which has been considerably reinforced. Very remarkable is that the church is now used by both Protestants and Catholics. In the morning the Catholic worship is given, in the afternoon the Protestants use the central nave.

We park the motorhome at the animal park. The park was originally set up by volunteers to save the storks in the area and thus increase the number in Alsace. If you have high expectations of the park, you will be disappointed. It is rather modest and only houses native animal species. We spot a kind of large rats, otters, water birds, ... and of course storks.

We have a quiet day, and the rest of the day we relax at the campsite in Riquewihr.
Day 9
From the campsite we walk to Riquewihr. It is the town that attracts the most tourists in Alsace. Yet there aren't that many today. Probably due to the absence of the coaches. When we also visited this town a few years ago, you could walk over the heads.

The town is beautifully situated in a valley full of vineyards and wooded hills. Most of the beautiful half-timbered houses, restaurants and souvenir shops are located in the only central street, the "Rue du Général de Gaulle". This is bordered on one side by the town hall and on the other side by the Defence Stronghold "de Dolder", a tower built in 1291 on top of the entrance gate. Part of the city walls now serves as a museum about life in the past. It is certainly recommended to do as we do. We also visited the side streets where there are also beautiful houses in the typical half-timbered house style.
In the main street there are plenty of restaurants where you can eat well for a reasonable price. There are also many wine cellars in Riquewihr. I entered such a cellar with the intention of buying a bottle of good wine. The winegrower was very enthusiastic, and while tasting a few glasses I was immersed in the wine history and culture of Riquewihr. The riesling he suggested was exceptional and inexpensive.

In the evening we also received a visit from a stork at this campsite. After a few fruitless attempts I managed to get him to eat from my hand. As a result, Monique had a number of pink shrimp less.
Day 10
We are located in Kaysersberg. For us this is the most picturesque village we have visited so far in Alsace. You enter the village via the beautiful old fortified bridge from 1514. The river La Weiss runs right through Kaysersberg. The two halves of the village are held together by this bridge, which is a landmark in itself. Because it is relatively wide, a kind of square has formed with even a small chapel in the middle of the bridge. We walk further and immediately you see why this village is so picturesque. The cobbled alleys, the old houses with wooden walls. One beautiful house follows another.
Before we explore the rest of the village, we climb to the ruins of the castle. As in so many villages, the castle sits high above the rest of the village. Of course for a reason. The access road is steep and winds upwards. It ends where the stairs begin. 252 stairs higher we reach the restored tower. Once at the top (another 125 steps) you have a beautiful view over the surrounding landscape.
From the castle we descend to the other side of the village. We have a pleasant afternoon contemplating the many other sights along which we walk: the town hall in Rhine Renaissance style, the church “Église de l'Invention-de-la-Sainte-Croix” from 1521. Inside, the eye immediately catches the eye. on the large art wall at the end of the aisle. This wall depicts the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus. In the rest of the church there are also many beautiful carvings, statues and ornaments.
In front of the entrance of the church you will find a beautiful fountain, la Fontaine Constantin, completely matching the rest of the village with beautiful decorations. This fountain has also been here since 1521 and still works.
Albert Schweitzer's birthplace is located on the edge of the village. In 1952 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Some wonder: Schweitzer was a German after all. Yes, that's right, but at the time of his birth, in 1875, Alsace was German territory. He is commemorated in Kaysersberg, in the house where he was born, in the form of a museum opened in his name. We were unable to visit this museum, unfortunately it was closed for renovation.
Day 11
After a good night's sleep, it was time to do some shopping. Then we drove on to Colmar where we could only enter the campsite after noon. We stay there for two nights.

It was a quiet afternoon. The only activity we did was lazing in the sun with a glass of Alsatian wine.
Day 12
Today we visit the centre of Colmar, one of the best preserved towns in Alsace.
The old city centre is a veritable maze of streets and alleys. Armed with a city map, we walked through the maze of these streets and along the highlights. A former monastery houses the "musée d'Unterlinden", which houses a large collection of medieval painters and sculptors. The many beautiful half-timbered houses flank the narrow streets. Not to be missed, I think, are the maison des têtes, the maison Pfister, the "ancien corps de Garde" (the former guard house from the 16th century) and the musée Bartholdi. Bartholdi is the man who designed New York's Statue of Liberty.

We walked further through the "Rue des tanneurs", the street of the tanners, to the river Lauch. This district is called "la petite Venise", the little Venice. Houses were built on the banks, which now shine with their beautiful flowers in the summer. From the bridges over the river you have a very nice view over these idyllic banks. You can also take a boat trip there.
A nice tip perhaps: in the Grand Rue, right in the middle of the old town, we had a very good meal in the restaurant "au Fer rouge". All traditional dishes from Alsace are available there. I ate the baeckeoffe there, and Monique ate a jambonneau with honey (ham with bone)! A recipe to definitely look up;

The Baeckeoffe is a stew served in a mason jar. Its preparation takes 2 to 3 days. This is therefore not available every day in most restaurants. In different layers you get potatoes, pork, vegetables, mutton and beef. Because it is prepared two days in advance, all the flavours are mixed. Be sure to taste it when you visit Alsace!
We return to Place d'Unterlinden, and walk through the Champ de Mars park. A beautiful tree-lined avenue departs from the Préfecture du Haut-Rhin, an administrative building of the Haut-Rhin department with the secretariat and the office of the Prefect. It is not open to the public. The row of trees ends centrally in the park at the monumental fountain: “Fontaine admiral Bruat”. The monument was sculpted by Bartholdi. Admiral Bruat was born Colmar and was very important to France and its French fleet and has many victories to his credit. However, he did not die in a war, but of cholera. He is buried in the Père La chaise cemetery in Paris.
At the end of the park is an authentic horse mill and you are on the "Place Rapp". Also with a monument to a general, General Rapp. And this monument was also designed by Bartholdi.

After a very intense, but exciting day, we slept like marmots that night.
Day 13
We are approaching the end of the "route des vins" and have arrived in Eguisheim, a village with a remarkable construction and surrounded by numerous vineyards.
The narrow streets run in circles around a castle from the thirteenth century. Only the chapel remains of the castle, but it is worth a visit. The centre is completely closed off by a ring road that, like a moat, completely closes the centre of the village. Once inside the gates you will discover its specific character with a maze of blocks of houses. We walk along the cobbled streets and discover fountains, beautiful squares and beautiful coloured houses.
The church houses a 13th-century "Opening Virgin". A wooden statue of the Virgin Mary with two shutters. I can fully understand why Eguisheim is known as one of the most beautiful villages in France.

Of course wine plays a leading role in Eguisheim. The village is home to many winegrowers and you can taste wine at all of them.

We chose to spend the night in the courtyard of a winegrower. This with Pierre de Vigne (family Bannwarth). We were very warmly welcomed by the winegrower. A wine tasting could certainly not be missed and the wine flowed abundantly ...
Day 14
We are immersed in a piece of architectural history of Alsace. We visit the open-air museum in Ungersheim, the "l'écomusée d'Alsace". A living village from the 19th – 20th century. It is also our last stop on the 'route des vins'.

More than 80 buildings, both traditional and modern, have been re-erected, stone by stone, clay lump by clay lump, in a very beautiful setting. They give a perfect picture of what life was like in an Alsatian village at the beginning of the 20th century. You can see demonstrations of traditional crafts and can take guided tours on foot, in a boat or in a car. We stroll past farms, the potter, a blacksmith, a wheelwright, coopers, basket weavers, saddlers, a school, the barber (house was closed, unfortunately) ...
From the fortified tower, which stood on the ramparts in Mulhouse, you have a beautiful view of the domain. Adjacent is a renaissance garden. On the other side a herb garden.

At the time of our visit there was a folk festival going on. Several music groups played appropriate songs with the old buildings as decor.
Day 3
After installation at the municipal campsite, we visit the town of Obernai. Obernai is also the birthplace of Sainte Odile, patron saint of Alsace. There is a very strong story attached to her.

I try to briefly outline her life:
The Duke of Alsace is expecting a first child. He hopes for a son. Big disappointment: it's a girl who is born blind. He orders her to be killed, but his wife managed to dissuade him from bringing her up in the monastery afterwards. At the age of 12, the child was baptized and suddenly she regained her sight; they named her Odile "daughter of light".

Sometime later, Odile returns to her parents. Her father then wants to marry her off. Out of love for God, Odile refuses that marriage. Later, under pressure from the church, her father donated his castle to Odile. She founded an order there and until her death she takes care of the poor and the sick.

The “Mont Sainte-Odile” is a monastery and pilgrimage site located on a high mountain. In one of the chapels: the “chapel of the grave” you can visit her grave. Her body lies in state in a sarcophagus. We already visited this site in 2015. It is definitely worth a visit. The road to get there is steep. Almost at the top is parking P3, but at the top of the monastery there is also a large unpaved parking lot where you can park your motorhome.
Back to town. We walk past the old half-timbered houses in the medieval centre and past the main sights: the granary, the ste-Odile fountain, the Peter and Paul church, the well with six buckets, the town hall and the Belfry. After our tour we take a break on a terrace on the market place.

Then it's time for a first tasting, one of the reasons for our tour of the vineyards.
But it is not wine to taste, but… whisky; French Whisky! Yes, as a lover of single malt whiskys I had to taste this one too. This French whisky can compete with its great Scottish, Irish, American and Japanese brothers.
The whisky I tasted was from the Meyer distillery. One of the three distillers in Alsace, who also work in an artisanal way. Not a single malt, but an excellent Blend superior and a pure Malt.
Day 4
Today we deviate from the “route des vins”. We visit the former concentration camp Natzweiler-Struthof. The only concentration camp now located in France. During World War II, Alsace was once again part of Germany, and the camp was in fact set up on German territory. A place that used to be a holiday and ski resort.

We left in the morning. The sky was gray and drizzle was falling. As we approached the camp, which is located at an altitude of 850m, the sky grew grayer. And there was a thick fog. In the grounds, the buildings loomed in the fog. The horror could not have been framed better.
Only a few of the barracks survived. The museum is housed in a reconstructed barracks. You see films, photos, archives, drawings of deportees, authentic objects such as tools, cutlery, ... There are rough wooden bunk beds in which people had to sleep 3 high above each other.

The further into the camp you go, the more horrific it gets. A very catchy part of the visit is seeing the crematorium and the oven. Everything about the building is still original.
The prison is located next to the crematorium. This was the barracks where medical experiments were performed on humans, ...

The gallows in the square leaves nothing to the imagination. When prisoners were hanged, the other deportees were forced to watch.

The "Kartoffelkeller" is located under the building you enter. This was dug out by prisoners. 22 cells whose ultimate purpose is never known, but certainly not for storing potatoes. Unfortunately, this one is temporarily closed due to its small size (corona measure).
The afternoon provided a cheerful note. The clouds opened and the sun came out. Again on the “route des vins” we walked through the beautiful wine village of Mittelbergheim. Many winegrowers are housed in the main street. We walked past an old public wine press and oil press from the 1700s. The millstones were powered by a horse.

We visited a centuries-old wine cellar, where the grand crus still ripen today. Owned by the Gilg family. One of the most renowned winegrowers in Alsace. And finally… yes, a wine tasting! At Gilg. The son let me taste very good white wines. They were all from the exceptional 2018 vintage. I tasted a.o. a Sylvaner, a Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Riesling and a Gewürztraminer. I finished with an excellent crèmant rosé. I couldn't any further and had to buy a stock!
Day 5
We are in Sélestat. We enter the city through the 14th century bell tower, also known as the New Tower. One of the remnants of the ramparts that surrounded the city. The Witches' Tower is also a remnant of the medieval wall.
We stroll through the city centre where there are still many medieval houses. The Ziegler House with a bay window (projecting window) where the name of the architect, Stephan Ziegler, is mentioned, and the Billex House, whose Renaissance window is two stories high.
Notable is the Romanesque Sainte-Foy church from the 12th century, built in red sandstone and granite. She was showing off in the sun.
We stayed overnight at the municipal campsite "les cigognes" (the storks), which lives up to its name. Every evening a stork visits the campers to get something to eat. He did not like bread; a sardine or canned tuna all the more!
Day 6 - 7
In the morning we are in Kintzheim, a 24 hectare monkey park located in a forest on the mountain, "la montagne des singes". You walk among the monkeys that live freely in nature in various groups. Rustling in the foliage, and suddenly a playful man skims your legs. They eat what they can find in the forest (mainly insects, herbs) and every day they get 180 kg of fruit and vegetables, and about 50 kg of grains.

Posing for the visitors is one of their favourite activities.

A fascinating walk! A male carries a young, furthermore two females are grooming themselves friendly, there small monkeys play acrobats above the pool ...
It is a unique experience among the monkeys who come incredibly close to humans, but rather see them as part of the environment.
Guides, who are present along the route, explain the specific behaviour that takes place. They also lead the feeding sessions offered at regular intervals throughout the day.

Because they live in complete freedom and are not actually dependent on humans, some of the animals are regularly released in Morocco. There they still live in the wild, but are very endangered.
Around noon we drive to Bergheim. A winegrower offers five overnight accommodations through France Passion. On site, we notice that there are just five places on the public road. There are not even demarcated parking spaces. The wine estate itself is also closed. No one is there. A disappointment richer, we decide to drive further along the wine route.
We spend the afternoon and day 7 in Ribeauvillé. An ideal place to stay with this beautiful weather.
This town is a real gem on the "route des vins". Most sights and shops can be found along the main street, "la grand' Rue". The houses are in the typical Alsatian architectural style. You can even spot remarkable half-timbered houses in some side streets. At 29 m high, the "tour des bouchers" towers above the rest and acted as a gateway that separated the old and new town of Ribeauvillé.

During the 12th and 13th centuries, Ribeauvillé was ruled by the Ribeaupierre family, a particularly wealthy and powerful family who had three imposing castles built. Together with the other sights in the town, these are one of the main reasons why you should visit Ribeauvillé. You can reach all three castles via a steep footpath.
It is the weekend and it is pleasantly busy. It is fun in the sun and we take extensive time to see everything. In the town itself you can see a number of fortress towers and parts of the defensive wall. When you visit the town hall, you can admire a collection of gilded, silver drinking cups from the Middle Ages. Since there was a big wedding ceremony going on, we couldn't enter the town hall. Then we walk on. The “Grand Rue” rises steadily and we pass the Maison des Ménétriers with a beautifully decorated bay window. The Eglise Saint-Grégoire houses one of the oldest organs in Alsace.

We buy a hunk of bread at a local bakery. They baked artisanal breads over two meters long!

A fun fact: one of the nicest Christmas markets in Alsace is organized in this town every year.
How nice the weather was during the day, how bad it was during the night. The rain was pouring down.
Day 8
No monkeys on the program today, but a small animal park with native animals in Hunawihr. The village is one like you find so many in Alsace, small and a typical wine village among the vineyards. It does have a butterfly garden, animal park and, an interesting church. Where most churches in France are in the centre of the village, Hunawihr's is on the edge of the village. It is a special specimen in several ways. The church stands a little higher among the vines. A strategic location that is further underlined by the fact that the building resembles a fortress more than a church. In addition, the church is surrounded by a solid wall with only one entrance, which has been considerably reinforced. Very remarkable is that the church is now used by both Protestants and Catholics. In the morning the Catholic worship is given, in the afternoon the Protestants use the central nave.

We park the motorhome at the animal park. The park was originally set up by volunteers to save the storks in the area and thus increase the number in Alsace. If you have high expectations of the park, you will be disappointed. It is rather modest and only houses native animal species. We spot a kind of large rats, otters, water birds, ... and of course storks.

We have a quiet day, and the rest of the day we relax at the campsite in Riquewihr.
Day 9
From the campsite we walk to Riquewihr. It is the town that attracts the most tourists in Alsace. Yet there aren't that many today. Probably due to the absence of the coaches. When we also visited this town a few years ago, you could walk over the heads.

The town is beautifully situated in a valley full of vineyards and wooded hills. Most of the beautiful half-timbered houses, restaurants and souvenir shops are located in the only central street, the "Rue du Général de Gaulle". This is bordered on one side by the town hall and on the other side by the Defence Stronghold "de Dolder", a tower built in 1291 on top of the entrance gate. Part of the city walls now serves as a museum about life in the past. It is certainly recommended to do as we do. We also visited the side streets where there are also beautiful houses in the typical half-timbered house style.
In the main street there are plenty of restaurants where you can eat well for a reasonable price. There are also many wine cellars in Riquewihr. I entered such a cellar with the intention of buying a bottle of good wine. The winegrower was very enthusiastic, and while tasting a few glasses I was immersed in the wine history and culture of Riquewihr. The riesling he suggested was exceptional and inexpensive.

In the evening we also received a visit from a stork at this campsite. After a few fruitless attempts I managed to get him to eat from my hand. As a result, Monique had a number of pink shrimp less.
Day 10
We are located in Kaysersberg. For us this is the most picturesque village we have visited so far in Alsace. You enter the village via the beautiful old fortified bridge from 1514. The river La Weiss runs right through Kaysersberg. The two halves of the village are held together by this bridge, which is a landmark in itself. Because it is relatively wide, a kind of square has formed with even a small chapel in the middle of the bridge. We walk further and immediately you see why this village is so picturesque. The cobbled alleys, the old houses with wooden walls. One beautiful house follows another.
Before we explore the rest of the village, we climb to the ruins of the castle. As in so many villages, the castle sits high above the rest of the village. Of course for a reason. The access road is steep and winds upwards. It ends where the stairs begin. 252 stairs higher we reach the restored tower. Once at the top (another 125 steps) you have a beautiful view over the surrounding landscape.
From the castle we descend to the other side of the village. We have a pleasant afternoon contemplating the many other sights along which we walk: the town hall in Rhine Renaissance style, the church “Église de l'Invention-de-la-Sainte-Croix” from 1521. Inside, the eye immediately catches the eye. on the large art wall at the end of the aisle. This wall depicts the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus. In the rest of the church there are also many beautiful carvings, statues and ornaments.
In front of the entrance of the church you will find a beautiful fountain, la Fontaine Constantin, completely matching the rest of the village with beautiful decorations. This fountain has also been here since 1521 and still works.
Albert Schweitzer's birthplace is located on the edge of the village. In 1952 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Some wonder: Schweitzer was a German after all. Yes, that's right, but at the time of his birth, in 1875, Alsace was German territory. He is commemorated in Kaysersberg, in the house where he was born, in the form of a museum opened in his name. We were unable to visit this museum, unfortunately it was closed for renovation.
Day 11
After a good night's sleep, it was time to do some shopping. Then we drove on to Colmar where we could only enter the campsite after noon. We stay there for two nights.

It was a quiet afternoon. The only activity we did was lazing in the sun with a glass of Alsatian wine.
Day 12
Today we visit the centre of Colmar, one of the best preserved towns in Alsace.
The old city centre is a veritable maze of streets and alleys. Armed with a city map, we walked through the maze of these streets and along the highlights. A former monastery houses the "musée d'Unterlinden", which houses a large collection of medieval painters and sculptors. The many beautiful half-timbered houses flank the narrow streets. Not to be missed, I think, are the maison des têtes, the maison Pfister, the "ancien corps de Garde" (the former guard house from the 16th century) and the musée Bartholdi. Bartholdi is the man who designed New York's Statue of Liberty.

We walked further through the "Rue des tanneurs", the street of the tanners, to the river Lauch. This district is called "la petite Venise", the little Venice. Houses were built on the banks, which now shine with their beautiful flowers in the summer. From the bridges over the river you have a very nice view over these idyllic banks. You can also take a boat trip there.
A nice tip perhaps: in the Grand Rue, right in the middle of the old town, we had a very good meal in the restaurant "au Fer rouge". All traditional dishes from Alsace are available there. I ate the baeckeoffe there, and Monique ate a jambonneau with honey (ham with bone)! A recipe to definitely look up;

The Baeckeoffe is a stew served in a mason jar. Its preparation takes 2 to 3 days. This is therefore not available every day in most restaurants. In different layers you get potatoes, pork, vegetables, mutton and beef. Because it is prepared two days in advance, all the flavours are mixed. Be sure to taste it when you visit Alsace!
We return to Place d'Unterlinden, and walk through the Champ de Mars park. A beautiful tree-lined avenue departs from the Préfecture du Haut-Rhin, an administrative building of the Haut-Rhin department with the secretariat and the office of the Prefect. It is not open to the public. The row of trees ends centrally in the park at the monumental fountain: “Fontaine admiral Bruat”. The monument was sculpted by Bartholdi. Admiral Bruat was born Colmar and was very important to France and its French fleet and has many victories to his credit. However, he did not die in a war, but of cholera. He is buried in the Père La chaise cemetery in Paris.
At the end of the park is an authentic horse mill and you are on the "Place Rapp". Also with a monument to a general, General Rapp. And this monument was also designed by Bartholdi.

After a very intense, but exciting day, we slept like marmots that night.
Day 13
We are approaching the end of the "route des vins" and have arrived in Eguisheim, a village with a remarkable construction and surrounded by numerous vineyards.
The narrow streets run in circles around a castle from the thirteenth century. Only the chapel remains of the castle, but it is worth a visit. The centre is completely closed off by a ring road that, like a moat, completely closes the centre of the village. Once inside the gates you will discover its specific character with a maze of blocks of houses. We walk along the cobbled streets and discover fountains, beautiful squares and beautiful coloured houses.
The church houses a 13th-century "Opening Virgin". A wooden statue of the Virgin Mary with two shutters. I can fully understand why Eguisheim is known as one of the most beautiful villages in France.

Of course wine plays a leading role in Eguisheim. The village is home to many winegrowers and you can taste wine at all of them.

We chose to spend the night in the courtyard of a winegrower. This with Pierre de Vigne (family Bannwarth). We were very warmly welcomed by the winegrower. A wine tasting could certainly not be missed and the wine flowed abundantly ...
Day 14
We are immersed in a piece of architectural history of Alsace. We visit the open-air museum in Ungersheim, the "l'écomusée d'Alsace". A living village from the 19th – 20th century. It is also our last stop on the 'route des vins'.

More than 80 buildings, both traditional and modern, have been re-erected, stone by stone, clay lump by clay lump, in a very beautiful setting. They give a perfect picture of what life was like in an Alsatian village at the beginning of the 20th century. You can see demonstrations of traditional crafts and can take guided tours on foot, in a boat or in a car. We stroll past farms, the potter, a blacksmith, a wheelwright, coopers, basket weavers, saddlers, a school, the barber (house was closed, unfortunately) ...
From the fortified tower, which stood on the ramparts in Mulhouse, you have a beautiful view of the domain. Adjacent is a renaissance garden. On the other side a herb garden.

At the time of our visit there was a folk festival going on. Several music groups played appropriate songs with the old buildings as decor.
Day 15
Our last day in Alsace. We have left the vineyards behind and are now in the South of Alsace, namely in Mulhouse. This city has the reputation of being the second largest museum city in France. The most famous of these are the Cité du Train, a museum on the history of the railways, and the Cité de l'Automobile, dedicated to old cars. We did not visit any museums.

Mulhouse is also a shopping town. But it is Sunday. All shops are closed. The city seems to be asleep and dead. Hardly anyone walks through the city. Neither locals nor tourists.

The historic centre is small, and this for such a big city. It is almost exclusively confined around the Place de la Réunion. You will find the town hall from 1551 and the neo-Gothic protestant Saint-Etienne temple.

Fortunately, a few catering establishments were open on this centre square and we were still able to eat something on a terrace.
In fact, Mulhouse is a major setback for us.
Day 16
And yet we can end our journey 'along the vineyards of Alsace' in beauty. On the way home we make a stop in Metz.

Metz is located on the Route du Soleil. Many have already taken this route towards Spain and usually just drive past this city. Next time maybe you could do like us and include this stopover.
We arrive in the afternoon and book a place for the night at the 'camping municipal' within walking distance of the centre.
Metz is a beautiful city located on the banks of the Moselle. The Moselle runs right through the city. If you have a little more time, you should definitely walk along the Esplanade. There you can see the Moselle at its best.

We walk via "L'île du Petit Saulcy", an island between two windings in the Moselle, to the city centre. In the centre are the German church Temple Neuf and the oldest active theatre in France.
As we approach the historic center, the gigantic St Etienne Cathedral immediately catches your eye. Inside, we marvel at the largest area of ​​stained glass windows in France. Just beautiful.
We pass “The Ports des Allemands”. A gigantic castle just in the middle of the city. A city gate with towers, battlements, gates and drawbridges.
Mind you, we were told that the neighbourhood between this gate and the centre would be a bit unsafe in the evening due to the many dark figures walking around.

We did not visit the Quartier Impérial, the German quarter of the city. If you have the opportunity, you should definitely do it. The station is already great, with beautiful reliefs, the beautiful bookshop (this used to be the Imperial restaurant) and exuberant stained glass windows. Be sure to check out the light purple post office across the street.
We conclude our walk at the 'Marché Couvert'. Originally built as a bishop's palace, the palace now serves as a covered market. Unfortunately we couldn't enter this one. The market is only open in the morning. We then look for a terrace across the street. Just call the home front to already share all experiences.
Day 17
Time to drive home. The route goes through the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for the necessary refuelling and the necessary tobacco products to stock up, before plopping down on the couch at home in the afternoon, happy and satisfied.

We can once again look back on a very successful trip full of highlights and fun experiences.
Summary overnight stays
Aire de Camping-car Park – Avenue de l'Europe, Amnéville – gps: n 49.247913 o 006.138168 – 32pl/12.80€ - all amenities - next to the zoo

Domaine Xavier Muller - Camperplace France Passion – 5pl/free – no facilities – gps: 48.61951 007.48116 – located in an old mill close to the centre of the village and the vineyards.

Camping municipal Le Vallon de l'Ehn - 1, rue de Berlin, 67210 Obernai – 21.90€/night – all amenities – restaurant, shop, souvenirs, postcards and stamps, bread service – 1.1km from center

Camping Municipal Les Cigognes - Rue de la Première DFL, Selestat - gps: 48.25434 / 7.44744 – 18.30€/night – all amenities – Flammkuchen available and tasting of Alsace wines in July - August - in July and August also a specific point of sale for bread and pastries, from 8.30 am. Welcome drink every Friday afternoon from July to August – 5 minutes from the center - there is also a motorhome site nearby, owned by the campsite – 15pl/9€ - all amenities

Cave de Ribeauvillé - Official motorhome parking - Route de Colmar 68150 Ribeauvillé GPS: n48.19076 o7.32955 – 22pl/15€ - all amenities included – 500m from village

Camping de Riquewihr - 1 Route du Vin, 68340 Riquewihr – gps: 48.162189 / 7.316939 – 22.5€/night – all amenities – fresh bread every day – 1.5km from the entrance to the center of the village

Camping municipal Kaysersberg - rue des Acacias, Kaysersberg-Vignoble - 22€/night – all amenities – 1.5 km from the center

Camping de L'Ill Colmar - 1 allée du Camping, 68180 Colmar – €29.65 or €32.65 (on the water)/night – all amenities – restaurant – shop with bread service (at the reception) – access to the campsite from 2 pm, they are very strict at - 2.5km from the centre. You can take the bus 1076 there: stop at grand rue (stop camping de l'ill) to Colmar centre (stop Rapp)

Official motorhome parking at winegrower Pierre de Vigne (Bannwarth family) - Grand Rue, 68420 Eguisheim - GPS: n48.04146 o7.30982 – 33pl/12€ - all facilities beware with electricity: is only 3A - when you have waste you speak best to the manager, he will certainly take your waste; there are deliberately no rubbish bins placed because he already had a lot of mi-series with them (leaving behind large amounts of waste, theft of his material, ...) – located just outside the centre – about 10 paved places have been provided in the courtyard. The other places are located on adjacent grounds behind the main building – a very warm welcome – and for wine lovers: they sell very tasty wines and the wine flows freely at the tasting. A prime location for me.

Camping de L'ill Mulhouse - 1 Rue Pierre de Coubertin, 68100 Mulhouse – 22€/night – all amenities – a food truck arrives at the campsite in the evening – 2 km from the centre

Camping municipal de Metz - Allée de Metz Plage, 57000 Metz – 17.10€/night – all amenities – shop with bread – restaurant – on the banks of the Moselle – 800m from the centre


We didn't stay overnight at every place we visited. Below you will find the car parks where we could go with the motorhome:

Natzweiler-Struthof: former concentration camp – route départementale 130, 67130 natzwiller - the parking lot is too small to park the motorhome. We parked a little further on a piece of land next to the road.

Montagne des singes: parking of the domain - Lieu-dit La Wick, 67600 Kintzheim

Hunawihr: parking lot of the butterfly garden and/or on the parking of the NaturOparC. Both parks are located on a branch of the Route de Ribeauvillé. Follow signs when entering village. From these parks it is 850m to the centre. We parked in the spacious parking lot of the NaturOparC.

Ungersheim: open-air museum – large car park - Chemin du Grosswald - 68190 Ungersheim

E-mail: info@dmcamperreizen.be

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Day 15
Our last day in Alsace. We have left the vineyards behind and are now in the South of Alsace, namely in Mulhouse. This city has the reputation of being the second largest museum city in France. The most famous of these are the Cité du Train, a museum on the history of the railways, and the Cité de l'Automobile, dedicated to old cars. We did not visit any museums.

Mulhouse is also a shopping town. But it is Sunday. All shops are closed. The city seems to be asleep and dead. Hardly anyone walks through the city. Neither locals nor tourists.

The historic centre is small, and this for such a big city. It is almost exclusively confined around the Place de la Réunion. You will find the town hall from 1551 and the neo-Gothic protestant Saint-Etienne temple.

Fortunately, a few catering establishments were open on this centre square and we were still able to eat something on a terrace.
In fact, Mulhouse is a major setback for us.
Day 16
And yet we can end our journey 'along the vineyards of Alsace' in beauty. On the way home we make a stop in Metz.

Metz is located on the Route du Soleil. Many have already taken this route towards Spain and usually just drive past this city. Next time maybe you could do like us and include this stopover.
We arrive in the afternoon and book a place for the night at the 'camping municipal' within walking distance of the centre.
Metz is a beautiful city located on the banks of the Moselle. The Moselle runs right through the city. If you have a little more time, you should definitely walk along the Esplanade. There you can see the Moselle at its best.

We walk via "L'île du Petit Saulcy", an island between two windings in the Moselle, to the city centre. In the centre are the German church Temple Neuf and the oldest active theatre in France.
As we approach the historic center, the gigantic St Etienne Cathedral immediately catches your eye. Inside, we marvel at the largest area of ​​stained glass windows in France. Just beautiful.
We pass “The Ports des Allemands”. A gigantic castle just in the middle of the city. A city gate with towers, battlements, gates and drawbridges.
Mind you, we were told that the neighbourhood between this gate and the centre would be a bit unsafe in the evening due to the many dark figures walking around.

We did not visit the Quartier Impérial, the German quarter of the city. If you have the opportunity, you should definitely do it. The station is already great, with beautiful reliefs, the beautiful bookshop (this used to be the Imperial restaurant) and exuberant stained glass windows. Be sure to check out the light purple post office across the street.
We conclude our walk at the 'Marché Couvert'. Originally built as a bishop's palace, the palace now serves as a covered market. Unfortunately we couldn't enter this one. The market is only open in the morning. We then look for a terrace across the street. Just call the home front to already share all experiences.
Day 17
Time to drive home. The route goes through the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for the necessary refuelling and the necessary tobacco products to stock up, before plopping down on the couch at home in the afternoon, happy and satisfied.

We can once again look back on a very successful trip full of highlights and fun experiences.
Summary overnight stays
Aire de Camping-car Park – Avenue de l'Europe, Amnéville – gps: n 49.247913 o 006.138168 – 32pl/12.80€ - all amenities - next to the zoo

Domaine Xavier Muller - Camperplace France Passion – 5pl/free – no facilities – gps: 48.61951 007.48116 – located in an old mill close to the centre of the village and the vineyards.

Camping municipal Le Vallon de l'Ehn - 1, rue de Berlin, 67210 Obernai – 21.90€/night – all amenities – restaurant, shop, souvenirs, postcards and stamps, bread service – 1.1km from center

Camping Municipal Les Cigognes - Rue de la Première DFL, Selestat - gps: 48.25434 / 7.44744 – 18.30€/night – all amenities – Flammkuchen available and tasting of Alsace wines in July - August - in July and August also a specific point of sale for bread and pastries, from 8.30 am. Welcome drink every Friday afternoon from July to August – 5 minutes from the center - there is also a motorhome site nearby, owned by the campsite – 15pl/9€ - all amenities

Cave de Ribeauvillé - Official motorhome parking - Route de Colmar 68150 Ribeauvillé GPS: n48.19076 o7.32955 – 22pl/15€ - all amenities included – 500m from village

Camping de Riquewihr - 1 Route du Vin, 68340 Riquewihr – gps: 48.162189 / 7.316939 – 22.5€/night – all amenities – fresh bread every day – 1.5km from the entrance to the center of the village

Camping municipal Kaysersberg - rue des Acacias, Kaysersberg-Vignoble - 22€/night – all amenities – 1.5 km from the center

Camping de L'Ill Colmar - 1 allée du Camping, 68180 Colmar – €29.65 or €32.65 (on the water)/night – all amenities – restaurant – shop with bread service (at the reception) – access to the campsite from 2 pm, they are very strict at - 2.5km from the centre. You can take the bus 1076 there: stop at grand rue (stop camping de l'ill) to Colmar centre (stop Rapp)

Official motorhome parking at winegrower Pierre de Vigne (Bannwarth family) - Grand Rue, 68420 Eguisheim - GPS: n48.04146 o7.30982 – 33pl/12€ - all facilities beware with electricity: is only 3A - when you have waste you speak best to the manager, he will certainly take your waste; there are deliberately no rubbish bins placed because he already had a lot of mi-series with them (leaving behind large amounts of waste, theft of his material, ...) – located just outside the centre – about 10 paved places have been provided in the courtyard. The other places are located on adjacent grounds behind the main building – a very warm welcome – and for wine lovers: they sell very tasty wines and the wine flows freely at the tasting. A prime location for me.

Camping de L'ill Mulhouse - 1 Rue Pierre de Coubertin, 68100 Mulhouse – 22€/night – all amenities – a food truck arrives at the campsite in the evening – 2 km from the centre

Camping municipal de Metz - Allée de Metz Plage, 57000 Metz – 17.10€/night – all amenities – shop with bread – restaurant – on the banks of the Moselle – 800m from the centre


We didn't stay overnight at every place we visited. Below you will find the car parks where we could go with the motorhome:

Natzweiler-Struthof: former concentration camp – route départementale 130, 67130 natzwiller - the parking lot is too small to park the motorhome. We parked a little further on a piece of land next to the road.

Montagne des singes: parking of the domain - Lieu-dit La Wick, 67600 Kintzheim

Hunawihr: parking lot of the butterfly garden and/or on the parking of the NaturOparC. Both parks are located on a branch of the Route de Ribeauvillé. Follow signs when entering village. From these parks it is 850m to the centre. We parked in the spacious parking lot of the NaturOparC.

Ungersheim: open-air museum – large car park - Chemin du Grosswald - 68190 Ungersheim
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