Strasbourg

Strasbourg today! After a late night it was a little difficult to marshal the troops this morning. I am not sure if the "new addition" has been a good influence on the team! 

Franciose's winery was a perfect place to  stay overnight - quiet and pleasant surroundings. 

And the first selfie if the day!

On the road at a reasonable hour arriving in Strasbourg  a little after 10 am. Our concerns about parking were put to rest when locating a very suitable place close to the "Petite France" Quarter. 

The canal .....

... and more of the old!

Prepared for all weathers we set out for a day of exploring the city. A very pleasant city to explore on a Sunday, strolling the shopping precincts, visiting the old cathedral, wandering the canal embankment and exploring the "Petite France" Quarter.

The Grand Rue, Strasbourg.

The big build up was to see the medieval astronomical  clock which was due to  "perform" at 12.30 pm. The crowds gathered, waiting in anticipation for this great technological master-piece of the  Middle Ages to work it's magic. The great let down- the "Parade of the Twelve Apostles" - the mighty clock promised so much but delivered very little!

The Astronoical Clock - amazing for its time but fell a little short in its modern day delivery.

The punters transfixed!

Many hours later we returned to the van , had a bite to eat and then headed off  to the European Parliament and Council buildings. This is what a lot of the fuss is about!

The magnificent building of the European Parliament.

And the European Council buildung.

We drove into Obernai for the remainder of the afternoon and evening. Another old town, been around since the 7th century AD, with the ramparts and medieval buildings still intact. 

The ramparts of Obernai.

Later we settled down with the hope of an early night!

A very popular overnight for motorhomers. The business for the town would be incredible. 

Eguisheim

Another walk around the pictureque village of Hirtzbach before leaving for theEuro  Airport for Basil-Mulhouse to pick up Maddie. What a delightful village - but we know that there are more Alsace villages to come!!

Rain has still been a constant!

Maddie arrived and we set off for Eguisheim - one of the magical villages of Alsace. Vines have been grown here since Roman times, and they have done something right because the wine is outstanding. 

Eguisheim, an interesting gatehouse.

A back street of Eguisheim.

Part of the circular streets based on earlier fortifications. 

We arrived in Eguisheim and parked up at Franciose's vineyard. What a delightful fellow! Only a few metres away from the centre of this ancient village. 

The village is organised around a circular pattern - this was due to the circular fortifications required during the Middle Ages. Once all the wars of religion and 100 years war etc were over the outer fortifications were downsized and converted to living spaces, until we see today an unpretentious village reflecting its age and history. 

The three of us!

Two loiterers!

A lovely window box!

We had a number of wine tastings - each to our approval and a number of purchases made. The Pinot Noir is the only red of the area, and Maddie and I gave it our thumbs up!

Fantastic Pinot Noir from Eguisheim.

A great night had and a late bedtime for all!

Crossing the Vosges

Rain! Everyday since we have been in France it has rained. Rained all night and still raining late this morning when we set off across the Vosges Massif to Alsace. And, it poured most of the way! No wonder everything is so green and lush - apart from some of the maze crops that look a little waterlogged. 

Threatening thunderstorms about to disturb the faithfuls' last evening. 

Not ideal driving conditions.

Once we had reached Belfort we noticed a distinct change in village presentation and architecture. It is as if we had entered a different country. But it is said that the southern area of Lorraine was the last area of France that threw off serfdom - is this still a legacy of that?

A sample of the timber framed houses in the Alsace side of the Vosges. 

Some interesting displays in the village of Dannemarie - clusters of bikes were all through the village.

We headed for Altkirch before traveling a few km south to Hirtzbach for our overnight. More thunder storms greeted us here too!

Hirtzbach is a small village off the tourist track but is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Alsace. It's timber framed houses line each side of the creek that runs through the centre of the village. It has been awarded the highest number of "fleurs" for a French village. A wander along the streets is a delight with the multicoloured house to invade the senses.

Epinal - Luxeuil-les-Bain

It again rained overnight and was quite cool but we were about earlier today than the past few lazy days!

Stopped off at Epinal to spend some time around this ancient town. Being the chief town of the Vosges Department it was worth the visit.  

 

A town that was heavily bombed during WWII, Epinal had made great attempts to reconstruct the city that reflected its past well. The Moselle River runs through this part of France offering a centre piece for the area. 

Moselle and colourful waterfront apartments. 

All the flags of the Euro16 countries lining the Moselle. 

We visited the city museum which outlined much of its history from Roman times, through the Middle Ages and up to present times. Although this was totally in French it was nevertheless interesting to see the displays showing this historical continuum.

Model of 17th century Epinal.

Many canon balls on display evidence of many past conflicts.

We wandered around the old fortifications noting that the town  in the Middle Ages had two fortifications - one on the island in the Moselle and the other on the east bank.

Part of the 13th century fortifications. 

More of the ruins.

The town Cathedral and the main square reflected more of this history. 

Centreville, now .... 

 ..... then!

We also visited a quite unique art gallery at the famous  Musee d'Images, part of the Festival des Imaginales with some very different art - some we found difficult to comprehend - not knowing of the artist, Nazanin Pouyandeh, but nevertheless, thought provoking.

Later in the afternoon we drove south through part of the Visges National Park to  Luxeuil-les-Bain where we had planned to spend the night. The heavily wooded first of the Vosges area is in stark contrast to much of the flat cropping area of the Pay-du-Calais. 

And our over night in Luxeuil-les-Bain, the old Roman town, Luxovium.

All parked up ready to do "The Hokey Pokey"!

Lorraine

Much more rain overnight just when we thought that it had all stopped. The already swollen river had spilled over its banks even more this morning. Some of the locals came out to have a good look at the levels. Time to move on!

Two older locals checking the height of the river.

But in this weather we weren't in a hurry to get going. Plenty of jobs to get done (?) and coffees to be had so it was in the middle of the afternoon that we set out for Epinal, the chief town of the Vosges.

Jobs to be done! Can you spot the secret person and what they are up to.

Fortunately the sun had come out late and it was a very scenic drive though the hills until we arrived at the Moselle and the east canal where we planned to spend the night. 

Very scenic and hilly.

More mixed farming too.

With crops that are drowning.

This village, Thaon-les-Vosges, just north of Epinal, is a pleasant satellite town with great amenities and a pleasant place to spend the evening.

Thaon-les-Vosges community centre. 

And parks and gardens.

Rain

A day of rain! Not an early start either - in fact it was nearly midday before we eventually decided to move on down the road  - having to reach Mulhouse by Friday. You can't rush these things!

We left the Marne River Valley after a beautiful drive through the forest before crossing over into the Department of the Vosges. 

A large viaduct through the valley,

Neufchateau was our destination - or just a little short of there, the village Rebeuville. We parked  next to the river which was bursting its banks in places due to the amount of rain that has fallen in the past few days. All seems to be safe now with the rain having eased this afternoon. 

River in flood. 

Took a wander around this village that seems to be a residential area for the larger city of Neufchateau. 

Riding lessons in Rebeuville.

Lots of old homes have been renewed.

But some others just waiting to be loved.

This seems to be the pattern in many old French villages.