Germany - Schwarzwald

The Schwarzwald (Black Forest) was a little "dark" this morning! Misty rain and low cloud over the hills. 

Our drive to Aha and Schulchsee, the largest lake in the Schwarzwald, took us over the highest peak in the Schwarzwald, the Felberg. Quite a climb but a beautiful brooding picture all the way.

We arrived at Schluchsee mid-morning to a warm greeting from Sigi and Bettina. Had some catchup time over a coffee before setting out to the Rothaus Brewery a few kilometres down the road. 

Rothaus beer is one of the very popular and tasty beers of this part of the Schwarzwald. 

After having a look over the museum and production area of the brewery we had lunch at the restaurant attached. 

We were served by a very pleasant German woman who spoke excellent English, and much to our surprise, she informed us that her husband was from Launceston who happens to be the chef at the restaurant. 

The meal was delicious and the Black Forest Cherry cake was the real McCoy.

It had started to rain again so we later took cover in another pub for a few more beers before the start of the Euro2016 match between Germany and Northern Ireland. 

Once the result seemed inevitable we said our farewells to Sigi and Bettina and commenced our drive to Frankfurt to vote and to catchup with Dirk and Brigitte.

On the motorway we got caught up in and hours delay due to a major accident a short way ahead of us. Some of the speeds that are reached we are surprised that there aren't more of these crashes. 

We arrived at Ettlingen for our overnight after 10 pm - quite late for us!

Last Day in Alsace

The Sunshine at last! Woke to a beautiful blue sky across Alsace. By the time we had organised breakfast the "gazole" of motorhomes had dispersed to all corners of Europe!

We had a plan for the day which DID NOT include charging off at an ungodly hour  ie,  not before 10.00 am.

Once we got moving we set a course for Ribeauville, another delightful village on the Alsace Wine Trail. Surrounded by medieval ramparts the town is, again, the centre of a very strong wine industry.  Being a Monday it was very pleasant wandering around this old town, with the Vosges Mountains just at its back door! 

Ribeauville' looking good!

Surrounding vineyards on the slopes of the Vosges.

A cutie that was looking for friends!

Classical ironwork naming plates.

Shade was an important factor today - for the first time - and we were able to find a great spot for a very French lunch.

After lunch we wandered down the road to an equally, if not better, village on this wine trail, Riquewihr. Riquewihr is a rural medieval walled city. It is an outstanding place to visit, sit and have a cool beer. You could be forgiven to think this is the good life! And the local Hirsch beer was very pleasant as well.

Riquewihr colourful 17th century buildings.

Making friends but sorry we don't speak French!

Enjoying a cool drink.

Riquewihr fountain.

Keeping in mind that we had to get Maddie back to the Basel-Mulhouse airport, we decided to head south again to hydro electrical station on the Rhine at Rosenau,an area on the Rhine, to enjoy a last meal and wine with Maddie before her trip back to London.

Rosenau hydro system on the Rhine.

Enjoying a pre-dinner snack and drink!

Droped Maddie off at the airport before crossing into Germany and to our overnight in the Black Foest at Schonau. 

EuroAirport

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"!