ALSACE - VILLAGES AND WINES

ENJOYING SUMMER IN ALSACE - AUGUST 1990

TRAVELLING THROUGH THE WINE VILLAGES OF ALSACE

Alsace, with the Vosges mountains on one side (west) and the river Rhine on the other (east), is like a narrow ribbon from the Swiss border in the south (Basel) up to the German border in the north (Strasbourg). It is surprisingly beautiful, with its medieval villages full of flowers in spring and summer. The slopes facing south are covered with rows of vines, whose seven kinds of grapes give birth to the Alsace wines, named after the grape variety: Sylvaner, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muscat d'Alsace, Pinot Blanc, Tokay Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. Richly decorated wrought iron inn signs and great wooden doors, from beneath which arrive irresistible smells of onion tart and freshly baked bread, complete the scenery.

BALLON D'ALSACE




"BALLON D'ALSACE NATIONAL PARK - The Ballon is the southernmost peak (1247m) of the Vosges Mountains. Flower among flowers"

RIQUEWIHR




"RIQUEWIHR is certainly the object of an enchantment which lasts for centuries. Its layout and structure have not changed since the Middle Age, and the old houses built in the 16th and 17th centuries, with courtyards, galleries, wells and fountains, are perfectly superb. In Riquewihr everything, and everybody is linked to the wine. Main street: Rue General de Gaulle"


"RIQUEWIHR - Every piece of architecture is miraculously preserved. If today's Riquewihr resembles so much the Middle Age town it is because the people have not changed much either"


"PLAZA - Food for thought"


"THE DOLDER - The 25 meters high Tower built in 1291 as an entrance through the inner wall.
Houses the Dolder Museum, which has an exhibition of weapons from the 15th and 16th centuries. Next to the tower you'll find the Sinnbrunnen fountain (1560). On both sides of the tower, original outer ramparts from 1291"

KAYSERBERG


"FORTRESS - Hansi, an Alsatian artist, said: «The situation of Kaysersberg, its unusual silhouette and its numerous ancient constructions make it the prettiest city on the Wine Road». The high fortress that dominates the city serves as a reminder of its strategic importance and its violent past"

RIBEAUVILLÉ


"RIBEAUVILLÉ has a long History. It is first mentionned as Ratbaldovillare - the Villa of Ratbold - in an official document circa 768 AD. In old german «Ratbold» meant «the boldest man of the counsel»"

ROUTE DES CRETES




"THE ROAD OF THE EDGES or THE ROAD OF THE PEAKS- long of more than 80 kilometers, it was created during the war of 1914-1918 with the strategic aim of ensuring the defense of the Vosges. This splendid road makes it possible to admire the Vosgean collars, the balloons, the many lakes, as well as the farms and his animals. There we can see all the Alsace, and by good weather the Black Forest or even the Alps"