Further north of the Vosges mountains, at the edge of Alsace and Lorraine, there are several villages (St-Louis, Lemberg, Goetzenbruck, Soucht and Meisenthal) which had long specialized in producing glass and crystal ware. The village of Meisenthal is famous for its Centre International d’Art Verrier (CIAV; international center for studio glass). Glass has been produced…
Category: France
5 Christmas markets are awaiting you in Colmar!
The Christmas markets 2018 will start officially in Colmar Nov. 23, 2018 and will welcome you every day until late December, 31. Colmar is located in the very center of Alsace, a mere 10 kilometers away from the Alsace wine hills. Colmar and its surroundings has a sunny microclimate and is the second driest city…
My favorite Christmas markets in Alsace, nearby Germany and Switzerland
For accurate information / dates click here and check the following page we are updating every year. The Christmas period in the upper Rhine valley starts every year with the first weekend and Sunday of Advent, more or less one month before Christmas. A lot – a big lot of Christmas events are organized all…
Autumn and its golden landscapes along the Alsace Wine Route and the Kaiserstuhl
Autumn is definitely a wonderful and spectacular season in Alsace and the upper Rhine valley: late September, October and beginning of November. Autumn in the upper Rhine valley is actually 3 seasons in one. End of September is often very similar to Summer. Then comes the golden leaves period in October … Here are some…
Flying with the eagles at Kintzheim castle
From north to south of Alsace, the number of ruins of castles is impressive. Created and constructed in the Middle Ages by the lords of the Holy Roman Empire, these castles are still dozens to have survived the centuries to highlight the hills and mountains of Alsace their mysterious and romantic silhouette. I know particularly…
Strasbourg – an evening at the cathedral for its first millennium
The cathedral of Strasbourg in its colorful dress. Every night until AUG 31, 2014 and again in 2015 From September 2014 to September 2015, the Notre Dame Cathedral of Strasbourg is celebrating. The venerable building, which was once the tallest in the world, celebrates the millennium of its foundation. This summer already, and until August…
Christmas market magic in Riquewihr – 2014 update
You may probably find it a bit strange to see a post about Christmas be published in the middle of the Summer? Actually we are just a little more than 100 days away from the earliest Christmas markets in Alsace (Colmar is starting on Nov 21, 2014). And waiting for a last minute opportunity for…
The imperial eagle is back hovering over the Haut-Koenigsbourg castle
In the early summer this year, on my way home from Riquewihr to La Vancelle my eye was suddenly caught by an unusual brilliance on the top of the mountain. The keep of the castle Haut-Koenigsbourg was gleaming! For nearly a year, the tower was covered with an impressive scaffolding to complete the repair of…
Our favorite winemakers & wineries in Riquewihr and nearby villages
Alsace, a paradise for wines & winemakers This article has been updated. Read the new article here … The Alsace region is located in the North East corner of France. Situated on the Vosgian foothills, at an altitude of 200 to 400m the vineyards take maximum advantage of their exposure to the sun, particularly as…
Fastnacht in the Upper Rhine valley
An old tradition in the valley of the Upper Rhine, southern Germany and Switzerland, Fasnacht or Fastnacht (carnival) is the time of the year when the reign of bad spirits of the cold and grim winter period is over and these spirits are symbolically being hunted down and expelled. Carnival – Fasnacht in the valley…
Some good restaurants in Riquewihr
There are more than 30 restaurants in Riquewihr. Here are some places where we like to have a lunch or a dinner. They are listed in alphabethical order. All of those addresses are in the village, within easy walking distance from our apartments. In most of the restaurants you will be allowed to bring your dog. Click…
Christmas atmosphere in Obernai and Mount Sainte-Odile region
Less than an hour drive from Riquewihr or Colmar, heading north towards Strasbourg the monastry of Sainte-Odile is set on the Vosges mountains overlooking the little medieval city of Obernai. Together with a couple of lovely villages as Rosheim and Boersch, this is another place to visit for a different day out, especially during the…
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