Alsace- Black Forest: 30/07 - 3/08 (2007)
As the forecasted weather looked ideal, we opted for a journey
to the Alsace (F) and Black Forest (D), as both areas are ideally situated on
left and right sides of the river Rhine.
Leaving Belgium via Luxembourg and passing Metz, the lake of Gérardmer can be
used for an early stopover to take in some fresh air, but the final target was
the nice City of Colmar. Its typical Franco-German style, the small narrow
streets, numerous cosy restaurants with outside dining opportunities at the
river and canal banks, confirm perfectly the "God in France"
feeling.
A few pictures of the Cathedral and of the town district called "petite
Venise" (little Venice), simply speak for theirselves.
Much more information to be found on the
official website of Colmar.
Next on the Agenda was Baden-Baden (D), this time on the other side of the
river Rhine. As Bill Clinton once stated: "Baden-Baden is so nice
you have to name it twice" :-), this high-class City at the gates
of the Black-Forest, exhibits the grandeur of the past with its Roman
remainings,with its Casino and "Kurhaus", its many parks and
nice shopping streets.
Very impressive is the "Trinkhalle" building (Drinking Hall) in
the park nearby the Casino where you can drink from an ancient well, the
very salty tasting, warm water, even slightly radioactive (!), that is
supposed to have a healing power for human beings. Very amusing here is the
fact that the water is for free but you have to buy a small paper board
drinking beaker to allow you to taste it !
The official touristic
website of Baden-Baden offers all further info you would need with
included virtual tours and guidance.
The drive to Freudenstadt from Baden-Baden obliges to take the famous
"Schwarzwaldhochstrasse". Please exercise profoundly to pronounce
this correctly before asking a local inhabitant driving directions ;-))......
Freudenstadt is certainly worth a stopover
The day after we headed for Triberg,
world-famous for its Black-Forest Cuckoos-clocks. As these type of clocks are
only compatible with old grandma's style of living, or you are really a
collector of all kinds useless holiday relics, the Waterfalls and the forest
area around it are much more attractive to be THE main reason to pass by here
(at least to me). The parc around the cascades invites for a sometimes steep,
but healthy stroll along the highest cascades of Germany: the Gutach river
falls down over 163 meters.
On our way back home, a visit of the city
of Strasbourg was to our view absolutely mandatory. It is the the home of
the highest cathedral tower (2nd picture below) of Europe. The first stone was
laid in 1015 and the spire, 142 m high was completed in 1439. The city offers,
similar to Colmar but on a much larger scale, a labyrinth of small streets and
canals, even with several locks (3rd picture below) as the water level is not
the same everywhere. The district "Petite France" is an analogue
area as the "Petite Venise" in Colmar but covers a much larger
surface.
We had lunch on one of the nice terraces alongside the water and tasted a
piece of the Alsace "Flammkuchen" or "Quiche Lorraine"
before we left for the 4-5 hour drive home. The overall remaining impression
was very positive !
