Alsace to Lorraine, France

Travelled:113km

Stay:St.Louis-Arzviller Incline- free parking N48.7117 E7.2171

Visited: Mittelbergheim,Barr, Mont St.Odile, drive into Lorraine Region

After our morning coffee we ventured into Mittelbergheim village to explore its story. It was quite obviously of different architecture as there were no colourful colombage building here. Due to the sturdy pink sandstone, cellars were built to keep the wine and so the stone dug out was used to build the houses.

 This is typically a wine making village.

 There was a hotel and restaurant as well as one ‘milkbar’ type shop, a couple of churches, a school and  a Marie (townhall). But not one souvenir shop in sight. We followed a tourist map which pointed out some fascinating facts of the village. 

Then it was off to Barr 1km away! This town is considered the capital of the wine route. Here there were halftimbered buildings and also a history of tanning. We again followed a tourist map around the old quarter learning the history and the significance of the buildings.

It’s morning tea time!

 From here we wentured up to Mont Saint Odile, making our way to Hohenburg Abbey. It is a convent founded by a Duke of Alsace in honour of his daughter who died in 720. We explored the church and chapel as well as taking in the magnificent views.

 We had a bite to eat and then went to explore part of the Pagan Wall that is 10km in length and encircles Mont St Odile. The wall is composed of 300,000 blocks, some 1.6m wide to 3m high and thought to have been built during the 7th century. 

We then left the Alsace region and made our way into Lorraine and to a service point in Walscheid. Unfortunately the motorhome parking area was full but we managed to do our dumping and then we continued on to the parking area St.Louis Incline which we will have a closer look at tomorrow. 

It’s crystal country! And lots of glass making.