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Published: June 12th 2012
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After our visits to Riquewihr and Eguisheim our next port of call was going to be to a city that is called one of the most beautiful cities on the wine route. Rather smaller than what we consider a city Kaysersberg sits beneath the partially ruined fortress walls which dominate it. It is another medieval city and again predominately German. It is another one of the finest wine growing regions of Alsace and we can testify to the fine taste of the wines.
Our first view of Kaysersberg was from the aire on the towns edge. I will use town rather than city as it felt tiny. The aire was full and could cater for 80 vans. Many vans were empty as their inhabitants were exploring the sights.. Other van owners were sunning themselves and reading books and magazines. A lovely place to stay with clean toilets on site. The only thing missing a shower and all within walking distance of Kaysersberg. Bus loads of people came in just as we arrived and it seemed very popular particularly amongst the Japanese.
We spent a lovely morning walking down the narrow streets and amongst the medieval houses. The town is
predestrianised and it is lovely to walk without having to worry about traffic. We crossed the medieval bridge to the town. I don’t think Kaysersberg had the charm of Equisheim but nevertheless it was interesting. The shops were heaving, some selling the local breads, others momentoes of the town – anything to do with storks and for some reason chickens. Large fat smiling and spotty pot chickens filled boxes in some of the shops. I never quite worked out what the chickens were for although I did fancy one in my kitchen back home. I always worry about looking at things like this in case in my clumsiness I drop the item I am looking at. Storks nested again on the tall buildings.
Kaysersberg was the birthplace of Albert Schweitzer who died in 1965. He was a philosopher and a missionary He worked in Central Africa and he is celebrated in the town through the museum which we did not visit and a statue in the local park. I remember in grammar school being told about Schweitzer and this must have been sometime around about his death. It is strange how a sight or scene evokes memories from the
past long forgotten and this was one. I remember thinking why would I be interested in a man who had died in Africa so far away. How times change.
We visited the church Saint Croix. Outside it was visually interesting with its green onion shaped roof. Inside we found it rather dark and gloomy. There was a fine altarpiece - a beautiful triptych but beyond that we found nothing interesting and the lights which went on and off gave you a migraine if you sat long enough watching them. Normally we light candles in churches to remind us of our friends and relatives no longer with us but for some reason this time we hadnt done it.
We ate lunch in the aire, chicken sandwiches simply made but enjoyed before we headed back to our last night on our campsite. Plans were changing all the time. Plan A, Plan B, Plan C - it didnt seem to matter any more. We had considered a visit to Trier in Germany neither of us had been and there seemed a lot to see but decided it off our route and instead had made plans to head for the pretty walled
Kaysersberg
and it doesnt take much imagination to know what this shop sells town of Langres. Sometimes these off the beaten track places fallen on at the last moment and by accident turn out the best options. We didnt mind where we went to - the sun was shining –any destination seemed better than going home and going back to work. and all was well with the world. Ideas were formulating for our route home – Provins- I had been told about how nice the town was by my Welsh teacher back home – Chartres- we had always gone past on our way to somewhere else – Jumiege . . Plans to visit the abbey had fallen through years ago as we ran out of time on our way home. Earmarked for a visit. How could we pass it by with some time on our hands.?
Had we enjoyed our time in Alsace - of course and we would like to return as there were still places to see.
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