MARCHE (MARKETS) MANIA

It seems we have struck the Alsace at Market time. There’s one on in every village and town nearby on different days. Last night we had a ‘partisan market’ in Dambach. Not very large but interesting never the less. Plenty of meats, bread and cheese of every type, including a local favourite, Munster. There were wine tastings too. We purchased a pack of Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer from the local vigneron, as well as a large slice of yummy myrtle pie.

There was a pizza dinner and ‘oompah’ music provided by the local band. We skipped the pizza and settled for a local restaurant. A brief stop for a glass of local wine along the way at a small and very friendly bar. (In fact we can’t quite believe the friendliness from the Froggies in these parts, there’s always a ‘bon jour’, ‘bon soir’ or ‘aurevoir’ from passers by.)

Our wine, but my self photography needs some better aim!

Today we headed for the next quick “marche’ in Selestat. A much larger town about 15mins away. A much bigger market too – a lot of fashion (if you can call it that!) but also a stack of food. We are starved of fresh greens with meals in most restaurants, so it was green envy! Some nice fresh fruit was purchased – bananas and apricots, as well as some bread, tomato and some tasty terrine for a picnic lunch.

Markets with St George Cathedral in background

A few smaller towns on the ‘Vin route’ and we turned for home at Riguewihr, a stunningly beautiful fortified town built in the 13^th century. It is listed as one of the “Most beautiful Villages in France” and was consequently packed with tourists – a little unusual in these parts.

Riguewihr, just stunningly beautiful

Another diversion along the way was the Chateau du Haut-Koenigsbourg. It was built at the top of a 750 metre peak, Stophanberch mountain, looking down the ‘Plaine d’Alsace’ in the 12^th century. It had been conquered but abandoned by the Swiss for several centuries but was restored by the German Emperor “Kaiser’ William II as a Middle Age museum from 1900 to 1908. This part of (now) France has changed hands between Germany and France a number of times and although William’s restoration was immense and personal it, (and the Alsace), has since returned to French control after the Treaty of Versailles (1919).

Chateau du Haut-Koenigsbourg

William II's dining room roof decoration, hardly subtle!

View of the valley from the chateau.