Kayserberg

All around Colmar is the Alsace Route des Vins - a wine trail. There are numerous villages to visit, so our first challenge was to decide which one. The nice young woman in the Tourist Information Centre suggested three in particular that were both attractive and on a bus route. I researched these. Only one had a castle. Decision made!

We caught the bus from the railway station just after 11.00 and arrived in Kayserberg in time to find another pleasant young woman at the local information centre. She sent us off to walk up to the castle via the vineyards and then to follow a historical walk around the village.

This was our walk up to the castle.

This is the castle.

We ate our picnic lunch. Then Lyn enjoyed the view from the courtyard while I climbed to the top of the keep. I saw this.

You quickly realise that fortifications were built here to control a narrowing pass through the mountains. The castle is merely the Northern end of a series of walls and towers which once crossed the whole valley.

We walked back into town to firstly look at the church. The inhabitants of Kayserberg are proud of three things: their wine, their 16th century altarpiece and being the home town of Albert Schweizer.

Suitably impressed, we walked on to the stone bridge over the river.

Ridiculous right?

We continued our circuit. Storks are a big deal in Alsace.

I really wasn't tempted to swim anyway.

We found a cafe where we shared a pretzel and I drank new wine. I had this once before - I think in Portugal. It is not matured at all - cloudy, greenish and a tiny bit spritz. It works as a refreshing afternoon drink.

The bus ride home was scenic and quick. It was a beautiful day. We might do another village tomorrow.