The Chocolate-Box Beauty of Towns & Villages in Alsace & The French Vosges

Colmar Old Town













After a number of holidays skiing in the French Vosges, I still haven't managed to stop myself reaching for my camera at every opportunity...


 Conveniently sat in the passenger seat driving through a quaint mountain village, or wandering past the gorgeous colourful little beamed buildings of Strasbourg or Colmar, my camera finds its way into my hands and starts clicking away in every direction. The stunning towns and villages in this part of the world really are reminiscent of perfect model villages, or historic film sets, with the added bonus of sumptuous patisseries, biscuiteries and boulangeries literally on every street corner - and no starbucks!
Traditional Winstub Restaurant - Colmar
Colmar Old Town

Alsace has a complex and interesting history, with parts of it having belonged in Germany and France intermittently throughout the last few centuries. The traditional food and drink of the region reflects this, for example the locally produced Reisling wine, and deliciously sweet and salty Bretzels. French cuisine and patisserie is abundant of course...

Strasbourg Train Station - Historic Architecture Meets Modern
Stasbourg Centre in the Afternoon Sun
The skiing in the French Vosges mountains is a fairly well-kept secret from us Brits and is a great alternative to expensive and busy high-profile resorts in the Alps. There are a range of resorts - the largest and most varied being Gerardmer with its 40km of runs spread over 20 pistes and great amount of choice for beginners and intermediates.


Richard and I nearly always used to stick to green runs - almost never testing our comfort zones - but a couple of days at this lovely spacious and friendly resort had us skiing reds in no time.  

For practical information, and things to see and do in Alsace-Lorraine and the French Vosges mountains, visit the Alsace Page

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