Strasbourg & Ribeauvillé, France
By basing myself in the middle of a mix of small towns and big cities, I’m better positioned to adapt to the weather. Today was a perfect example. It began gray and overcast so I visited Strasbourg but later in the afternoon, the sun broke through allowing me to explore the village of Ribeauvillé.
I drove north from Husseren-les-Châteaux to Strasbourg with Germany across the Rhine to my right. The city’s cathedral is visible for miles across the Alsace. At 466 feet, it was the tallest structure in the world from 1647 to 1874 and is the tallest structure built entirely in the Middle Ages.
The cathedral survived World War II but was damaged during air raids. The stained glass was removed and stored in a salt mine in Heilbronn, Germany, before being returned by the Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives section of the United States military. Amazingly (or sadly), the cathedral was not completely repaired until the 1990s.
I chose to wander around the central part of Strasbourg and observe all the little differences between here and back home. The French have a flair for elegance in the details. For example, although the stone facade of this home was crumbling, the doorbell, name plate and door handle are still beautiful.
There was a parade of political stickers on drain pipes as I saw in the German university town of Tübingen. I don’t know much about French politics but I do know there have been violent protests against Macron’s economic policies.
Here’s another example of the French adding drama to the details. Is this the final crescendo of an opera or a warning sign for electrical shock?
I stumbled across the campus of the University of Strasbourg so I located their applied arts department. It was housed in a lovely old building adorned with Art Nouveau motifs. The halls full of student work reminded me of my Industrial Design studios back at Auburn.
As the morning brightened, I drove south and turned off the highway toward the foothills of the Vosges mountains. Ribeauvillé would serve as my first exposure to the old Alsatian wine villages.
These villages were walled during the Middle Ages so you leave your car in a lot on the edge of town and walk through a gated tower into the pedestrian-only zone. The cobblestone streets are lined with timbered buildings. It all would be very German except for the embellishment of French shutters.
The Alsace is a fascinating mix of French and German cultures. Mixed in with signs for Erdinger Weissbrau and Bretzels were signs for Bouchées à la Reine and Biscuiterie.
Ribeauvillé was also a nice contrast from the big city of Strasbourg. I wasn’t dealing with the stress of driving in traffic. Just walking through town with all the French and Germans chattering around me was relaxing.
I’ve noticed many references to America here. Auguste Batholdi, the sculptor who created the Statue of Liberty, was born in Colmar in the Alsace. That explains the large replica I drove around in a local roundabout. You also see references to the U.S. army which helped liberate the Alsace during WWII.
Warm and sunny weather is predicted for tomorrow so I’ll look forward to exploring more of these little Alsatian villages.
……….
Thanks for coming along on the trip. If you have questions or suggestions, tweet @JasonRMatheson. Missed an entry? Click here.
