Page 34 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - France

32 BACK ROADS FRANCE

1 Obernai Ottrott. The mon astery (open daily)
Bas-Rhin, Alsace; 67210 has stunning views from the cloister’s
A map from the tourist office lists cliff-faced outer wall. The lookout
the various sights along the “historic sweeps over the entire corridor
route” of Obernai. The Kapellturm, a of Alsace from a height of 765 m
12th-century belfry, the Hôtel de (2,500 ft). A series of marked trails in
Ville and houses with lacquered roof the surrounding forest make for
tiles are on the Place du Beffroi. glorious rambling, including a
Opposite is the crowded Place du 5-minute return walk to the Grotte
Marché with its large half- de Lourdes or a 20-minute
timbered houses, Gothic return walk to the Source
Above Oriel windows of the Hôtel de Ville in gables and Halle aux Blés, Sainte-Odile (open daily).
Obernai Below left Panoramic view of the a 1553 wheat market-hall, ª From Mont Sainte-Odile
countryside around Mont Sainte-Odile Below now a brasserie. On the take the same road back to
right Mural on Mont Sainte-Odile Bottom Rue du Chanoine Gyss St-Nabor, then turn onto the
Wine cellar sign in Heiligenstein stands the Neo-Gothic D109. Go through St-Nabor.
Église Saints Pierre-et- Turn right onto the D35
Paul. The Chapelle du towards Heiligenstein.
WHERE TO STAY Mont des Oliviers and
beautiful ramparts of the 3 Heiligenstein
OBERNAI Jardin du Selhof are also Signage of the Bas-Rhin, Alsace; 67140
Hôtel Le Colombier moderate worth visiting. Halle aux Blés The brightly coloured wine
Cosy and friendly, this hotel is known ª From Obernai follow the cellars along the main
for its smart service and modern style. street are as much a reason to stop
6 rue Dietrich, 67210; 03 88 47 63 33; D426 to Ottrott, then turn left on the
www.hotel-colombier.com D103 towards St-Nabor. Follow the as the vision of the Roman church
signs to Mont Sainte-Odile. rubbing shoulders with the
Le Parc expensive
This stylish and sumptuous family-run Restaurant Raisin d’Or and its ornate
hostelry has 62 rooms and suites golden grape sign. The town is
decorated with works of Alsatian 2 Mont Sainte-Odile known for its unique white apéritif
artists. It has a restaurant and a spa. Bas-Rhin, Alsace; 67530 and dessert wine, Klevener. A dozen
169 route d’Ottrott, 67210; 03 88 95 Mont Sainte-Odile draws a huge winemakers are found along Rue
50 08; www.hotel-du-parc.com
number of Christian pilgrims every Principale, Rue de la Montagne and
BARR year. It is also a place of interest for Rue de l’Ours; the latter is home to
Hôtel Château Landsberg moderate nature lovers and archaeologists. the beautiful Fontaine de l’Ours.
In the Vosges foothills, just 2 km Celtic tribes, who occu pied the ª Continue on the D35 to Barr.
(1 mile) from the town, this romantic, region from 1000 BC, built a 10-km
rustic château has rooms with Jacuzzis, (6-mile) mur païen (pagan wall) of
salons and fireplaces. 4 Barr
133 rue de la Vallée, 67140; 03 88 08 stones, grottoes and megalithic fences Bas-Rhin, Alsace; 67140
52 22; www.chateaulandsberg.fr which extends to Klingenthal and Widely considered the capital of the
wine route, Barr is the archetypal
scenic Alsatian town nestled between
the mountain foothills and the Vallée
Saint-Ulrich. The main hub, along
Grand Rue, is set around two intensely
coloured, flower-decked colombage
(half-timbered) houses. One of them
is a hotel, the Auberge Le Brochet,
with a pink stone fountain opposite
it. Dominating the town square is the
other colombage building, the Hôtel
de Ville, its façade covered in pro-
jecting oriel windows and allegoric
statues. Walking paths crisscross the
Altenberg and Kirchberg hills above –
the latter is where the grapes of
Barr’s grand cru wine are grown.
ª Take the D362 to Mittelbergheim.
The Zotzenberg car park is on the
right-hand side of the road just after
the village sign for Mittelbergheim.