Beauty in the Alsace Region

This past weekend we visited the Alsace region, which lies on the border of Germany and France.  Some of our friends had been to this region and after seeing their pictures, I knew it was a place we had to visit.

We stayed in Eguisheim, which was the town that inspired the opening scene in the movie, Beauty and the Beast.  It is a very tiny village, but filled with character.

Beautiful center of town- 

My favorite place in the village-

We also visited Colmar, which is another charming town in the Alsace region.  Picturesque would be the perfect word to describe this town.  We felt like we were in a fairytale as we walked through the narrow streets lined with colorful homes, beautifully decorated with flowers in every window.  The highlight of Colmar for us was taking a gondola style boat ride down the Lauch River, located in  "La Petite Venise" quarter of Colmar.  

Stunning- 

Loved the boat ride- 

I want to build a house like this! 

Adalyn eating the Alsatian equivalent to pizza, Flammekueche.  A very thin crust, covered with sour cream, cheese, onions, and bacon. She is always up for trying the local foods-

On Sunday, we drove to Strasbourg, France.  Strasbourg has been fought over for centuries between the French and Germans.  Since it lies right on the border, the town has a very Franco-German vibe.  We spent the day wandering through the town admiring the old half-timbered homes, Renaissance buildings, and the stunning cathedral.

Strasbourg Cathedral de Notre-Dame

Known as one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in Europe.  

Could not get enough of the architecture!  

Besides being known for their charming villages, the Alsace region is also well-known for their wine, particularly white.  They are known for their Reisling, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Sylvaner, and Gewürztraminer.  On Sunday, we drove the Alsace wine route which begins in Strasbourg and passes through small towns along the beautiful vineyards ending near Colmar.  Without kids, this route would be so much fun!!  So many different wine caves offering wine tastings.  Unfortunately, it was getting late in the day, and the girls were not so keen on wine tasting, so we stopped at one cave and then headed back to Eguisheim.

We had a wonderful time exploring this area of France.  These villages are also known for their Christmas markets, so we may have to take a trip there again in December!