Author: Cheryl Brooks

THE BEAUTFUL ROUTE DU VIN, ALSACE

Posted in Alsace Lorraine. 2 Comments on THE BEAUTFUL ROUTE DU VIN, ALSACE

A typical Alsatian village along the Route du Vin. Photo, Alamy

The Alsace Route du Vin (Wine Route) is one of the best, most scenic road trips in France. It’s the perfect itinerary for those who love sightseeing through outstanding landscapes, a string of picturesque villages, ruined castles from the Middle Ages, and enjoying the region’s fine wines along the way. Taken at a leisurely pace, you can easily spend as long as five days, but it can be done in less, if time is short, since the length is barely 170kms, starting from Colmar and finishing in Strasbourg. It’s such a beautiful part of France, you’ll be barely able to tear yourself away when you reach the end of the Route.

A MESSAGE FROM PARIS PLUS PLUS

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Dear Paris Plus Plus Subscribers,

As I’m sure many of you will be aware, there has been a gap over the last month or so of my blog posts. While some of you have continued to receive each post, many of you have not—perhaps starting to think that I had stopped writing them.

The reason for this gap is due to a new system of distribution via a new internet server. We took this time to update the layout of the blog itself, and introducing a better way of categorising each blog topic in order to make it easier to search for different subjects and destinations.

I’d love to have any feedback you would like to pass on to me, as well as any topics you would like me to cover in a future post.

In the meantime, below are links to the last three posts that you may have missed.

Thank you all for your patience and understanding—your continuing support is the reason I write the stories.

Enjoy!

Cheryl

BEAUTIFUL COLMAR – GATEWAY TO THE ALSACE

Posted in France, Alsace Lorraine. No Comments on BEAUTIFUL COLMAR – GATEWAY TO THE ALSACE

Visitors enjoying a boat trip around Colmar’s Little Venice. Photo, Alamy

The charming town of Colmar is the ideal place to start exploring the so-called Route du Vin, and all the picturesque towns and villages of the Alsatian wine-growing region. It doesn’t get any prettier than Colmar, with its picturesque half-timbered houses, romantic canals, window boxes laden with bright flowers, a labyrinth of cobblestone lanes, and the delicious food and wine of the region.

MULHOUSE – AT THE CROSSROADS OF THREE COUNTRIES

Posted in France, Alsace Lorraine. 2 Comments on MULHOUSE – AT THE CROSSROADS OF THREE COUNTRIES

The fine Hotel de Ville on Place de la Reunion.

The city of Mulhouse is located in the far south of the Alsace region, on the Ill river and a canal of the river Rhine, between the Vosges and Jura mountains, at the crossroads of three countries: France, Switzerland and Germany. Its location is reflected in the city’s rich cultural mix, language and cuisine. It became one of the most important industrial centres in the country, firstly for the textile industry and later for chemicals, engineering and vehicle manufacturing. Although these activities suggest a less-than-attractive destination, it is a surprisingly inviting city, with a rich heritage of historic buildings, attractive squares and pedestrianised streets. As well, Mulhouse is known for its museums, including one housing the world’s biggest car collection.

THE BEAUTIFUL PASSAGES COUVERTS OF PARIS

Posted in Paris City - Attractions. 2 Comments on THE BEAUTIFUL PASSAGES COUVERTS OF PARIS

The famous passages couverts—covered passages—of Paris were an early form of shopping arcades, mostly dating from the first half of the 19^th century. By the 1850s, there were around 150 covered passages in Paris, although Haussmann’s massive urban renewal program of Paris saw a number of these demolished. Of those that remain, some are still dusty and forgotten, awaiting revitalisation, but there are many that have been beautifully restored to their original Art Nouveau or Neoclassical splendour. Here are just some of them.