Christmas Market | schwingeninswitzerland

Kayersburg has experienced countless conflicts. Kayersberg (in Alsace, France near Colmar) was badly damaged during the second world war. Wandering through the streets today, you’d never suspect the previous damage and turmoil. Like Eguisheim, it is one of the prettiest towns in France (Les Plus Beau Villages de la France).

Located on the famous wine route, this beautifully preserved village is packed with history and traditions. Kaysersberg‘s half-timbered buildings, rivers (the Sambach and the Bogenbach) and wonderful flowers make it one of the prettiest towns in France. It’s location in a valley surrounded by vineyards doesn’t hurt either.

We strolled through the streets. After eating our 600th pretzel of the trip, he checked out the church Saint-Croix ( and the neighboring Chapelle Saint-Michel). I walked around the exterior, admiring the architecture. I saw a sign that said “Ossuarie” (ossuary in English, a chest, building, well, or site made to serve as the final resting place of human skeletal remains) and was intrigued. Although it was locked, you could clearly see inside. For us, it was a foreign, unfamiliar sight. Bones were piled meters high all around the building.

The quote translates from German to “that’s it because the master is enslaving by his 1463.” The rest has been lost.

The ossuary was built in 1514. The bones are from the old cemetery which was moved outside the town walls in 1511. The full German inscription on the ossuary has been lost. It is believed to say someone about the master resting next to the servant.

We climbed up to ruins of a medieval castle. Our eyes were immediately drawn down to the town and the tower of its 12th century church. The surrounding countryside and vineyards were stunning.

Like the rest of Alsace, Kayersberg has a Christmas Market. Theirs is reputed to be one of the most traditional and authentically Alsatian. In a setting like this, would you expect anything less?

Too Much Can Get You Alsauced, Alsace’s Wine Route (Route du Vin) (schwingeninswitzerland.wordpress.com)
Colorful Colmar (schwingeninswitzerland.wordpress.com)
Streaking Through Strasbourg (schwingeninswitzerland.wordpress.com)
Euguisheim, The Cutest Town In The World? (schwingeninswitzerland.wordpress.com)

I’m a huge fan of stopping by to see something while en route somewhere else. On our way from Colmar to Bad Kreuznach, we stopped by Strasbourg. While we only had an hour to walk around the town, we managed to catch some of the touristic highlights.

Strasbourg is known for its river. As we walked along the water, we studied the canals. Le Barrage Vauban (Vauban Dam) was built in 1681. The flood gates could be closed and the southern edge of the city flooded, in the event of an attack. They do boat tours that looked pretty cool. When we found the landing, a tour bus full of people moving none too quickly was boarding the boat. We didn’t wait around for the next one.

Le Petite France is an appealing neighborhood situated on islands. The half-timbered houses date from the 16th and 17th centuries. It was impossible to miss the flavor of German culture that permeated the area. This area gets decked out during the holidays for the annual Christmas Market.

Strasbourg’s gigantic gothic cathedral, Notre-Dame-de-Strasbourg, was built in the 11th and 12th centuries (although the 142 meter high spire was not finished until 1439). It is the sixth-tallest church in the world! I felt ant-sized next to it.

It is impressive. Describing the exterior as ornate is an understatement. The stone is so elaborate that it is almost lace-like. Its stained glass windows (the Rose window in particular) are considered showstoppers. Aficionados of churches are impressed by the giant organ, Gothic pulpit and astronomical clock. We didn’t have time to climb the steps to the top of the bell tower to enjoy the view. Zut Alors!

Strasbourg has long been a capital of the region. It was bitterly fought over and changed hands between France and Germany five times between 1870 and 1945. The Council of Europe is also located here. For these reasons and its convenient central location) it was chosen as the location for the European Parliament. This is as close as we got. Again, sorry.