We aimed high today and went in quest of castles, all visible from the valley below, as they are all top-of-the-landscape and visible for miles. Alsace is littered with them. Our first was Hohlansbourg, a mighty curtain of a fortress. We could have walked from there to the next three, but it would have taken a long time. Those next three, all from the 11th and 12th centuries are built in a line and are only steps apart. Quite ruined, nobody calls them anything but ‘les trois châteaux’. The picture postcard shows the pleasant walks up to them from – not the valley floor – but the car parks, still some distance away.
You’ve seen a town or two in Alsace already, but here’s another, Eguisheim. What fascinated us here were hugely wide front doors, all up several steps. What was that about? No horse-drawn delivery cart could make use of them. Also – we saw two storks wheeling above our heads. The Alsatians love their storks, and encourage them to build nests on their houses to bring good luck. Normally they leave in August. Increasingly warm winters are persuading them to give Africa a miss, and stay.
Finally, a curiosity – to us. On our way home we called in at the shop run by the local high school. It specialises in agriculture, for pupils looking for that sort of career. Every département has one. The shop stocks the produce not only of this school, but many other agricutural lycées: note the wine! As well as other local produce. A good end to a varied sort of day.
From Pyrenees to Pennines 
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