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The Alsace
region has been the focus of centuries of custody battles between
two angry parents - France and Germany. The region was only reunited
with France at the end of World War One and still has a very Germanic
feel to it. Alsace is also studded with many forts belonging to
the Maginot Line (the Great
Wall of France) built in the 1930s to protect France from the next
generation marauding Huns. The problem was they simply overran Belgium
and came in the back door with hardly a shot fired from the Maginot
Line. Today it is all one big happy Eurozone
and Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace is also the home of the European
Parliament. Its geographic centrality and ‘foot in each camp’/‘each
way bet’ outlook made it the ideal location for this vague
and woolly institution. The climate of Alsace is cool, but quite
dry and produces excellent white wines such as the Traminer variety.
Strasbourg | Bas Rhin | Alsace | 67000
Strasbourg is the capital of the Alsace Region in northeastern France
and is also one of two locations of the European Parliament. It
is a city of approximately 600,000 located at the junction of the
Ill (pronounced il) and Rhine Rivers. Strasbourg’s medieval
city centre Grande Île (great island) is World Heritage listed.
The city has a very Germanic feel which is no coincidence as it
has changed hands between France and Germany several times. The
last time was during World War One. Strasbourg’s foot in each
camp history made it the ideal site for the European Parliament
with the Germany and France as the main players in the European
Union.
Colmar | Haut Rhin | Alsace | 68100
Colmar is an attractive city on the Lauch River in the Alsace region
of northeastern France. The prefecture of the Haute Rhin Departement,
Colmar has changed hands between France and Germany several times
and has only been part of France since the end of World War One.
It has an unusual microclimate, being the driest city in France,
which helps it produce its excellent Alsatian white wine. The city
has an attractive Medieval quarter made up of many well preserved
half timbered houses set on canals earning the name ‘Petite
Venise’. Colmar is 64km south of the important city of Strasbourg,
capital of the Alsace region and home to the new European Parliament.
Mulhouse | Haut Rhin | Alsace | 68100
Mulhouse is located close to the junction of the French, German
and Swiss borders. The rivers Ill and Doller flow through the town
on the way to the
Rhine River. Like most towns in this area it has had a succession
of rulers and as late as 1918 was considered part of Germany. Mulhouse
has an attractive old quarter with a large number of well preserved
‘half timbered’ houses. Notable attractions of Mulhouse
boasts a number of attractions including the Printed
Textile Museum, Mulhouse Zoo, ‘Train City’, Europe’s
largest train museum and the National
Automobile Museum. Something for the whole family. Mulhouse
Markets are also the largest in the region. The important regional
airport known as Euro
Airport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiberg is unusual in that it is jointly
administered by France and Swizerland. It is a key air hub for northeastern
France and southwestern Germany as well as for the Swiss city of
Basel.
Getting there
By road with Viamichelin.com
routeplanner
By air via Paris,
Basel Mulhouse, Stuttgart (Germany)
By rail from Paris
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