tasting ALSACE

Usually the first reaction of people when we say that we have been Alsace è: "Where is it?”.
The small French region, infatti, It is known especially in the food and wine lovers, thanks to its wines, to craft beers and cheeses.
A conti fatti, while having path in part the so-called Route of Alsace Wines, our itinerary was not purely gastronomic.
But let's start with the story.

The fastest way to reach the Alsace from Naples is landing at the airport in Basilea-Mulhouse-Friburgo, which in fact it is a tri-national pole serves as strategically Switzerland, France and Germany.
We decided to start our tour of one week from the distant city, Strasbourg, and then to get off drawing closer and back to the starting point.

Strasbourg It's a very beautiful city, it deserves at least three days of stay.
As a base for our trips we chose the 'Hotel Maison Rouge, strategically located in the Grande Île (Big island), the historic town center, included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage. From here you can easily walk to all points of interest Strasbourg.
We are dedicated to free and carefree exploration of the city, deliberately ignoring the European district, where are the headquarters of major international institutions (the Palace of Europe, the European Parliament, the Palace of Human Rights).

Strasbourg – Place Kléber

Strasbourg

Strasbourg

Strasbourg

Strasbourg

Strasbourg

Strasbourg

Among the most visited attractions, the Petite France, historic millers and tanners district, of which you can still see the characteristics dwellings today.
Typical Alsatian architecture are the so-called Half-timbered houses (Half-timbered house) from traditional wooden structures. A bright colors, often decorated with wooden shutters and flower boxes decorated, They are really very nice and of course fotografatissime.
The roofs of the houses served frayed a drying time for tanners.
The name Petite France is not as romantic as you might assume: It originates in 1500 because of the presence there of a hospital specializing in the care of the "French disease", syphilis.
La Petite France is crossed by several channels of the river Ill, furrowed at all hours by tourist boats.

Strasbourg – La Petite France

Strasbourg – La Petite France

Strasbourg – La Petite France

Strasbourg – La Petite France

But the true symbol of the city of Strasbourg is the Cattedrale: high, Gothic, majestically, It is one of the most famous monuments in France. Inside, a famous astronomical clock.

Strasbourg – Cathedral

Strasbourg – Cathedral

In the square of the Cathedral is the Maison Kammerzell, the most beautiful timber-framed buildings in Strasbourg.

Strasbourg – Maison Kammerzell

For a nice overview of the city, we suggest a stop on the rooftop terrace of barrage Vauban (tell Vauban).

Strasbourg view from Roof Terrace

And we will now move to the tasting.
In generale, Alsatian cuisine is quite substantial; as there were in summer, we have not tried so many dishes.
We almost exclusively fed Flammenkuchen (o "Flammekueche"), local pizza, very thin, served on wooden cutting board and often already cut with the appropriate wheel.
In the traditional version is topped with sour cream, onions and bacon, however there are many different variations, even with snails or sweet toppings.
We found that the optimal specialized chain Flam’s, but also those of the various Winstub (osterie) scattered around.

Flammenkuchen

It seems that the foie gras It was invented in Strasbourg at the end of 1700, So the city is widespread.

even the ubiquitous Bretzel, "Rings" of bread braided ideal as an accompaniment to beer or as a snack, and the kugelhopf, the traditional sweet Alsatian, a sort of donut top with raisins. To accomplish the latter using special molds fluted decorated ceramic, which are one of the most sought Alsatian souvenirs.

Bretzel

A good assortment of cheeses is available at The Grocer Grand Cru, who bistros and boutiques facing each other.
Among the many, We really loved the Munster, soft dough washed rind, strong smelling (you could say that is smelly!) but very pleasant taste.

Strasbourg – The Grocer Grand Cru

At wine, naturalmente, it a place of honor.
A visit to Cave History Hospices de Strasbourg (Historical cellar of the Hospices of Strasbourg), fondata nel 1395 and it located in the Civil Hospital complex in Strasbourg. It contains ancient treasures, including a wine 1472. Admission is free.

Cave History Hospices de Strasbourg

Cave History Hospices de Strasbourg

For a good Alsatian beer – e non solo – We report the brasserie Troquet of Kneckes and craft brewery Au Brasseur. Of the latter we liked the option of taking palette de dégustation, four types of beer (from white to dark), and Munsterflette, or the Tartiflette (potato, onions and bacon) to Munster cheese.

Palette tasting – Au Brasseur

Munsterflette – Au Brasseur

A thirty kilometers from Strasbourg's Obernai, reachable with a half-hour train ride.
Known for being the birthplace of Sainte Odile (Santa Odilia), patron saint of Alsace, Obernai is set on the Alsace Wine.

Obernai – Statue of St. Odilia

Obernai – The most beautiful pit of Alsace, six buckets

Obernai

By sheer accident, we stumbled on one of the days of the Fair Vignerons, and so we could taste several local wines, including Gewurztraminer, Moscato, Pinot white, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Nero, Riesling e Sylvaner.

Obernai – Fair Vignerons

Obernai – Fair Vignerons

Obernai – Fair Vignerons

Alsace is one of the oldest wine-growing areas and the most productive of France. Offering the excellent soil and climatic conditions: a diversity of soils propitious to the growth of many varieties, a semi-continental climate sunny, hot and dry, and a rainfall of the most scarce of France.

The "capital" of the Alsatian vineyard Colmar.
A city that strikes, with its half-timbered houses, its canals, its romantic atmosphere.

Colmar

Colmar – House Pfister

Colmar

His most iconic image is that of little Venice, picturesque neighborhood literally besieged by hunters selfies.

Colmar – little Venice

Colmar – little Venice

Colmar – little Venice

But art lovers will find plenty to enjoy teeth, thanks to the presence of the famous Issenheim Altarpiece at the Musée d'Unterlinden.
Colmar also gave birth to the sculptor Auguste Bartholdi, author of the Statue of Liberty in New York. The city is home to the Musée Bartholdi within the artist's birthplace, while a reproduction of the Statue of Liberty It is situated in a round about three kilometers from the center.

Colmar – Statue of Liberty

Gourmet lovers will be able to console himself with the other hand Covered market serving local products. Guests can also relax in La Fromagerie St Nicolas.

The surroundings of Colmar are very tempting. We hired a car for a couple of days to have the chance to visit as many as possible.

Eguisheim It is a charm! A village straight out of a fairy tale, delizioso. His vineyard is the largest in Alsace.

Eguisheim

Eguisheim

Eguisheim

Around the country, on the facades of buildings with a thousand bright colors, They are flowery windows and beautiful signs.

Eguisheim

Eguisheim

Eguisheim

Eguisheim

Eguisheim

Here we had lunch at the restaurant The Pavillon Gourmand, the Michelin Guide.
Good quality / price ratio.

Eguisheim – The Pavillon Gourmand

Riquewihr it is a real village fairytale, so as to have inspired the Disney cartoon "Beauty and the Beast". pretty, charming, and unfortunately also crowded.
The city's emblem is the Torre Dolder, home to the Museum of Local History.

Riquewihr

Riquewihr

Riquewihr

Riquewihr

Riquewihr

Riquewihr

Riquewihr

Riquewihr

Riquewihr

Riquewihr

Riquewihr

Kaysersberg It is one of the most beautiful villages of France. Fairy-tale like many villages of Alsace, It is dominated by a castle and crossed by the River Weiss.

Kaysersberg

Kaysersberg

Kaysersberg

Kaysersberg

Kaysersberg

Kaysersberg

Kaysersberg

Ribeauvillé It is a beautiful Alsatian town where nearby there are 3 castelli.

Ribeauvillé

Ribeauvillé

Ribeauvillé

Ribeauvillé

Ribeauvillé

Ribeauvillé

Here we were lucky enough to see two storks in a nest on the roof of a building.
The fact storks are wont to spend the hot season in Alsace because of continental climate, so as to have become the very symbol of the region.
A nice moment to remember, and also a sign of good luck.

Storks in Ribeauvillé

Some interesting facts scattered.

In Alsace are popular coconut macarons, soft and delicious cakes. They are found both in natural and flavored.

Other common dishes are the nougat and pain d'épices.

The typical Alsatian goblets have the green stem, to bring out the reflections of the white wines of the territory.

Alsace in the summer is an explosion of sugary colors; in winter it is coated by the magic of the decorations and the Christmas markets. Ideally, it should visit it in off-peak periods, to enjoy it better.

In August, Alsatian cities are overrun by tourists, and from bicycles to trains. Walking can sometimes be a real pain, particularly because the indigenous cyclists seem totally unwilling to curb so as to slow down. They ring the bell, you scream Pardon, steer sharply, but continue undeterred in their race, and thou pedestrian who need to be careful and scansarti in time!

Alsace we have stuck the vivid colors, The sloping roofs, flower-filled windowsills, bodies of water, large storks, the cheeses, the wonderful Crémant.
The smell of gingerbread that pervades the air, the warm sun on your skin, the atmosphere that makes you feel perpetually in a fantasy world.
We recommend it to those who want to get your fill of beauty and delicacies, in any season.

Hotel Maison Rouge
4 Rue des Francs Bourgeois - Strasbourg
www.maison-rouge.com

Flam’s
29 Rue des Frères - Strasbourg
www.flams.fr

Troquet of Kneckes
112 Grand Rue - Strasbourg
troquetdeskneckes.wordpress.com/

Au Brasseur
22 Rue Strasbourg Veaux-
www.aubrasseur.fr

The Grocer Grand Cru
64 & 47 Grand Rue - Strasbourg
www.lepiciergrandcru.com

Cave History Hospices de Strasbourg
1 Place Hospital - Strasbourg
www.vins-des-hospices-de-strasbourg.fr

The Pavillon Gourmand
101 South Rampart Street - Eguisheim
www.pavillon-gourmand.fr