From my base in Riquewihr, I was able to take short and long bike tours through the vineyards along the Southern Wine Route in Alsace. A rather short tour took me to Kaysersberg, another Alsatian wine village with a long, eventful history and an old town full of well-preserved historic buildings – despite the bitter battles against the German Wehrmacht in the winter of 1944/45. Read more
Before we concluded the final leg of our journey along the Alsace Wine Route in Eguisheim, we drove from Riquewihr to nearby Colmar, which always seems to stand in Strasbourg’s shadow.
In the mornings, when the sunlight glides over the brightly painted facades and reflects in the glassy eyes of the shop windows, Colmar begins to glow. Not a hectic awakening, but a gentle opening of the senses – everything in this city is steeped in colour and history. Colmar’s old town is an architectural picture book, its pages told in half-timbering, sandstone, and cobblestones. Amidst canals, church spires, and winding alleys, a backdrop unfolds that appears both medievally rooted and picturesquely staged. Yet Colmar is no mere historical backdrop; history is the foundation of its present and future. Read more
The second leg of our journey along the Southern Wine Route in Alsace took us from Ribeauvillé to the nearby Riquewihr (Reichenweiher), just a few kilometres away. I had already covered the route the day before on a bike tour through the vineyards and taken a first stroll through the old town to look for photo opportunities. Read more
After two relaxing days at Lake Chiemsee, we visited the Georgiritt in Traunstein to round off the Easter weekend. The Georgiritt in Traunstein is one of Bavaria’s largest horse pilgrimages. The procession takes place every year on Easter Monday and commemorates Saint George, who is considered the patron saint and helper of knights, riders, horses, and wanderers. Read more
From Céret, we followed the Tech valley further into the Pyrenees. In Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste, we found a cosy campsite run by the local council. French municipal campsites are often simply equipped but clean and, above all, authentic: when we arrived, the operators were playing boules with their guests and welcomed us in a very relaxed manner – first, settle in and choose a pitch, the formalities can be sorted out later. Read more
Céret, the picturesque small town in Occitania, Southern France, has captivated numerous famous artists. The unique combination of stunning landscapes, mild climate, Mediterranean atmosphere, and vibrant cultural life has made Céret a hotspot in the art scene. Artists like Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, and Juan Gris, as well as composers and sculptors, found inspiration here and immortalised the town as a motif in their works. On our journey through the artistic triangle in Catalonia – Collioure, Cadaqués, and Céret – we could easily understand why.
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In western Jutland, North Denmark, Rosenholm Castle (Rosenholm Slot) is an excellently preserved, architecturally outstanding ensemble of buildings, nestled in a magnificent water and park landscape. Today’s complex dates back to the 16th century and combines architectural elements from the Italian Renaissance, e.g. the round towers in the east wing, and the French Renaissance with the three rectangular towers in the west wing. The castle is also a historically and literarily interesting place when the name of the builder’s family and previous owners is mentioned: Rosenkrantz. Read more
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