Alsace

Look at the map of Alsace and from the appearance of some of the names, you could be forgiven for thinking you were in Germany. Once upon a time you would have been! The Alsace region of France has been bitterly contested over the years between France and Germany. Originally handed to France by the Hapsburgs under the terms of the peace treaty of Westphalia in 1648 , the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 saw the region return to German rule, with all French language newspapers banned, and schoolchildren made to speak only German in school. At the end of the First World War the region once again became French, but in 1940 it was annexed by Germany for a second time, returning to France in 1945.

It is fitting that in modern times, Alsace has become a symbol of European unity, hosting monthly meetings of the European parliament and being the home of the European Court of Human Rights.
Discover more about Alsace (in French language only) at www.alsace-passion.com

Food Specialities of Alsace

Alsatian food takes in Germanic influences, and tends to be somewhat peppery. The most common meat is pork, with chicken probably taking second place.

The fast-flowing rivers are famed for their blue trout, and vegetables grown in the region include Onions, asparagus, cabbage (for sauerkraut), Colmar carrots and turnips.

Specialities of the region include:

Cervelas (a sausage made from pig brain and offal) - try this if you�re brave enough
Strasbourg sausage
Munster cheese
Spaetzle (noodles)
Kirsch
Kugelhopf (spicy almond and raisin cake)
Flammenkueche (tart made with bacon , onions and crème fraiche)

Gite Henry in Orbey
Delightful comfortable recommended gite, close to typical Alsace villages and ski slopes.
Sleeps up to six in three spacious bedrooms.
Kitchen Equipped with oven and washing machine. Bathroom and separate WC
Click here to visit the website