Vosges Sept '98
Home Up Darmstadt 2007 Amiens 2006 Darmstadt to Ipswich June 2006 French to Ipswich 2005 Darmstadt May 2005 Skiing 2005 Amiens 2004 German Visit 2004 Skiing - Les Karellis 2004 Oscar 2003 French visit to Ipswich 2003 Darmstadt May 2003 German Visit 2002 Les Karellis 2002 Darmstadt May 2001 German Visit May 2000 Les Karellis, March 2000 Darmstadt May '99 Les Karellis, March '99 La Toussuire Jan '99 Vosges Sept '98 German Visit '98

 

Vosges Mountains, near Strasbourg in NE France.

7 Day holiday 13 - 20 September 1998

Although the Vosges mountain range is not particularly high compared with other European ranges, it is very attractive and has several mountains around 1300m - over 4000ft. In terms of height it compares well with almost any region in the UK, but with its more southern latitude and being on the Continent, the climate is more favourable. This should be an excellent walking holiday!

The hotel we stayed at in Bussang is near the source of the Moselle river and Grand Ballon, the highest mountain in the range at 1424m.

Holiday Report

I wasn't prepared for the age of most of the participants - most were retired, and had been for some time.  However, it's good to meet old folk occasionally! Learning of their lives helps you get your own priorities straight. They came from all over Germany, with a few from France. I didn't mention the war too often! Honest.

Bussang_Group.jpg (33148 bytes)
Participants

Anyway, part way through the week some of my twinning/skiing pals from Germany arrived, and it stopped raining and the sun came out, so things started looking up!

Bussang_Small_Group.jpg (18464 bytes)

The walks were fairly gentle, though if you weren't moderately fit you'd be shamed by most of the retirees. I think the longest was about 12 miles. They were all punctuated by both Germans and French rushing into the trees shouting "Piltze" or "Champignons". One time a guy sprinted into a field to retrieve 2 dinner-plate-sized mushrooms. I never did find out what they did with them all.

Bussang_001.jpg (12341 bytes)
Early morning mist over Bussang

There were several excursions, including a trip to Le Corbusier's famous church, an old water mill and some local copper mines.

Le_Corbusier_Church_Ronchamp.jpg (13267 bytes)
Le Corbusier's church, Ronchamp

The food was good, apart from the first night, when girlfriend Nicky and I arrived a little late to dinner (after a long, wet drive from Calais). We were starving, and relieved to find there was still food left. Until we tried the main course - Tripe Sausage. I have smelt a pig farm before, but tasting one was a first. Apparently this was a regional speciality. Luckily, all subsequent meals were fine. I don't know how well they cater for veggies as I didn't see any there.

Bussang_lunch.jpg (19969 bytes)
Lunch at a mountain restaurant during an all-day stroll

All in all it was a very relaxing, laid-back week, and extremely cheap too.

Mark Kempton