We intended to visit the source of the Moselle as we left
Bussang but the road was closed due to roadworks so we pressed on. We plotted a
route through the mountains to join the Route des Cretes, which was shown in
our Michelin Green Guide and also on our AA map. We travelled a few kilometres south
to the Grand Ballon, the highest point in the Vosges Mountains at 1424 metres.
Unlike the Ballon D’Alsace, which was quiet, Le Grand Ballon was seething with
people – lots of motorhomes and coach parties. The Route des Cretes was
obviously very popular and this was one of the sweet spots. After a quick
explore we decided to move on.
The roads were not that busy on the remainder of the route, it seems that
people just drive to the main sights and walk or sit in cafes. We did pass a
number of full car parks where more serious walkers were parking and setting
off for hikes. Our journey took us past Le Hohneck to Le Bonhomme where we
turned east, off the Route des Cretes, towards Colmar. It was a lovely drive
with extensive views in all directions, with beautiful valleys, lakes and
rounded mountains. As we approached Colmar, vast vineyards appeared. Even though
we have travelled through many wine-producing areas of France, I don’t think
that I have ever seen such an area of vines in one view. This is the Alsace
wine producing area where more than 111 million litres of wine are produced
each year with 2,000 individual producers.
We skirted the Mediaeval town of Eguisheim as we drove to its campsite, ‘Les
Trois Chateaux’ with, unsurprisingly, three castles perched on the hill above
the vineyards. We were lucky to get one of the last pitches and we were told
that they were always very busy in September.
Photos: View on the way to Le Grand Ballon; View from our lunch stop on the Routes des Cretes.
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