Friday 30th September 2022 – Molsheim, France

Last night we booked the campsite at Obernai using the Internet but this morning we received an email telling us that there was no space. We phoned the Municipal campsite at Molsheim and were able to get a pitch but were told that we had to arrive before 12:00 as all of the roads around the campsite were going to be closed. We quickly made the van fit for travelling and set off. It was only a short drive and we arrived in Molsheim at 11:30. The very friendly lady on reception spoke very good English and explained that it was ‘Pink October’ (I know, it is still September) and there was going to be a charity walk later. In Pink October there are many runs and walks in aid of breast cancer charities and the Molsheim event was tonight and the participants were going to run and walk through the campsite.
We had plenty of time to walk the short distance into the town and follow the town trail. Molsheim’s claim to fame is that it is the home of Bugatti cars and in the centre square there is a beautiful example displayed in a large glass case. We also visited the Chartreuse Museum, owned by the Bugatti foundation, that told us more about the Bugatti family and their cars. The museum also includes the remains of the Chartreuse abbey that have been restored by dedicated volunteers over many years, and the work continues.
Whilst we were walking around the town, we saw much evidence of the preparations for the charity walk - pink everywhere and a string of bras hung over the road. We also discovered that it all started at 19:15 and went on until 23:00. Sure enough, we watched from our pitch as the runners first and then the walkers came through the campsite. There was some great fancy dress and an awful lot of pink! All ages were represented and although the majority of the participants were women there were also plenty of children and men, some of whom felt the need to dress in drag. Everyone was having a good time and we decided to walk into the centre to see the celebrations. Close to the finish line, we found a band, ‘Chez l’Fred’, playing as the walkers past. The band was very good and we thoroughly enjoyed listening to them and watching the reaction of the walkers – some sang along to the songs whilst others danced on the footpath.
We walked on to the finish where there were lots of stalls selling all sorts of food and drink. I was particularly impressed by the stall selling Alsace Tarte Flambée with two wood-fired ovens producing a large number of the very popular tartes. The music however was a DJ and nowhere near as good as Chez l’Fred, so we went back and watch some more of them.

Photos: Approaching Boersch we came to this gateway – always a concern with the motorhome – were the streets going to be too narrow. However, the streets were wide and there was no problem; The gateway at Molsheim was also very attractive; A rather oriental-looking building in Molsheim; The Bugatti in the main square; A beautiful painted glass window (by Ernst Linck) from the Chartreus Abbey; Chez l’Fred; Mass production of Tarte Flambée; Some of the last walkers going through the campsite - there were 4,600 in total!; Chez l'Fred performing (video).