Off the beaten track today towards Strasbourg - we kept seeing signs for Bitche! So we took the exit and entered the town. And there we found the Citadel of Bitche. Going under ground into the dark, cold fortress we watched the story of the siege of 1870. Creepy stuff and it certainly brought to life the battles of long ago. The tour is exceptional well done while walking underground and is not to be missed when visiting the Citadel of Bitche.
"The town is known for its large citadel originating from a castle built at the beginning of the 13th century. The fortress is noted for its resistance during the Franco-Prussian War. Louis-Casimir Teyssier, its commander and chief, held the place for about eight months with 3,000 men against about 20,000 Prussian and Bavarian soldiers until the French government ordered him to surrender after the ceasefire in 1871. The town became part of Germany after that date until the end of the First World War, when it was given back to France. During the Second World War it was annexed by the Third German Reich (1940–1944)"
Although Bitche was hotly contested by the Germans after the Battle of Wörth during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, it held out until the war's end. A large part of the fortification is built into the red sandstone rock, and was rendered bomb-proof; a supply of water was secured to the garrison by a deep well in the interior.[2] Commander of the fortress of Bitche was Louis-Casimir Teyssier.[citation needed] After the war, it was given to the German Empire as part of Alsace-Lorraine. It was given back to France in 1918"
On March 19, 2021, the official page of Bitche on Facebook was removed without explanation.[6] After the incident was reported by media, Facebook restored the page and apologized to the town.[7]
Source - Wikipedia..
There are lovely views of the town of Bitche from high above. How this huge citadel was built so very long ago is incredible. Thick walls, a church, the underground caverns where 800 loaves of bread had to be baked daily, where 2 men had to move the huge wheel to get buckets of water and all in the cold and dark! Scary stuff! And the outside toilets!!
Don't forget to visit the Peace Gardens situated at the bottom of the Citadel.
Great for both kids and adults with lots to see and do! Play games, get wet, play some music - all in the day's fun.
All in all a great "off the beaten track" experience with incredible history of a bygone era.
Strasbourg:
A fun Sunday in Strasbourg France and an unexpected visit back to Germany!
We started off trying to buy a Tram ticket - simple when you know how but at least 3 trams went past before we managed to get tickets!
Our first walk was from the main centre to Petit France through rather deserted city streets. We found the area easily. Very beautiful half-timbered houses all along the canal.
We walked for ages along the canal and then decided to do some Tram hopping. We stopped at a tented avenue of around 80 artists, All displaying their art. They sit in the middle of the lane keeping a beady eye out for customers! We didn't fancy being shouted at so we're rather reluctant to take photos. Managed a few grab shots. An incredible display of art work.
We then rode the tram again and were just about to head back when the last tram stop was in Kehl. Unbeknown to us this town is in Germany and there was a festival happening!
"The pedestrian or foot bridge over the Rhine River connects the towns of Kehl, Germany and Strasbourg, France. The architecturally beautiful bridge is a lasting symbol of friendship between the two towns that were at war for centuries"
So off we hopped, wandered around, enjoyed some lunch and listened to a German orchestra. They were excellent and made for a fun Sunday.
So feeling tired and weary, we rode the tram back to our hotel!
All in all, a great Sunday in Strasbourg.
Day 2:
Strasbourg is a great city! We enjoyed another fun day First a boat ride - thru the lock - yeah! and further afield. The history of Strasbourg is fascinating - German, French, German and eventually French again.
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| Boat Trip Strasbourg France |
Then another wander around Petite France and lunch in a cool spot for people watching.
After lunch we endeavoured to find the correct tram to LOrangerie. We got there eventually after getting off the tram 2 stops too early! A long walk eventually got us there.
This Parc le Orangerie was established as a promenade in the late 17th Century as a place for strolling in the open air. Pavilion Josephine was built in 1807 to store the orange trees confiscated from their aristocratic owner! Today this park remains a favourite with locals, an oasis in the city.
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| Boating L'Orangerie Strasbourg France |
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| L'Orangerie Strasbourg France |
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| Stork L'Orangerie Strasbourg France |
So many storks - good to see that they have returned to this area to breed again.
"It was here that the stork, (once threatened with extinction), was successfully reintroduced. More than 800 young storks have been born since 1971. This beautiful bird which is also the symbol of Alsace can today be admired whatever the time of year. The lake with its romantic waterfall provides a wonderful opportunity to enjoy some excellent boating".
And so our short stay in Strasbourg, France comes to an end. It's a beautiful city, full of stunning architecture, hundreds of students, vibey street cafes for people watching, an efficient tram system and much more.
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| Swan Strasbourg France |
