Tour Leader’s Blog

Leaving the Rammersweierhof Hotel in Germany, we crossed the Rhine to France and Strasbourg, where we glimpsed the single rose-colored tower of the Cathedral. We were reminded that the famous Christian landmark in the “city of hope,” built on the site of a temple to Mars, the Roman god of war, narrowly survived the French Revolution.

Our first destination recalled the same war, but this was a sign of peace. The ancient oak at Salm, remote in the Vosges Mountain chain, is reputed to have been planted around 1789 by Mennonites in celebration of their exemption from military duty in those violent days. We were pleased to find the tree well cared for and with surprisingly plentiful foliage. Some
exploring by Phil Benner and John Bender led us to a nearby Augsburger cemetery back in the woods.

Next, and in the same neighborhood, came another war scene - the hideous hillside Struthof Concentration Camp, abandoned by Nazi soldiers after 22,000 of their 52,000 prisoners had died.

By now we were ready for more peaceful scenes and found some in the famous wine route leading south at the foot of the Vosges. Storks could be seen perched in the housetop nests as we approached the vineyard and wall surrounding Riquewihr, where we had lunch.

Entering Switzerland, we cruised southward under and past the Jura Mountain range until we crossed the dark green Aare River on our way to Thun, our home for the next three days.

The next day, Thursday, being driver Jean-Paul Weber’s legally required day off, we visited the handsome four-pinnacled Thun Castle in the forenoon, and on our free afternoon explored the city divided by the rushing Aare River.

~ John Ruth