AlanI
Registered user
I'm not too sure whether this info will be of any use to anyone but working on the principle of - you never know - here goes.
A regular campsite that we use when jumping across the border into France, in particular, the Elsass (Alsace) area is located a 10 minute walk outside the town of Ribeauville and goes by the name of Camping Municipal "Pierre De Coubertin". http://en.camping-alsace.com/-Camping-Pierre-de-Coubertin-Ribeauville-.html . In our view this is an excellent campsite , reasonably prices at between 15€ and 16€ (season dependent) which includes the pitch, two adults and electricity - 16A. There is also free WiFi and a DVB-T television connection which is situated on the electrical box. Long cable required unless you're right next to the box although every electrical box is within the range of the usual cable reel length. Whilst a few amusements are provided for children (swings etc) there is no swimming pool and as such this campsite is generally very quiet. Unless in a group, booking ahead and making a reservation is not possible but we are assured by the managers that space is always available and in fact we have found this to be so. The pitches are very generous and for visual purposes we have a Bear Lake 4 and with that pitched and the car (VW Touran) parked in front (or behind) there is still plenty of space for us to set up our table and chairs to eat outside.
Ribeaville is at the heart of the Elsass (Alsace) region and many interesting villages are within either walking distance for those that like a good hike, or within a short car drive. These towns include - Beblenheim, Bennwhir, Bergheim, Guemar, Hunawhir, Illhaeusern, Mittelwihr, Ostheim, Riquewihr, Rodern, Rorschwihr, Saint-Hippolyte, Thannenkirch and Zellenberg. Leaflets outlining the walk and interesting sites in all of the above are available free from the Ribeauville tourist office that is situated on the main drag and entrance to the town. Along with many cycle routes there are also well laid out hiking routes with one being to the ruins of 3 small castles that overlook the town. Tip - take plenty of water to drink especially in high summer. A short drive away, and also within view of the campsite is the Chateau Haut-Koenigsbourg http://www.haut-koenigsbourg.fr/en. Majestic and very interesting and lends itself to be included with a visit to the village of Aubure which is nearby and is the highest village in Elsass (Alsace).
For a day out, Fort de Mutzig http://www.fort-mutzig.eu is within easy reach and is well worth the visit. Another day out visit (and well worth it) is the Ecomusee D'Alsace http://www.ecomusee-alsace.fr/seite-2.html . The website is only available in German and French but here is an English language page http://www.haute-alsacetourisme.com...lsace-ecomuseum-explore-alsatian-culture.html . Essentially this is an artificial village created from upwards of 25 buildings (houses, school and farmhouses etc) that were under the developers hammer (i.e. about to be demolished) and which were subsequently rescued and used in the creation of the now artificial village showing old Alsation life. As indicated, this is an excellent day out and also holds an interest for the kids as there are plenty of animals and the various presentations hosted by the staff (dressed in period costumes) includes feeding them.
Not a million miles away is the Medieval village of Equisheim http://www.visit-alsace.com/eguisheim/ . Tip - ensure that you've got full batteries in the camera and plenty of card medium as you'll be taking photographs a plenty here LOL.
Last but not least, on the first Sunday of September in Ribeauville an event takes place called "Pfifferdaj" and whilst there is something going on for the entire preceding week it's on this Sunday that the big parade takes place. Rather than go into a long description here I have posted a video on YT here http://youtu.be/U8BlVq1wfrc?hd=1 showing this years (2012) event. The video description gives details of the Pfifferdaj. By the way, the red dragon with the lady waving the sword won the prize for best float as voted for by onlookers. There is an 8€ entrance fee to the town (event begins at 3pm) but this also includes free wine from the fountain.
An alternative campsite not too far away and on the outskirts of a lovely small town is http://en.camping-alsace.com/-Camping-de-Kaysersberg-.html . Another municipal campsite that is very clean and looks interesting. We haven't actually stayed there yet but whilst visiting the town of Kaysersberg itself we stopped and had a look and have decided that a change is as good as a rest and we'll stay here next year.
Well I hope that some of this may have been of some use, especially if you are thinking of visiting the Elsass (Alsace) region in the near future and if I've forgotten anything just ask.
A regular campsite that we use when jumping across the border into France, in particular, the Elsass (Alsace) area is located a 10 minute walk outside the town of Ribeauville and goes by the name of Camping Municipal "Pierre De Coubertin". http://en.camping-alsace.com/-Camping-Pierre-de-Coubertin-Ribeauville-.html . In our view this is an excellent campsite , reasonably prices at between 15€ and 16€ (season dependent) which includes the pitch, two adults and electricity - 16A. There is also free WiFi and a DVB-T television connection which is situated on the electrical box. Long cable required unless you're right next to the box although every electrical box is within the range of the usual cable reel length. Whilst a few amusements are provided for children (swings etc) there is no swimming pool and as such this campsite is generally very quiet. Unless in a group, booking ahead and making a reservation is not possible but we are assured by the managers that space is always available and in fact we have found this to be so. The pitches are very generous and for visual purposes we have a Bear Lake 4 and with that pitched and the car (VW Touran) parked in front (or behind) there is still plenty of space for us to set up our table and chairs to eat outside.
Ribeaville is at the heart of the Elsass (Alsace) region and many interesting villages are within either walking distance for those that like a good hike, or within a short car drive. These towns include - Beblenheim, Bennwhir, Bergheim, Guemar, Hunawhir, Illhaeusern, Mittelwihr, Ostheim, Riquewihr, Rodern, Rorschwihr, Saint-Hippolyte, Thannenkirch and Zellenberg. Leaflets outlining the walk and interesting sites in all of the above are available free from the Ribeauville tourist office that is situated on the main drag and entrance to the town. Along with many cycle routes there are also well laid out hiking routes with one being to the ruins of 3 small castles that overlook the town. Tip - take plenty of water to drink especially in high summer. A short drive away, and also within view of the campsite is the Chateau Haut-Koenigsbourg http://www.haut-koenigsbourg.fr/en. Majestic and very interesting and lends itself to be included with a visit to the village of Aubure which is nearby and is the highest village in Elsass (Alsace).
For a day out, Fort de Mutzig http://www.fort-mutzig.eu is within easy reach and is well worth the visit. Another day out visit (and well worth it) is the Ecomusee D'Alsace http://www.ecomusee-alsace.fr/seite-2.html . The website is only available in German and French but here is an English language page http://www.haute-alsacetourisme.com...lsace-ecomuseum-explore-alsatian-culture.html . Essentially this is an artificial village created from upwards of 25 buildings (houses, school and farmhouses etc) that were under the developers hammer (i.e. about to be demolished) and which were subsequently rescued and used in the creation of the now artificial village showing old Alsation life. As indicated, this is an excellent day out and also holds an interest for the kids as there are plenty of animals and the various presentations hosted by the staff (dressed in period costumes) includes feeding them.
Not a million miles away is the Medieval village of Equisheim http://www.visit-alsace.com/eguisheim/ . Tip - ensure that you've got full batteries in the camera and plenty of card medium as you'll be taking photographs a plenty here LOL.
Last but not least, on the first Sunday of September in Ribeauville an event takes place called "Pfifferdaj" and whilst there is something going on for the entire preceding week it's on this Sunday that the big parade takes place. Rather than go into a long description here I have posted a video on YT here http://youtu.be/U8BlVq1wfrc?hd=1 showing this years (2012) event. The video description gives details of the Pfifferdaj. By the way, the red dragon with the lady waving the sword won the prize for best float as voted for by onlookers. There is an 8€ entrance fee to the town (event begins at 3pm) but this also includes free wine from the fountain.
An alternative campsite not too far away and on the outskirts of a lovely small town is http://en.camping-alsace.com/-Camping-de-Kaysersberg-.html . Another municipal campsite that is very clean and looks interesting. We haven't actually stayed there yet but whilst visiting the town of Kaysersberg itself we stopped and had a look and have decided that a change is as good as a rest and we'll stay here next year.
Well I hope that some of this may have been of some use, especially if you are thinking of visiting the Elsass (Alsace) region in the near future and if I've forgotten anything just ask.
