Benedictine Abbey - Vineyard Apartment - Medieval Village

Surrounded by vineyards and cradled by the Vosges Mountains to the west and the Rhine to the east, Andlau is a quiet medieval village on the 'Routes des Vins' Alsace in Northeast France. Thirteen vintners call Andlau home, producing superbly dry and fruity wines with Grand Cru designation. The moderate climate creates blossoms in March and April. Vendage/grape harvest is September to October. December sees outdoor Christmas Markets with spiced, warm, wine. More than a French Apartment As others have in centuries past, we too were drawn to this place beside the Andlau River. We selected and furnished this French apartment for our personal use while living and working in Europe. We take great pleasure in sharing the apartment, and our knowledge of the area, with other independent travelers. Consider the village your garden. Within steps of the front door you can walk pathways along the Andlau River and climb through the vineyards to embrace the broad vistas from the gazebo. There are post office, bank, cash machine, bakeries, restaurants, grocery, convenience store, and tourist bureau-English spoken. Wednesday morning is market time at the village fountain. The Comforts Originally a Benedictine Abbey dating from 1642, and a private residence since the last century, the apartment is two floors up in a four-storey building. In 1990's the interior was modernized into 12 apartments. A National Historic Monument, the exterior was restored to its original 17th century facade. Our apartment is tastefully decorated containing everything you need to live comfortably and prepare meals as you wish. It is 40 meters sq./435 sq. ft. with an L-shaped great room - the fully-equipped kitchen/dining area open to the living area, with a comfortable, double, pull-out couch. The one bedroom has twin beds. Linens and towels are laundered for you. A Room With A View The apartment windows look south into the Abbey Courtyard and views beyond to verdant val d’ Eleon. The Abbey’s romanesque frieze is noted in the Michelin Guide and attracts small groups of travelers who seek the stories revealed of early Roman life. We have been entertained by the glory of the Abbey bells that chime the hour, and on special occasions, by the music and pageantry of fashionable society weddings, concerts, and Bastille Day ceremonies, glimpsed from our windows onto the courtyard below. If you are a light sleeper or you are not used to bells, you may wish to take precautions. Tour de France cyclists have whizzed past in a flash of colour, beginning a spirited ascent of the Vosges! The walled, cedar-filled courtyard at the front of our building is a place to reflect on the day’s journeys. The Pleasures Hiking and cycling are popular in the vineyards and Vosges mountains. Two castles are within easy walking distance in the forests above the apartment. Alsatian picnic fare can be gathered from half-timbered shops along cobblestone streets; the perfect choice for a day of castle, vineyard or mountain touring. Medieval villages are strewn along the wine route and offer strolls through walled towns. Strasbourg is the seat of the Parliament of Europe and one of our favourite cities. It offers 'La petite France' quarter, boat tours on the River Il, museums, the Strasbourg Cathedral, shopping, the arts and fine dining. Day trips into the Black Forest of Germany are a feast for the senses. The flower-filled markets and the casino, concerts and Baths at Baden-Baden delight. The Spirit of Place Pagan walls and the ruins of Celtic temples lay in the surrounding forests. The tiny chapel of the archangels clings to the top of Mount St.Odile- a shrine for those seeking vision. These speak the spirit of this place. Here, life is imagined and dreams lived... for another millennium. How To Get There The nearest airports are at Strasbourg/Entzheim (15 minutes) and Baden/Karlsruhe (45 minutes). You can fly via Air France from Paris to Strasbourg/Entzheim aiport or from the UK to Karlsruhe at very reasonable fares and rent a car at the airport. We fly into Frankfurt, rent a car and drive 2 1/2 hours south to Andlau or you can take the Lufthansa bus from Frankfurt airport to Strasbourg train station (2 1/2 hours) and rent a car there and do the same in reverse if returning to Frankfurt. Keywords: Apartment