Leaving Beaune, the last city on our Burgundy road trip, we drove to Alsace. Passing by the Alsatian vineyards and lovely picturesque villages we stopped at Eguisheim. There is a feeling that time has stood still in these medieval villages. Houses with timber frames, cobblestones, old churches, balconies overflowing with geraniums, renaissance fountains and ramparts, the village is totally charming, even on a very heavily overcast grey day.

Leaving Eguisheim we drove to Sélestat known in the 15th century for having one of the finest libraries in the world. Sélestat also has two ancient churches, the Romanesque 12th century L’église Sainte-Foy and the 13th century Gothic L’église Saint-Georges. We checked into the Abbaye de Pommeraie, a former Baumgarten Cistercian Abbey. A spacious garden room and a chilled white Alsace with a fruit salad and madeleines was a lovely way to welcome us. The service at both the fine restaurant for dinner and at breakfast was personal and friendly even if the Alsatian dialect was hard to understand, sounding like a blend of French and German. We would need to return to this area as there is so much more to discover and enjoy.