Recommended Places to Stay and Eat

Strasbourg or Metz would be the obvious cities to stay for those visiting the Maginot Line. However, whilst boasting the usual top-quality restaurants and hotels that you would expect from major French cities, they do have a rather “industrial” feel about them. Although a good 1˝-hour drive from Ouvrage de Schoenenbourg, the author would alternatively recommend the Alsace city of Colmar – boasting one of the most beautiful medieval city centres in Europe set against the backdrop of the Vosges Mountains. Of course Colmar is perfectly placed for the Vosges and Alsatian battlefields of the First World War and it takes less than 45 minutes to reach the crest of the Vosges Mountains from the centre of Colmar.

The beautiful "chocolate box" streets of Colmar. Photo: Mark Sluman

The local Ibis is a good, reasonably priced hotel to stay in, and is just a few minutes walk from the medieval centre.

For further information on pricing and directions visit:
http://www.ibishotel.com/ibis/fichehotel/gb/ibi/1377/fiche_hotel.shtml

Even closer to the city centre is the Mecure Colmar Champs de Mars Hotel which makes for a comfortable and convenient place to stay:
http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-1225-mercure-colmar-champ-de-mars/index.shtml.

With some of the best cuisine you will encounter in France and a focal marketplace for the famous Alsace wine region (Alsace red is served chilled here), there is no shortage of places to eat and drink after a long day spent exploring the Maginot Line. In particular the author would recommend:

"La Maison Rouge", 9 rue des Ecoles – 68000
Tel: +33 (0)3 89 23 53 22

"Schwendi", 23-25 Grand Rue - 68000
Tel: +33 (0)3 89 23 66 26

Apart from being a lovely city to stay in for a weekend, Colmar has another claim to fame – it is the birthplace of Frederic-Auguste Bertholdi, the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty. A scaled-down replica of the famous monument can be seen on the main roundabout into town from the north.

A replica of Bertholdi’s Statue of Liberty. Photo: Mark Sluman

Also watch out for the feathered inhabitants which have become a symbol of the town, the storks - a family of whom are usually seen nesting on top of the cathedral!

The stork family atop the cathedral. Photo: Mark Sluman