The citadel of Bitche (Moselle)
Majestic, impressive, titanic... Built according to Vauban's plans, the powerful walls of the citadel of Bitche have dominated the town since the end of the 17th century.
Classified as a historic monument since 1979, this masterpiece of military architecture offers an unusual cinematographic tour, called
The Besieged Fortress
, laid out in the incredible underground network of the citadel, a real city with casemates, stables, a kitchen , a hospital, a bakery... Equipped with an audio headset, we immerse ourselves in one of the most amazing feats of arms that marked the history of the site, during the war of 1870. Entrenched in the fortress, the French soldiers resisted the siege of the Prussians for 270 days.
To discover
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Citadel of Bitche, rue des Tilleuls, 57230 Bitche.
Such.
: 03 87 96 18 82. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: €10.
Where to stay and eat
Hotel-restaurant Le Strasbourg, 24 rue du Colonel Teyssier, 57230 Bitche.
The right address in the area, with comfortable rooms (from €95) and suites (from €125).
But it is above all the restaurant that makes the reputation of the place.
Chef Lutz Janisch, a native of the former GDR, prepares refined cuisine based on local and seasonal products.
Read the dossierGrand Est: the
Figaro travel guide
Hanau pond (Moselle)
The castle keep of Waldeck, built on top of a hill, is visible from the banks of the pond of Hanau.
Wikimedia Commons/Ji-Elle/CC BY-SA 3.0
A natural site that only insiders know, on the borders of the Bas-Rhin and Moselle departments.
Set in a forest setting worthy of Grimm's tales, the Hanau pond invites you to daydream.
Admittedly, it displays a modest size – barely 18 hectares – but its wooded and wild banks offer absolute tranquility.
In summer, it lends itself to swimming (a small beach has been developed).
In winter, it happens that it is completely frozen.
In the background stands out the keep of Waldeck Castle, a ruined fortress built on the sandstone substrate of a gentle hill.
Looks like a ghost ship lost in the forest.
From the shore, a botanical trail (1 km) on a pontoon crosses a peat marsh and allows you to become familiar with the local biodiversity.
Hanau pond, 57230 Philippsburg.
Where to stay and eat
No infrastructure open year-round near the pond.
The town of Bitche is only 13 km to the northeast by the D662.
Read alsoFour industrial sites for an immersion in the working history of the Moselle
Graufthal and its troglodyte houses (Bas-Rhin)
The houses with blue facades of Graufthal, inhabited until 1958, are open to visitors.
Uwalthie Pic Project - stock.adobe.com
It is an astonishing architectural curiosity and a plunge into history.
In the hamlet of Graufthal, in the pretty Zinsel valley, three houses with facades painted lavender blue are embedded in the cracks of a pink sandstone cliff, about 7 meters above the village.
Fitted out since the 18th century, they served as dwellings, with modest comfort.
The last was occupied until 1958. Now classified and restored, these houses accessible by a staircase are open to visitors.
The interiors have remained as they are, with period furniture and clothing.
They look like dollhouses from another time.
Exhibitions with various themes are also offered there.
Maisons des Rochers, 22 rue Principale, 67320 Graufthal.
Such.
: 06 37 80 47 03. Open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: €3.
Where to stay and eat
At the Old Mill, 7 rue du Vieux-Moulin, 67320 Graufthal.
This small inn with fifteen welcoming and renovated rooms (from €97) has been run by the same family for three generations.
The restaurant is renowned for its regional cuisine, generous and tasty.
Read alsoOur most beautiful guest rooms 2020 in Île-de-France and the North-East
Meisenthal International Glass Art Center (Moselle)
The International Center for Glass Art will reopen on November 11, 2020, while the Glass Museum will welcome visitors again in the summer of 2021. Bertrand Jamot/ARTGE Destination Lorraine
Meisenthal, the former small capital of glass, surrounded by hills carpeted with resinous trees, offers a magical universe, full of history and poetry.
Founded in 1704, the Meisenthal glassworks is associated with an extraordinary industrial epic.
Specialized in the production of blown and pressed glass objects, it will have up to 650 employees, but must close its doors in 1969. The reconversion of the industrial wasteland began in the 1980s thanks to the mobilization of enthusiasts and elected officials local.
Today, the Glass Museum preserves the technical and artistic memory of glass and crystal.
After 4 years of an extraordinary construction site, a new completely reconfigured visit route invites you to live a unique visit experience.
Adjoining, the International Center for Glass Art offers contemporary art exhibitions as well as glassblowing demonstrations, and hosts contemporary music concerts.
In the shop, there is a good choice of glass objects made on site, including the remarkable colored Christmas balls, signed by designers.
Meisenthal glass site, place Robert Schuman, 57960 Meisenthal.
Such.
: 03 87 96 87 16. Open Monday to Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where to stay and eat
Auberge des Mésanges, rue des Vergers, 57960 Meisenthal.
A simple and well-kept hotel, quiet, with no-frills but functional and pleasant rooms (from €75).
In the restaurant, regional culinary specialities, such as venison bäeckeoffe, are given pride of place.
Read alsoHolidays in France: 6 nature getaways in the Vosges mountains
Niederbronn-les-Bains (Bas-Rhin)
The mineral waters of Niederbronn-les-Bains have made this spa town famous since Roman antiquity.
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Its name leaves no room for doubt: Niederbronn-les-Bains is a spa resort.
The virtue of its waters has been known since Roman times.
Backed by hills drowned in forests, it attracts many visitors in search of well-being in all seasons.
Take advantage of its peaceful atmosphere, its wooded park, its good restaurants and of course the Valvital thermal center, which offers a range of treatments and themed cures focused on relaxation.
For those who have ants in the legs, many hiking and mountain biking are possible from the village.
Our favourite: the climb to Grand Wintersberg, the highest point in the Northern Vosges (581 m), crowned with a 25 m brick tower, from where you can enjoy an incomparable panorama over the plain of Alsace (allow 3 hours for the loop).
Where to stay and eat
La Ferme Mellon, road to Jaegerthal, 67110 Niederbronn-les-Bains.
A perfect base for recharging your batteries.
This old farmhouse on the edge of the forest has warm rooms (from €60), with exposed freestone and period tiling.
The little extra: a traditional catering service on site.
Zuem Buerestuebel, 9 rue de la République, Niederbronn-les-Bains.
In this
winstub
(Alsatian bistro), only dishes typical of the region are served (sauerkraut, homemade fleischschnagges, braised ham).
A real grandmother's cuisine, tasty and sincere.
[Originally published on October 11, 2020, this article has been updated.]