Mont Sainte-Odile is spectacular
by Beausoleil
We started for Selestat that day and accidentally (as is our custom) ended up at Mont Ste. Odile, the abbey on top of a mountain. Needless to say, considering the setting, we parked and stayed. There are several walking paths right through the grounds so if you enjoy hiking, this is a magnificent hike. Directions are on the web site in several languages.
The abbey is very peaceful and they do take guests so there were people quietly reading and enjoying the peace of the place. There were also dozens of older, i.e. our age, German tourists quite intent on seeing absolutely everything and terrified they might be separated from their tour group. After being run down once, we learned to stay out of the way . . . a valuable lesson!
The church, two chapels, cloister, mosaics and frescoes are definitely worth the trip and we soon understood why it was such a popular tourist spot. Don't forget while you visit that people are there on pilgrimage and must be respected.
On the grounds is a wonderful sun dial moved from a closed Cistercian Monastery. It tells the time in many places around the world so on a sunny day you can see the time in your own country. Fun . . .
Église Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul, right entrance
by JLBG
The right entrance is shown here as a general view (first photo and as a close up on the tympanum (second photo).
On top, Saint Odile is represented in her Benedictine Abbess clothing. She is represented surrounded by blinds asking for miraculous curing. She bless them with the right hand and holds a book with two large eyes with her left hand.
Beneath, four medallions represent scenes of Saint Odile’s life.
On the left, born a girl and blind, while her mother is crying, she is handed by her nurse to a ward that was ordered by her father to kill her.
Second left, after being hidden and raised, still not baptized, in Baume-les-Dames Abbey, near Besançon. At 12, she was baptized by an Irish monk, Saint Erhard, and recovered her eyes.
Third, she comes back to Obernai and meets her father Adalric, duke of Alsace. He gives her as a gift the castle of Hohenbourg that she turns into a monastery to receive the blind pilgrims.
Fourth, she is received in Heaven by an angel.
Funeral monument near Église Saint-Pierre-Saint-Pa
by JLBG
An amazing pink sand stone funeral monument stands near Église Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul. It has a triangular base. On side (first photo) is carved :
Passant, révère ce tombeau. Je renferme les dépouilles mortelles de M. Anne Elisabeth, Baronne de Ried, née à Strasbourg le 5 juillet 1750, morte à Obernai le 27 mars 1822. RIP.
On another side it bears a coat of arm with a dog jumping and the same dog arises on top of a crown. This monument was ordered by the brother of the Baronne.
Obernai is a magic village
by Beausoleil
"We found Obernai by accident!"
We were staying in Barr, a favorite village, and decided to make a trip to Mont Ste. Odile and then drive to Selestat. Driving down from Mont Ste. Odile, I noticed Obernai on the map so we decided to see what was there.
What a GREAT little town. It turned out to be our favorite stop of the day. This is the main square right in front of the tower and town hall. To the right are a lot of restaurants and you can see church steeples in the background. It has to be the perfect wine village.
"Please check the Travelogues for more photos!"
The tower is the Beffroi (belfry) and the smaller building is the town hall. This is the center of town and is surrounded by restaurants and shops and several hotels.
Up a side street to the right of the town hall is the church and behind the church a lovely stream.
I think of the colored tiles as Burgundian but they appeared all over Alsace. I love the color tiled patterns. Why have a roof when you can have a work of art?!
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Exotic auto in Obernai
typical houses of obernai
Quiche Lorraine
Place du Marché
