In recent years, I’ve been thinking more and more about the environmental impact of my travels. As someone deeply concerned about sustainability, it only makes sense to cut down on my air miles and look for more environmentally friendly ways to spend my vacations. I’m fortunate to live on a continent with plenty of rail transportation options, which can emit up to 90% less CO₂ than a short-haul flight covering the same distance.
Last year, I traveled from Amsterdam to Naples by train over a period of two weeks, and it turned out to be one of my favorite vacations ever. It offered me so much flexibility to visit beautiful places without breaking the bank or harming the environment. This year, I followed the same example, but headed east across the continent, and once again had a great time. Along the way, I visited iconic places in Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, and Hungary, gained a few kilos, enjoyed some of Europe’s best thermal spas, and, of course, shot a few rolls of 35mm film.
Strasbourg
This city had never really been on my radar, nor was it on my bucket list. However, since it happened to be along my route, I decided to spend a few days there—and it turned out to be an excellent idea. Little did I know that the city is a true gem, surrounded by the Alsace wine region, home to excellent restaurants, and filled with beautiful Renaissance-period half-timbered houses reminiscent of German architecture that I like so much.
Like any other tourist destination in Europe, it can get quite busy during the summer. But I didn’t mind, as I have no trouble waking up at 6:00 a.m. for a photo stroll through the city, capturing the cobblestone streets in the soft light of the golden hour. And between you and me, the bakeries also tend to open around that time, so I combined my early-morning photo shoot with a self-guided boulangerie crawl that nearly put me into a food coma.
Accidental visit to Barr
When researching the day trip possibilities from Strasbourg, Obernai seemed to be the obvious choice, known for its cobbled streets and colorful half-timbered houses. Without thinking much, I boarded the train for the 45-minute journey; however, I forgot to get off at the Obernai station and ended up in a pretty town called Barr. Since I was there, I decided to have a look around, which was a great idea, as it turned out to be a nice and tranquil village with old houses and beautiful streets. And frankly, it’s not the first time I’ve ended up in Barr against my will, turning into a great time.
The picturesque town in Alsace, France, has been a winemaking hub since the Middle Ages, known especially for its vineyards along the famous Alsace Wine Route. Historically, it served as an important administrative and cultural center in the region, with records of settlement dating back to Roman times.
Back on track to Obernai
After a quick and rewarding stroll through picturesque Barr, I hopped back on the train with high expectations of visiting another gem, this time my original destination, Obernai. However, after having had the previous village to myself, the busy Obernai turned out to be underwhelming, but this is subjective and likely due to the contrast with the previous destination. It was beautiful, but the crowds made the experience less desirable.
The historic town was once a city of the Holy Roman Empire and an important hub for regional trade during the Middle Ages. Its heritage is visible in its well-preserved medieval ramparts, half-timbered houses, and its connection to Saint Odile, the patron saint of Alsace who was born nearby.
