2026-05-02 Bergheim

 

First order of business today is groceries. There is a market in Colmar in St Joseph's square. Grocery bags in hand, some of the crew headed off in that direction. (I stayed behind to finish yesterday's blog.) 

Market stands all around St Joseph church

The Colmar market turns out to be large and with many food options. There was a fishmonger, 

Janis bought salmon

Dave bought strawberries

and of course we need olives. 

and of course we need olives.

The remaining things on the list will hopefully be found at the LeClerc store. As usual at LeClerc, it's divide and conquer with each going off to find one thing on the list. However, this time they are able to find everything needed.

Home for lunch on the patio and need to make afternoon plans. Consensus was to visit Bergheim, a Plus Beau Village just 20 minutes from here.

We parked in a lot just behind the church and from that spot, it was we saw some evidence that Bergheim may have had double walled defenses with a dry moat between them. 

Kids were riding bikes down into the dry moat. They went fast and some crashed. Looked like fun.

The dry moat and what we think are inner walls

We've become accustomed to looking for storks and the top of the church did not disappoint. This stork was posing for Clark's camera. 

Can you spot the nest with the young stork in it?

There it is!

Mama stork was guarding the nest from the rooftop.

The church made a striking outline rising above the defensive walls. Inside, it was typical of a village church. 

Notre Dame de l'Assomption

The altar in the church

Once in the center of town, the village's character began to really shine. Half timbered houses in an array of colors made the main street feel joyous. 

Who's that charming couple? Janis and Clark pose for a Christmas card photo.

We wandered to the far end of the village (about 5 blocks) to find the west entrance. 

The tall tower is the west entrance gate to the town.

Janis and I were struck by the pollarded trees that were lined up like soldiers just inside the gate. 

The French do a lot of pollarding of trees to get them to grow better canopies of shade and keep the trees a manageable size.

Janis, Clark, & Lynn inspecting the pollarded trees

Outside the gate was a bas relief with an explanation next to it. The figure is called LACK MI. 

He is taunting his pursuers by mooning them as he heads through the town gate of Bergheim. It would seem that Bergheim was a sanctuary city long before we ever knew about sanctuary cities. This character, well known in the region, illustrates the right to asylum recognized since 1361. The plaque notes that between 1530 and 1677, Bergheim welcomed 744 refugees guilty of crimes and petty infractions.

Of course, the area is surrounded by vineyards and the city is full of wine merchants offering tastings.

 Clark was looking for a grand cru sylvaner but couldn't find one in any of the wine merchant windows. Once home, Clark sleuthed the problem. This wine comes from Mittelbergheim and not Bergheim. Two cities 33 km apart. No wonder Clark couldn't find this wine. 

Home again. Tonight, there will be dessert. We've accumulated lots of dried up baguette pieces. So tonight Janis made bread pudding with whiskey sauce. (Delicious) And we have a large zip-lock bag of dried up bread cubes waiting for us in the freezer.

Janis in the kitchen