2026-05-12 Le Mont Sainte Odile

 Wednesday, May 11, 2026

There's nothing exciting to say for the day. After doing a few chores, we spent the rest of the day reading and waiting for the arrival of Dan and Paulette. As promised, they appeared in time for apéros and dinner (grilled salmon). We spent the rest of the evening catching up on news and sharing photos of our kids. Dan was Dave's first office mate at IBM in Poughkeepsie. He moved to Belgium for a job at IBM where he met and married Paulette. We have been friends for over 50 years and don't often get to meet in person, so these occasions are so special.

Thursday, May 12, 2026

View across the Vosges from Le Mont de Sainte-Odile

This will be our first trip into the Vosges Mountains. Paulette says it's an insult to mountains to call the Vosges "mountains" since the highest is only 1400 meters (about 4200 feet). Dan knows about a place called "Le Mont Sainte Odile." It's a pilgrimage site and on one of the routes to St Jacques de Compostelle. 

While cool, the sun was shining and the drive through woods as we zig-zagged up the "mountain" (only 700 meters high). We saw many "pilgrims" hiking up the mountain with their walking sticks. And of course many other visitors were filling up the parking lots with their cars, like we were.

Le Mont Sainte Odile - a minor basilica

The setting was spectacular with views down over the valley spread out like a plain below with a hazy view of the Black Forest beyond to the east. Today, Sainte Odile advertises itself as a sanctuary, a place of peace and prayer. It has a hotel, restaurant, and seminar rooms for retreats. 

view from Sainte Odile looking NE

The story of Odile and her acts of faith and charity give purpose to this hilltop retreat. The oldest child of the duke of Alsace, she was born small and blind. Her father, wanting a son, would have had her killed excerpt for the interference of her mother. She was raised until age 12 by a nurse. When she was baptized at this age, she miraculously recovered her sight at which time she was named Odile, child of light. Upon return to her family, her father wanted now to marry her off against her wishes. She fled into the Black Forest and when pursued by her father, was miraculously hidden by a rock that opened to hide her. Her father then realized her calling and gave her the Chateau of Hohenbourg. Many women joined her mission there and she eventually opened a second monastery at the foot of today's Mont Sainte Odile continuing the mission of caring for the poor and ill. One other miracle worth noting: once while walking from Hohenbourg, she encountered a blind and thirsty beggar. She struck a rock from which a stream of water came forth, this water continuing even today. Odile is buried in a sarcophagus in the church on the Mont St Odile. 

The sarcophagus of St Odile in its own chapel

Before touring the buildings, we found a sunny terrace with benches where we ate our lunch with a view of the Alsatian plain below us.

Paulette, Dan, and Dave eating lunch

Paulette showing off the view from our lunch spot

Our lunch view

The complex of buildings is set up for retreats, but one can visit the church and cloister. 

The entrance to the complex is in the center of the building

Once through the entryway, the hotel in on the left

The church

The altar

Since 1931 there have been prayers of adoration here, 24/24 7/7. Notice the 2 people praying. behind the altar.  Others will come later to take their places.

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Behind the church is another spacious terrace, again with views to the valley. We might  have taken our Christmas card photo on this terrace.

Taking photos on the terrace. Here Dave takes a photo of Paulette and Dan.

A possible Christmas photo of Paulette and Dan

Dave & Lynn 

Back in the car, we headed to Obernai.

There is a Green Guide walking tour of the old center of Obernai which gave us a sense of the city in the middle ages. As usual, half-timbered buildings (houses mostly) alternated with administrative and church buildings in brick. 

This belfry was a watchtower and a bell tower for the town

The Hotel de Ville (Town Hall) with Dan and Paulette

The Market Square has hosted a market every week since 1301. Around this square are administrative buildings, former guild buildings, and former inns. The statue on the 1904 fountain is of Sainte Odile, patron saint of Alsace.

Some Easter decorations on the Market Square

Half-timbered house - I like the color

The pollarded trees were beginning to leaf out and city workers were planting flowers in stone troughs in the public spaces of the city. 

An old watering trough is now used for flowers. Two girls were unloading flowers from the back of the truck you see. The man is just a passer-by.

e walked as far as the cathedral, stopping to admire a 5-bucket well along the way. 

This well has 5 buckets hanging from pulleys. Not sure it still works.

Church of Saints Peter & Paul

Notice the stork nest on the cross at the top of the church. Notice the head of the statue. I think he needs a hat.

We had to give up finding the city ramparts when our GPS tried to send us down this "street."

Our GPS wanted us to go down this "street" No thank you.

Back home, we had our usual aperos and Dave made pasta for dinner. Another good and busy day in the books.