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Italiano (Italian)
For some, the car tour I tell about in this article will seem crazy.
This on my mymaps is the itinerary with the main stops.
This trip fits perfectly into my philosophy that it is better to sample more places. And yet despite the theoretically busy schedule, we were never in a hurry or feeling rushed. I remain convinced they are beautiful places but that, having a car, you can get around while spending not too much time at the various stops. I went as a couple with a friend and with my own car.
A ‘bitter realization was that in the 3 countries over which we transited even on highways, we did not find a pothole; in France and Germany we do not pay for highways, and in Switzerland little. Back in Italy, we realized how uncivilized our country is, at least in this aspect.
The car tour and transit in Switzerland
Perhaps the most beautiful aspect of this trip was the journey itself. We had the opportunity to see beautiful and diverse landscapes, made the most of by the sunny spring days that allow us to admire both the snow-capped peaks of the Alps and the many shades of green in the endless fields, meadows and forests.
We left in the early afternoon, with the possibility of stopping in Lugano to visit my friend’s very nice friend with whom we went to dinner and who hosted us. But before we arrived we enjoyed the spectacle of the Alps, Approaching from Italy.
It was very interesting to chat with the girl who had been transplanted to Switzerland for some time and to discuss with her the pros and cons of moving to a country that is close geographically but far away in terms of everything else.
Being fooled by Gooogle maps, looking for parking in the small town near Lugano, we pulled into a very narrow lane. My car was practically stuck; I struggled to get out of it in reverse, partly because it was slightly uphill. My friend was amazed that I came out of it without so much as swearing and remaining calm. Her friend even told us that another person who had visited her recently had panicked and they had had to call the other inhabitants of that small courtyard to move the parked cars. I explained that, traveling so much solo, I have become accustomed to solving problems on my own, and the only way is to remain calm, indeed, maybe take it ironically.
Not just Christmas markets in Alsace
Waking early but having a leisurely breakfast, we enjoyed the Swiss Alps, even more beautiful on the way back, before arriving in Alsace. We slept in the famous Colmar where so many people go especially for the Christmas markets. Granted that I generally detest them, I think the area is much more beautiful to see in late spring, summer or early fall. In fact, the rolling hills around Colmar are basically all vineyard; and it is a wonder to walk through them visiting the various villages. In particular, we went to the following.
- Eguisheim
- Riquewihr
- Ribeauville
- Obernai
Perhaps I am going against the grain, but I liked them better than Colmar. Smaller and with a higher concentration of half-timbered houses, they also seemed more authentic to me. Strasbourg, where we spent the third night, with its truly remarkable cathedral and canals; I consider it one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
Taste of Black Forest, but no cake
The black forest is also a cake, which I did not eat in those days, however. This was the last of the 3 long weekends that I renamed spring bridges with a Z, in 2025.
From Strasbourg we crossed the very close border with Germany and headed into the area called the Black Forest. Here again the landscape was very beautiful and different; higher hills than in France and forests.
Due to lack of time, we did not go very far and stopped in the renowned Triberg. In order to make the most of the few hours available and to hit the ground running, we paid a whopping 8 Euro each for the trail to the nearby waterfalls from the center of town. This turned out to be a half-hearted rip-off, both for the waterfalls, which are nothing special, and for the crowds along the trail that took away all poetry. We still managed to enjoy the true essence of the forests by taking another trail.
Freiburg with yet another and unfailing neighborhood called Little Venice (who knows how many there are in the world) we enjoyed it with the evening stroll. For dinner we went to a beer hall where we were seated with a nice Swiss couple-he had a San Marino and Rimini shirt!
2 months later a ticket arrived at my home from Switzerland for speeding; I had been doing 90 on the highway.
A few links related to my driving tour in the heart of Europe
In these articles the 2 almost live videos from this tour
Colmar is also fairy tale-like in spring? live on tour
Black Forest, there is yellow at the borders: video
Home Together Traveling in Western Europe, feeling at home
Previous stop Going on the Bernina red train: Switzerland and Liechtenstein
Trips taken, travel stories divided by continent
Countries visited in my travel stories
Anecdotes, divided by type in travel narratives
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