The Chalet, near the village of Osenbach in France's Alsace region, was the perfect place to unwind after a week of the hustle and bustle of Paris. Nathalie, the owner, was very gracious and energetic and always on hand to answer all of our questions and help us become acquainted with the area. On our arrival she had champagne and a loaf of local dessert bread (delicious!) waiting for us.
The chalet, which is beautifully furnished and accommodated the five of us very comfortably, is situated in a lovely rural setting, surrounded by rolling hills and vineyards, forests and pasture lands. Across the road and a grazing meadow sits a family dairy farm, where we were able to buy milk and cheese, yogurt, eggs and cream, all very fresh. The village itself is a pleasant 10-mInute stroll along the meadow and down a forest path where we bought bread and pastries, wine and other necessities.
A thirty minute drive to the northeast brought us to the town of Colmar, situated on the Route des Vins d'Alsace, the Alsace Wine Route. The hills along this route are terraced with vineyards, and there are many 'caves' where one can stop and sample the local vintage. Colmar itself is enchanting, and the section of it situated on the Launch River is referred to as 'little Venice'.
All in all we enjoyed a wonderful week in a very restful and beautiful place. Many thanks to Nathalie for making our visit so memorable.