Munster

At the end of a valley that runs from the Alsace plain into the Vosges mountains, this small town is the birthplace of the fragrant cheese used to gratinate flammekueche and its rooftops are a paradise for storks.

The valley is like a country within a country, because it stands out clearly from the rest of Alsace. Its somewhat alpine appearance has earned it the nickname "Kleini Schwitz", the little Switzerland. In addition, the Alsatian dialect spoken here is said to be a little difficult to understand for people from neighbouring regions.

If you like cheese, the name Munster is certainly not unfamiliar to you. Munster, or minschterkaas in Alsatian, has been a French AOC since 1969 and a European AOP since 1996. It is a cheese made from cow's milk and has a strong smell. It is served on cheese platters in many restaurants in Alsace and the rest of France.

The town centre of Munster is of great architectural interest, with the ruins of 17th century arches remaining from an ancient Benedictine abbey founded around 660, the Town Hall from 1550, the heraldic Lion from 1576 on the fountain in the Market Square, and the 16th and 19th century churches.

But what will strike you most if you visit Munster at the right time of year is the incredible number of storks, sitting in nests perched on roofs, chimneys and high masts or flying to every corner of the horizon.

The white stork, emblematic of Alsace, spends the winter in Africa, but returns to Europe towards the end of March and April, before leaving in August-September. When we were in Munster in July 2022, they were everywhere and we did not see so many of them elsewhere in Alsace.

Apparently, they love this nice little town and the inhabitants love them too, as they have even installed platforms on top of tall masts to allow them to build their nests...