European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 1, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse French Village conies alive stories and photos by Leah Larkin features editor were a Village of says Cri Stallc she is speaking of her France 184 13 two two not enough to satisfy Many of the Young residents who started heading out of the tiny Village in Northern Alsace in search of a better few tourists visited the pretty town of half timbered even though it is just across the Border from Germany in an area of Lush National forests where the ruins of medieval fortresses Crown Many a several years a group of citizens decided it was time to put Ober Steinbach on the i didst want the Village to says the town mover and Shaker who founded the association for the promotion of she lives in a centuries old House on the main but teaches school in nearby Wittmer rallied the mostly and got things the ideas were essentially she they were they jealously defend the Quality of life the things that Are they Felt the Quality of life was a dutch company came to town eight years hoping to buy land to build a vacation Village for the women had no objection to dutch they just didst want them taking Over their if the dutch Felt Obe Steinbach had touristic Why they capitalize on it themselves which is just what they they organized a Munici pal committee and convinced enough of the citizens that the Holiday Camp was not a Good the land was not sold to the to revitalize Community they put together an exhibit of photos showing the town in the old they persuaded those who owned abandoned houses in the area to have them restored and rent rooms to they started planning local we wanted to get Young people to organize things that would attract explained Evelyne Ber ring who returned to her Hometown seven years ago after spending 17 years in Southern things began to not Only did the Young Stop moving but others started moving Young people have come Treyve found an ambiance and a Community they says people dont come Here to get they she because they enjoy the outdoors and a Chance to live a bit it was primarily the outdoors that brought 28yearold Fabienne Kaufmann to Obe Steinbach several years she is a pharmacist who had a 9to5 Job in i love she i like this the spirit Here and the friends i she has tailored a lifestyle to her liking working part time in the local pharmacy and spending the rest of the time often working on her special project the Community she has a plot of land in the Center of town which she is turning into an authentic medieval Garden with different sections for Johan Hofmans found Obe Steinbach just the right place to fulfil his life dream to Start a business with the 29yearold dutchman had studied Engi Neering in then had an eighth Ourada desk it was not for he set off to Southern France to try to Start a business with fjord a special nordic Breed that is sturdy and bigger than Many it didst he heard about Obe Steinbach on his Way Back to he stopped by with his fjord ponies and is still 1 like the living the the he Hes learning French because he plans to during the Hofmans works in the using his ponies to haul Wood to a Sawmill in a nearby he has built one Carriage and plans to build two More to take tourists for rides in the he will also rent the carriages for a Day or a week to those who want to set out on their Richard and Marlene Constans had a Butcher shop in the building in which it was housed was scheduled to be we had to make a to move to another location in the City or change our lifestyle said they opted for the latter and spent a year looking for a House in the they found a 250yearold House in Obe Steinbach which fit the Constans continued the Butcher renting a room in an old building where he could smoke meats and make he travels around the area and Sells his goods from a but by hell be Back in a shop his Brand new shop which he has built adjacent to his life Here is More less nerve rack says when we have a Day we can just walk outside and into the in we always had to get into the Cristelle Wittmer Hopes that More people will Settle in that More tourists will come to discover the Charm of the its very she its its town promoters Evelyne and Cristelle head for theh fils exploring the ruins of an ancient Obe Steinbach May not be mentioned in the its 13 fountains Are not the lavishly sculptured kind you find in Rome and Paris just old Stone watering troughs for its churches Are Small and but the villagers Are proud to announce that the protestant Church was constructed in 1787 by Prince Ludwig of its Chateaux castles Bear no resemblance to those Mammoth estates in the Loire they Are just the crumbling remains of medieval Obe Steinbach and its surrounding Countryside can be a delightful destination for a week or a week if you Are really into the outdoors and the town is about a 3hour drive from Frank Furt about an hour from the Kaiserslautern Obe Steinbach is surrounded by the North Vosges natural Park on the route Des Chateaux Castle Road where the ruins of some 50 ancient fortresses sit atop wooded the area is especially popular with hikers thanks to an extensive network of trails that link the Sites of the it is also Good bicycle terrain for serious the official language of the town is the alsatian dialect which sounds like a mixture of French and but most everyone Speaks school French and German As some even speak a bit of whatever they they Are warm and Friendly peo eager to help you enjoy their through the association for the promotion of guides can be in addition to showing the hiking trails and providing Tell you whats going on in the town and surrounding june 15 is the big Day in this year celebrate their third annual medieval festival at a Castle Complete with villagers dressed in Medie Val a medieval banquet and torchlight con Cert of ancient the fun gets underway at 4 the concert starts at 8 on the first sunday in the Village hosts a local products festival featuring homemade goodies and handmade those who want to travel by horse or Pony should Contact Johan Rue Principale 88 a Pony drawn Carriage can be rented for French francs per week about or 650 francs about per Hofmans will provide maps and information about places to Camp or other such As guided daily Are world War buffs will want to visit the remains of bunkers that formed part of the Maginot line in the nearby town of Alsace is known for its visit the wine cooperative in the town of Cle Bourg for a tasting and a Chance to buy the wines of your Choice at a Good food is another the hotel restaurant Anthon in Obe Steinbach is Well known for its excellent meals Range in Price from about to the restau rant pastry chef offers courses in French pastry making for Small a double room with Bath and two meals per Day is available in the hotel for about per details from Danielle 45 Rue Prin f67510 88 the towns other offers less expensive from to those in search of haute cuisine and Michelin stars May visit the Auberge do Cheval a Onestar restaurant in neighbouring theres a Fine restaurant with a similar a Cheval in also near see related Story on Page a variety of reasonable lodging arrangements is Avail Able in Cristelle Wittmer has converted part of her Home into apartments for they Are Complete with a fully equipped min Kitchen Ideal for a two person apartment rents for about 14 per breakfast is about per in a building adjacent to her Evelyne Berring offers dormitory style for families or for just per person per an equipped Kitchen is available for guest for More information about Obe Steinbach and the surrounding As Well As Contact eve Lyne 44 Rue f67510 Oberstein 88 or Cristelle 62 Rue 88 Johan Hofmans and his fjord Pony take villagers for a ride through Page 14 the stars and stripes Fabienne Kaufmann works on her special project the town medieval May half timbered houses line the main Street in the stars and stripes Page 16
