ALSACE - France 2014 - page 1445

humanity,particularlyforfoundingtheAlbertSchweitzerHospitalinGabon,where
he died in 1965. He was 90 years old.
Find WCs nexttotheTIandacrossfromtheSchweitzer Museum.There'salsoafun
Monday morning market at the top of town, across from the Schweitzer Museum.
Self-Guided Walk
Welcome to Kaysersberg
Start your town stroll in the center of Kaysersberg at the main square, Place de la Mairie.
Face Hôtel de Ville and walk along the main drag to its left.
After a few steps, you'll find a round arch from 1604 on the right. Walking through
thearch,you'llgopastaformergunpowderstorehouse(nowahallusedforfreeartexhib-
its) and a well. Walk into a typical Alsatian courtyard with a wooden gallery and cascades
of geraniums. The painting from 1993 celebrates the 700th anniversary of Kayersberg's
statusasanImperialcity.In1293,alocalprincegaveKaysersbergtradeandtaxstatusand
the right to build strong city walls. Later, in 1354, the town was a founding member of the
Decapolis.
Go back through the arch, turn right, and continue up the main street, Rue de
Général de Gaulle. Kaysersberg is known for its handmade glass, and at Verrerie d'Art
de Kaysersberg (across from the Church of the Holy Cross), you can see glassblowers
at work and browse their showroom (workshop generally open Mon-Sat 10:00-12:30 &
14:00-18:00, closed Sun; showroom open longer hours and Sun in summer). While the
craft almost died out here in the 18th century, it's alive and well now.
Opposite the glassworks (on the side of the church), read some of the names on the
war memorial —that's a lot of war dead for a small town. We're in France now, but all
of this fighting was done for Germany. In World War I they fought on the Western Front.
After Hitler annexed Alsace in World War II, local boys were sent to Russia and Poland
(far from home, so they couldn't desert). Notice also the noncombatant victims: Some
were sent to death camps and others died in bombing raids. In 1944 Allied bombers des-
troyed 45 percent of Kaysersberg—and that included many of its citizens.
Infrontofthe Church of the Holy Cross standsafountainfeaturingtheRomanEm-
peror Constantine—holding a cross and honored here because he was the first Christian
emperor. Up on the simple Romanesque facade of the church is his mom, Helen. She con-