Obernai

Obernai is a walled market town about 30 km south-west of Strasbourg in the Bas-Rhin department of Alsace, in France's Grand Est region. It is among the quickest day trips from the city: the TER Fluo Grand Est train takes about 30 minutes, with frequent departures through the day and fares of roughly EUR 4 to 6.50. By car, the A35 and D426 also take about 30 minutes, and parking is available at the edge of the old town. The centre is small enough to cover on foot in two to three hours. Visitors usually begin at the Place du Marche, where the Hotel de Ville, the Kapellturm tower and the six-bucket Renaissance well, the Puits aux Six-Seaux, stand close together. The Place du Beffroi and the narrow lanes around the Eglise Saints-Pierre-et-Paul show the half-timbered houses and flower-hung facades typical of Alsace, and sections of the medieval ramparts can be followed on a short circuit. The town is a gateway to the vineyards of the Route des Vins, and several wine cellars and winstubs serve Alsatian riesling, pinot gris and local dishes such as flammekueche and choucroute. A good one-day arc starts with a morning train, a walk around the market square and ramparts, a long lunch in a winstub, and an afternoon spent either browsing bakeries and shops or continuing to Mont Sainte-Odile, which lies about 10 km away and is best reached by car or taxi. Spring through autumn is the best season, when terraces are open and the vines are green or turning colour; the Christmas market in December gives the town a festive character but also brings more visitors. Arriving mid-morning on a weekday keeps the streets quiet, and a weekday evening train back to Strasbourg is straightforward. Cafes and patisseries around the market square offer easy rest stops, and public toilets are signposted near the centre. Obernai combines well with a stop at Mont Sainte-Odile or a cycle ride through nearby vineyards for a fuller day out.