Learning from Alsace-Lorraine / Post 1 of 18

Introduction

by Wayne Senville

There's a lot I learned during my first trip to the Alsace-Lorraine region of France this past May, while traveling with my wife Lila and a congenial group of Road Scholars. I did not have the time to write while traveling, as there was so much to observe -- so I'll be going back in time to write a series of short, illustrated essays that take a little deeper look at places we visited. 

I'll be focusing, not surprisingly, on things that most intrigued me. I'll also be skipping some subjects that have been covered in depth by many others, like wine growing and French cuisine (both of which I very much enjoyed during our trip). While now retired, I've been a lawyer, a writer, a city planner, an editor, and the publisher of PlannersWeb.com. 

The short essays will reflect my own first impressions, supplemented by several weeks of post-trip, at-home research I've enjoyed doing. Much of what I'm writing barely scratches the surface of what can be found in this beautiful region of France. 

I want to note that what made the trip so enjoyable was being in the company of: our talented Alsatian guide (Amandine Prückner); the great crew of CroisiEurope's beautiful Madeleine canal boat; and most of all, a friendly and thoughtful group of sixteen Road Scholars hailing from nine different states.

Finally, thanks for the interest of the Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain Region (AFLCR), of which I've been a long-time member, in posting these eighteen short essays -- and for the time put in by Janet Biehl in formatting the text, photos, and illustrations for the AFLCR website. 

Crew of the Madeleine and Road Scholars. You can see Wayne third from the right, next to his wife Lila.
Credit: Amandine Prückner.

To read the next post, "Arriving in Europe," click here.
To see a list of all the posts in the Learning from Alsace-Lorraine series, click here. 

Copyright © 2026 Wayne Senville. All text and original photographs and graphics in the Learning from Alsace-Lorraine series are copyright Wayne Senville, except where otherwise credited. Published on the Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain Region website with permission of the author. Contact the author with any questions.