Читать книгу The GR5 Trail - Vosges and Jura. Schirmeck to Lac Léman, and the GR53 онлайн

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Roman rule collapsed early in the fifth century and Alsace was invaded by the Alemanni from across the Rhine. The Alemannic language of these invaders was related to German, differing substantially from the language of the Franks, and although French is now spoken throughout Alsace, local dialects derived from this early Alemannic still thrive.

After the death of Charlemagne in 814 the land to the west became France and was separated from the German-speaking lands further east. In 870 it was agreed by treaty that Alsace should be joined to the German states to the east, and Alsace was to remain a part of this German confederation until 1648.

The region initially prospered, but by the 13th century central control was lacking and local landowners took advantage of the situation, vying with each other for power. Alsace became a mosaic of tiny ‘states’, and a consequence of this can be seen in the Northern Vosges today, where 30 castles, most of them now ruined, lie within the boundaries of the regional park: the GR53 passes a good selection of these strongholds.