The little 45 km long river runs from the Vosges and crosses the town of Guebwiller, before entering the Alsace Plain. It flows into the River Ill in the outskirts west of Colmar. At the crossing of the Krutenau district, the Lauch was used by the market gardeners, fishmongers and tanners who passed through there in small, flat-bottomed boats.
We walked along the canal, taking in the beauty of the flowers and decorated houses and buildings. Stork’s nests sat atop many chimneys and roofs. Every now and then we would see a nest perched on a gate or fence post.
Storks have been a part of Alsace for centuries and are thought to be symbols of happiness and good luck. A program started in 1983 brought storks back from being threatened to a successful repopulation.
