Though not part of Alsace, Munich is not all that far from Strasbourg. Hop across the Rhine River and you are in Germany and on your way. With this in mind, a friend and I spent a weekend in Munich, with a sidetrip to the site of the Dachau Concentration Camp. Although mostly demolished and now rebuilt, it still has much to say.
Its museum, with graphic illustrations, history and displays, reconstructed barracks, disinfecting showers and crematoriums, bring the facts, the history, the faces, closer to home.
This is not the sort of visit which brings smiles to your face or joy to your heart. It provides reminders of the horrors of past atrocities, blatant racism, war in general, and the fact that we still have not learned from history. The silence and feel of the visit is chilling. As you leave, you can't help but hoping that nothing like this happens again.