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The Grand Tour of Alsace: A 12-Day Itinerary

Last Updated:  15 July 2022

For many wishing to discover Alsace, organising an itinerary is not an obvious idea. Which sites to visit? Which towns and villages are worth a visit? Having travelled through Alsace from north to south and from the Vosges to the Rhine, the region has (almost) no secrets for me. So I can help you to organise a beautiful trip to Alsace. This ambitious tour of Alsace will take you along an entire route around the region in 12 days . The 765 km long tour along the roads of Alsace will reveal the historical, cultural and architectural treasures between the Rhine and the Vosges.

An unforgettable Tour of Alsace

Alsace Wine Route © French Moments

When Louis XIV passed through the Saverne Pass and discovered Alsace for the first time, he would have exclaimed: 

"Ah, what a beautiful garden this is!"

A tour of Alsace is truly inspiring for the variety of its landscapes between the Vosges and the Rhine.

The road winds through the vineyards and plays hide-and-seek in the forests, revealing itself at the bend in the fields and meadows, before entering prosperous towns with old roofs on which storks nest.

A white stork in its nest in Alsace © French Moments

Standing on the summits of the Vosges , the ruined castles still watch over the ancestral passageways.

Alsace is a region with a solid cultural identity, from the fantastic Gothic cathedral of Strasbourg to the charming half-timbered houses . It is this exceptional country that I invite you to discover by following this tourist circuit.

12 days starting from Strasbourg

Strasbourg © French Moments

I propose you discover the region through an exclusive itinerary starting from Strasbourg. This Grand Tour of Alsace (a 765 km/475 mi long tour) will allow you to explore many of the region's sights.

Of course, you are free to use this as inspiration to plan your itinerary. You can either :

• Lighten the Alsace tour by reducing the number of stages
• Spend more time on one particular stage

Here is the plan for the 12 Days (D) Tour of Alsace:

D1  - Strasbourg (night in Strasbourg) D 2 - Haguenau, Outre-Forêt and Wissembourg (night in Wissembourg) D3  - The Northern Vosges (night in Saverne) D4  - Saverne, Obernai and Mont-Sainte-Odile (night in Obernai) D5  - Barr, Andlau, Dambach-la-Ville and Sélestat (night in Sélestat) D6  - Haut-Kœnigsbourg, Saint-Hippolyte and Bergheim (night in Ribeauvillé) D7  - Ribeauvillé, Hunawihr and Riquewihr (night in Colmar) D8  - Colmar and Eguisheim (night in Eguisheim) D9  - Turckheim and Kaysersberg (night in Kaysersberg) D10  - The Route des Crêtes (night in Thann) D11  - Sundgau, Jura alsacien and Mulhouse (night in Mulhouse) D12 - The écomusée d'Alsace, Guebwiller, Rouffach and Neuf-Brisach (back to Strasbourg)

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Day 1 - Strasbourg

Tour of Alsace - District of the Petite France, Strasbourg © French Moments

This trip to Alsace starts naturally in Strasbourg , the capital of the historical and cultural region Alsace, of the Grand-Est region and one of the capitals of Europe. Strasbourg is a treasure trove of architecture, especially for its districts:

• the Grande Île , the historic centre of Strasbourg, dominated by the cathedral ,
• the German imperial quarter and
• the district of the European institutions .

Don't miss the picturesque Petite-France and Ponts Couverts districts. Strasbourg is also home to several museums, including three in the Palais-Rohan. As soon as night falls, the beautiful illuminations of Petite-France, notably the cathedral, will dazzle you! 

Day 2 - Haguenau, Outre-Forêt and Wissembourg

🚙  77 km / 48 mi

Rue des églises, Seebach © French Moments

Head for the north of Alsace, passing through Haguenau , an old town bordering the largest forest in Alsace. After crossing the Haguenau forest, you enter the Outre-Forêt region.

Here you will find two of the most beautiful villages in the area: Seebach and Hunspach. Wissembourg , on the border of the Palatinate in Germany, will charm you with its historic centre.

Day 3 - The Northern Vosges

🚙  111 km / 69 mi

La Petite-Pierre in the Northern Vosges © French Moments

Take the Pigeonnier pass to reach one of the most beautiful ruins in France: the Fleckenstein castle .

Vauban fortified La Petite-Pierre and its castle. Enjoy magnificent views over the countryside and the high wooded hills. Don't miss the troglodytic houses of Graufthal carved into the pink Vosges sandstone cliff.

On the way to Saverne, linger in Neuwiller-lès-Saverne to admire the beautiful St-Pierre-et-St-Paul church. Once in Saverne , discover its castle and its marina. Spend the night there.

Château des Rohan, Saverne © French Moments

Day 4 - Saverne, Obernai and Mont-Sainte-Odile

🚙 70 km / 44 mi

Obernai © French Moments

Leaving Saverne to the south, head towards Marlenheim , the northern gateway to the famous Alsace Wine Route . Note the beautiful Romanesque church of Marmoutier shortly after leaving Saverne.

You'll be spoilt for choice when visiting towns and villages with beautiful half-timbered houses: Wangen , Molsheim , Rosheim and Bœrsch are among my favourites.

Before heading to Obernai , where you will spend the night, climb Mont Sainte-Odile to admire one of Alsace's most beautiful panoramic views. From the convent of Sainte-Odile, you can see the city of Strasbourg and its cathedral and the Black Forest in the distance.

Mont Sainte-Odile © French Moments

Of course, don't miss a walk through the streets of Obernai , the most visited town in the Bas-Rhin département after Strasbourg. You will spend the night there.

Day 5 - Barr, Andlau, Dambach-la-Ville and Sélestat

🚙  32 km / 20 mi

Place du marché aux choux, Sélestat © French Moments

Today, you will drive along the Alsace Wine Route to Sélestat . You will pass through some very beautiful sites: Barr , Andlau , Mittelbergheim and Dambach-la-Ville . You will find the same atmosphere everywhere, that of cities flourishing thanks to the culture of the vine.

Then go to Sélestat , ideally situated between Strasbourg and Colmar. Discover the rich architectural and cultural heritage of the city (Humanist Library, Gothic church of St Georges and Romanesque church of St Foy). Stay overnight.

Day 6 - Haut-Kœnigsbourg, Saint-Hippolyte and Bergheim

🚙  31 km / 19 mi

Haut-Kœnigsbourg Castle © French Moments

In the morning, climb to the Haut-Kœnigsbourg to be among the first to enter the castle at its opening.

After your visit, head back down to the plain and continue your discovery of the Alsatian vineyards and their charming villages: Saint-Hippolyte and Bergheim . If you have time, walk around the ramparts of Bergheim. Join Ribeauvillé and spend the night there.

Day 7 - Ribeauvillé, Hunawihr and Riquewihr

🚙  22 km / 14 mi

The village of Riquewihr in Alsace © French Moments

Visit the historic centre of Ribeauvillé in the morning, then follow the Wine Route to explore the villages of Hunawihr and Zellenberg . Then head to Riquewihr , one of the most beautiful villages in France. Take time to stroll along the narrow streets that cross the Grand-Rue. Then head to Colmar to wander the streets of the old town at dusk.

Day 8 - Colmar and Eguisheim

🚙  7 km / 4 mi

The Little Venice of Alsace in Colmar © French Moments

There is much to see in Colmar , the capital of Alsace wines . From the Little Venice to the picturesque Rue des Marchands, and from the Ancienne Douane to the Collégiale St Martin . Don't miss the beautiful collections of the Unterlinden Museum , including the famous Issenheim Altarpiece.

In the middle of the afternoon, you will go to the nearby village of Eguisheim , where you will spend the night. Awarded the title of the favourite village of the French, Eguisheim will seduce you with its narrow streets lined with beautiful half-timbered houses.

Day 9 - Turckheim and Kaysersberg

🚙  27 km / 17 mi

Tour of Alsace - Kaysersberg © French Moments

First stop: the historic town of Turckheim on the edge of a prestigious vineyard. Continue by discovering the small village of Niedermorschwihr , whose church spire is twisted. Next stop: the Sigolsheim cemetery , a place of remembrance where hundreds of graves recall the fierce fighting in the Colmar pocket in 1944-45. A stone's throw from there, here is Kientzheim , one of the only villages still entirely fortified in Alsace. Go to Kaysersberg and enjoy the nighttime atmosphere of the former imperial town.

Day 10 - The Route des Crêtes from Kaysersberg to Thann

🚙  100 km / 62 mi

View of the Grand Ballon from the Route des Crêtes © French Moments

Stroll through the streets of Kaysersberg in the morning, then head into the Kaysersberg valley to join the Route des Crêtes des Vosges via Orbey at the Col du Calvaire  pass. This road, laid out during the First World War, marks the border between Lorraine and Alsace. Spectacular panoramas await you along the route. Don't forget to take a break to admire the landscape: at the Gazon du Faing, the Hohneck and the Grand-Ballon.

Head back down to the plain, stopping at the Vieil Armand , a place of remembrance of the Great War. Before nightfall, visit the town of Thann and take advantage of being there to discover the splendid collegiate church of Saint-Thiébaut in Thann.

Day 11 - Sundgau, Jura alsacien and Mulhouse

🚙  135 km / 84 mi

Tour of Alsace - Ferrette © French Moments

On the programme for this second to last day: Mulhouse and the Sundgau , the southernmost region of Alsace.

Start by heading to Altkirch , the capital of the Sundgau region. After a short visit, drive through the charming villages of Hirtzbach and Hirsingue towards Ferrette. Take a break in the count's town of Ferrette and climb to the castle ruins to enjoy a splendid view of the Sundgau hills, the Vosges and the Black Forest. Go to Lucelle , then to the Landskron castle before heading to Mulhouse . If you still have some time left in the late afternoon, you might be interested in one of the city's technical museums.

Day 12 - Ecomusée d'Alsace and Neuf-Brisach

🚙  152 km / 94 mi

Tour of Alsace - Ecomusée d'Alsace © French Moments

This last stage of the trip in Alsace will be the longest as the route will take you back to our starting point: Strasbourg. You can plan to cut the route in half and stay one extra night in Colmar .

You leave Mulhouse for Ensisheim , the former capital of Anterior Austria (until 1648). Worth seeing: the Palais de la Régence, in Renaissance style.

Nearby is the Ecomusée d'Alsace . Comprising a reconstructed village, the open-air museum showcases Alsace's rural and artisanal heritage at the end of the 19th century.

Follow the road to Guebwiller , famous for its beautiful churches: Saint-Léger (late Romanesque), Notre-Dame (Baroque and neo-Classical) and the Dominican convent (Gothic).

Further north, Rouffach is a historical town renowned for its beautiful Renaissance stone houses and the Gothic church of Notre-Dame de l'Assomption.

On the way to Strasbourg, linger in Neuf-Brisach, Vauban's former stronghold facing Germany. Drive along the Rhine to Plobsheim . In the south of the village is an old, partly half-timbered chapel: Notre-Dame-du-Chêne (15th century).

Tour of Alsace - The Belfort Gate in Neuf-Brisach © French Moments

Pass Alsace: a good way to discover the region

If you plan to visit several cultural sites and attractions in the region, it may be worthwhile to buy a Pass Alsace .

You'll enjoy free admission to 58 sights, including nature parks, castles, museums and lots of other fun activities at reduced prices throughout Alsace.

Examples of places to see: castle of Fleckenstein, the rock houses in Graufthal, a choice of two museums in Strasbourg, the Haut-Kœnigsbourg castle, the humanist library of Sélestat, the écomusée d’Alsace, the zoological and botanical park of Mulhouse…

Please note: the Alsace Pass is valid for 3 days.

Other sites to discover on a Tour of Alsace

It is almost impossible to discover a whole region by limiting your Grand Tour of Alsace to 12 days. If you wish to continue your exploration, I recommend the following sites, which can be visited with a few small detours on the initial route:

• The parc du Petit-Prince
• The Alsace Wine Route from Eguisheim  to  Thann (Soultz-Haut-Rhin, Gueberschwihr , Husseren-les-Châteaux, Hohlandsbourg Castle...)
• The natural region of Alsace Bossue
• The Donon massif
• The valley of Munster
• The Doller valley and Ballon d'Alsace
• Belfort, the lion and citadel
• Trips to Switzerland and Germany: the Baden wine route from Basel to Karlsruhe, the Palatinate wine route and the imperial city of Speyer

Did this article help you plan your tour of Alsace? Share it on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest: it will encourage me to publish future articles! 🙂

About the author

Pierre is a French/Australian who is passionate about France and its culture. He grew up in France and Germany and has also lived in Australia and England. He has a background teaching French, Economics and Current Affairs, and holds a Master of Translating and Interpreting English-French with the degree of Master of International Relations, and a degree of Economics and Management. Pierre is the author of Discovery Courses and books about France.

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Bonjour Pierre, Great article. We visited Strasbourg a few years ago and this brought back so many great memories. We’re planning a trip to Bordeaux, Dordogne area and Lourdes in April, so I wondered if you had a similar article. Kind regards Rob

Thank you Rob. I have published some articles about the Dordogne and Bordeaux (but they need a little revamp!), here’s a short list: – Bordeaux – Périgord – Dordogne Valley in Périgord Noir Hope this will help! 🙂 Have a nice week

Fabulous, thanks Pierre

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24 PLACES TO SEE IN FRANCE

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Riquewihr lovely town M.Schampion - CDT Alsace

Self-drive Alsace Tours

Self-guided tours in alsace.

On the border with Germany lies the Alsace region, along the Rhine river and stretching from Strasbourg to Colmar. 

Our Alsace tours has everything a wanderer will like: so many colorful half-timbered towns built along a scenic vineyards route . Always in the background, the Vosges mountains add to the picturesque scenery and you can reach the foothills in less than 30 minutes to have unlimited walking and hiking options. 

Munster and its cheese will give foreign travelers a real introduction to uncompromisingly tasty French cheeses , while the local pizza called Flammekueche as well as the famous Choucroute will get everyone to agree - food in Alsace is delicious! 

A fantastic well-planned self-drive tour We had the most amazing time on our 6 week self-drive tour designed by Laura, travelling through Brittany, Loire, Dordogne, Medoc, Basque …

A fantastic well-planned self-drive tour We had the most amazing time on our 6 week self-drive tour designed by Laura, travelling through Brittany, Loire, Dordogne, Medoc, Basque France, Languedoc, Provence, the Alps, Alsace and Champagne. This was a big trip for us and it was everything I’d hoped and dreamed and even more besides. All our accommodation was delightful - all different and all with unique character and a personal touch. All our hosts and guides were fantastic and we so enjoyed our time with them. Everything was so meticulously planned, so well-organised, and presented clearly with a wealth of information and practical tips for suggested activities each day to make to most of our stay in each region. Restaurant recommendations were particularly helpful. The FJFY app is outstanding! We very much hope to travel with FJFY again. Thank you for all your hard work and attention to detail in making such a wonderful trip for us.

Our Self-Guided Tours in Alsace

Discover our self-drive itineraries which will take you through Alsace lovely towns and typical vineyards.

Katzenthal vineyards Tristan Vuano - ADT Alsace

Focus on the Northeastern France

On this itinerary, you'll go North-East ! Burgundy, Alsace and Champagne are all located East of Paris and near the Swiss and German borders. Quite unknown, these regions have a lot to discover !

Hunawihr town in fall Tristan Vuano - ADT Alsace

The Best of Eastern France

This itinerary takes you to Eastern France from North to South. After spending a few days in Paris, you will enjoy the Alsace region on the German border and then drive your way south all the way to Provence. The best itinerary to discover l'Est de la France !

Obernai in Alsace Lez Broz - Visit Alsace

Northern France from Paris to Alsace

In 13 days, this tour will take you from Paris to the Somme region, and on to Lille at the Belgium border. You will then drive your way south-east to the Verdun area and the surrounding WWI sites. You will end your journey in Alsace, on the border with Germany. A great way to discover Northern France !

Royal Fortress in Chinon Jean-Christophe Coutand - ADT Touraine

The Very Best of Northern France

From East to West, discover the Northern half of France at your own pace. Visit Alsace, Burgundy, the Loire Valley, and Normandy, ending your wonderful adventure in Paris.

How to Get to Alsace

• If you are driving, Burgundy is a 2hr45 drive south from Alsace, the  Verdun region is a bit less than 3hrs west. We do not recommend driving directly from Paris or CDG Airport to Alsace, as it is about a 5hr drive on the highway.
• If you plan on reaching Alsace via train and then rent a car, you need to plan for Strasbourg, which is the main city of Alsace. From Paris Gare de l’Est station, you can catch a direct TGV high speed train and in 1hr45, you will arrive in Strasbourg.
• The train is the best way to get to Alsace if you don’t plan to stop over in Reims for Champagne or in Verdun for the World War I sites on the way.

Where to Stay in Alsace

• Most of the sightseeing in Alsace lies between Strasbourg in the North and Colmar in the South. The 2 cities are 45 miles (73 kilometers) apart and the drive is about 1hr drive.
• Parallel to this North-South road you will find the famous Alsace Wine Route with all the gorgeous typical little towns on the foothills of the Vosges mountains. It is easy to enjoy  wine tours from Colmar, if you're interested in wine-tasting. 

Katzenthal vineyards -  ©Tristan Vuano - CDT Alsace

• For our self-drive tours in Alsace we have selected premium Bed & Breakfasts on the Colmar–Strasbourg axis, perfectly located to enjoy the Alsace region driving. 

Alsace Christmas Markets

Alsace Christmas markets make this French region very special. Nowhere else in the world will you enjoy such a charming, very special Christmas ambiance than strolling Colmar, Eguisheim or Riquewhir in  Christmas market season.

You will enjoy tasting fresh pretzels with hot mulled wine while walking around, or you may sit in a traditional winstub to taste sauerkraut or braised ham. For beer or wine lovers, Alsace has a lot to keep you busy !

Alsace Christmas Markets - © Lois Moreno - CDT Alsace

Maybe what we enjoy the most about Alsace Christmas markets are the nice decorations all over the places : on the streets, in the windows of all the homes . . . everywhere you look! And if you get lucky with a bit of snow, it is magical! 

Now, visiting Alsace Christmas markets requires some logistics and you need to be an early bird for reserving. While the Christmas market season starts in late November and ends on the first days of January, most accommodations are fully booked a year ahead. Thus, based on this, please plan ahead and do not hesitate to contact us to plan your Alsace tours asap.

Self-drive wine-tastings Alsace: The Alsace Wine Route by Car

The vineyards of the Alsace wine region are postcard landscapes with the half-timbered towns and the Vosges mountains in the background. It makes a really pleasant drive with gorgeous photo stops. Several of the Alsatian towns are “most beautiful villages of France” and we also recommend exploring less famous, less touristy towns that we have selected for our travelers.

Most Alsace wines are white wines, in the German tradition. Alsace's vineyards are famous for the Sylvaner, Riesling and Gewurztraminer varieties . These are wines that are not produced anywhere else in France. Along the Alsace Wine Route, there are lots of wineries you can just walk into and taste the wines.

Wine Tasting in Alsace -  ©Lez Broz - Visit Alsace

Alsace has long been known for Gewurztraminer wines, especially those known as “vendanges tardives”, meaning late harvested grapes which produce strongly savored wines that are excellent as an aperitif. Tastes tend to change and people now drink wines with less sugar and Alsace also makes some nice dry Pinot Noir or Pinot Gris wines . So every traveler should find a wine they like !

Alsace's Very Special History

Being located along the German border, the Alsace region has had a very eventful history. It was torn between Germany and France many many times in history. So while Alsace is a French region, you can get a real taste of Germany in Alsace through   the architecture, the gastronomy, and the traditions.

It makes the region very special and unique. To the west  of Rhine river, from Strasbourg to Colmar there are  so many wonderful historical, gastronomic, and cultural  self drive experiences in Alsace for you to discover!

One great witness of this history is undoubtedly Haut-Koenigsbourg castle, which stands on the top of the hills between Colmar and Strasbourg. There are lots of other medieval castle ruins in this area but Haut Koenigsbourg was rebuilt in the early 20th century by William the 2nd of Germany, so it is “complete”.

Haut Koenigsbourg Castle -  ©JL.Stadler - CDT Alsace

Made in Alsace

• Storks are the symbol of Alsace. While they almost disappeared in the 70's, the repopulation efforts are working and you will see stork nests everywhere. Legend says that if a stork flies above a house, then a baby will come soon. If you want to see the storks, come during the summer season, in winter, they are in Africa.

White Stork Nest in Alsace -  ©Marc Solari - CDT Alsace

• Pottery is traditional in the Alsace region, with colorful and generous shapes. While Soufflenheim is famous for its clay and potteries, you can find shops selling these all over Alsace. In Kayserberg, a local workshop makes gorgeous pottery decorations for the Christmas tree . . . just saying!
• Alsatian traditional costumes are also part of the culture. They are no longer worn in the streets since the end of WWII but in all the festivals, you will see people with the Alsatian costumes. 

Wine Festival in Eguisheim with traditional costumes -  ©V.Muller - Visit Alsace

• Alsatian gastronomy is very rich: you can tell this is a cold region in winter: pork meats, potatoes, cabbage make delicious baeckeoffe, sauerkraut, spaetzles. Apple strudels or cherry bettelmann should definitly be on your list to taste, while the Kougelhopf brioche is a must for breakfast or teatime.

Alsatian Baeckoffe - © Klaudia IGA - Visit Alsace

FAQ about Alsace

Alsace is most famous internationally and in France for its Christmas markets in December! The whole region turns into a fairytale landscape, with Christmas decorations, lights, markets and the aroma of mulled wine wafting through the Alsatian villages and towns.

Alsace also has a fascinating history. It was fought over between France and Germany for centuries, and having belonged to one or the other at different points in history. Now, Alsace is part of France, but if you visit, you will notice the many German influences on the culture, architecture, food and traditions (including the Christmas markets).

The region is also famous for the Alsace Wine Route, with some delicious white wines for you to try. 

At the very minimum, we recommend spending 3 days of a self-drive tour in Alsace. This will give you the chance to visit one of the region's main towns - Colmar or Strasbourg; enjoy a day driving along the Alsace wine road, including some stops in beautiful Alsatian villages with colorful half-timbered houses; and visit the gorgeous medieval Haut-Koenigsbourg castle.

Absolutely! It's worth spending at least a day in the beautiful town of Colmar, so you can enjoy a stroll or a boat tour along its canal and enjoy a delicious meal in a typical Winstub with a nice beer or glass of wine. It's true that many Alsace tours include visits to Colmar - but we'll always explain how you can avoid the biggest tourist crowds!

Alsatian gastronomy is known for being rich, and very warming during the winter months. Munster cheese is a tasty and strong-smelling French cheese. Another very cheesy dish is the local pizza called Flammekueche. The famous Choucroute is sauerkraut with sausages and other cured meats and charcuterie, and often potatoes. Baeckeoffe is a typical savoury casserole dish. You'll also find plenty of pretzels, apple strudels and 'Bettelmanns' (an Alsatian cherry casserole) to try. We recommend trying a Kougelhopf brioche for breakfast or tea-time; it is made from the yeast-based dough with added raisins, almonds and sometimes hazelnuts. Yummy!

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Our travelers’ reviews.

This was our first trip to Europe with just the two of us doing all the planning. I was looking for someone to help with the details of lodging and transportation and found Emilie through this site. She planned an incredible trip for us to Normandy/Brittany, Loire Valley and Paris. She is easy to work with, responsive and organized. I told her what …

This was our first trip to Europe with just the two of us doing all the planning. I was looking for someone to help with the details of lodging and transportation and found Emilie through this site. She planned an incredible trip for us to Normandy/Brittany, Loire Valley and Paris. She is easy to work with, responsive and organized. I told her what we wanted to do and where we wanted to go and she pretty much planned the entire trip. If you aren't sure what you want to do she will make suggestions. A couple of months before the trip she sent a very complete guidebook, maps, tickets, etc. all organized by date. The planned activities kept us busy, but there was flexibility in the schedule if desired. This was our first time traveling on our own with a rental car and we felt very comfortable given Emilie's tips and directions. The lodging in B&Bs was enjoyable with wonderful hosts and guest dinners. Compared to our previous trips to Europe we found Emilie's service to be of comparable value with a more unique travel experience. We would definitely use her service again. Thanks Emilie!

I can echo everything that has been said in the previous three reviews. The personalization of this entire trip was incredible and Emilie communicated quickly and completely, both in the planning of the trip and after we were in France. My husband and I were spending four weeks in France in celebration of our 50th anniversary. We were a little …

I can echo everything that has been said in the previous three reviews. The personalization of this entire trip was incredible and Emilie communicated quickly and completely, both in the planning of the trip and after we were in France. My husband and I were spending four weeks in France in celebration of our 50th anniversary. We were a little reluctant to take a trip this long and do this much driving but Emilie's planning and suggestions were so great that we never had any problems. And she arranged the best bed and breakfasts possible. All of the hosts were wonderful and we had some very good dinners around a table with many people from other countries, which was one of the reasons why we wanted to stay at bed and breakfasts. Our tour guides were amazing and at two different places Emilie had left personal notes and gifts. That is just the type of person she is. We asked Emilie if we could meet her and we were fortunate enough to be able to do that in her hometown of Langeais. She is just was delightful as you would expect her to be and she spent over an hour with us. It was one of the highlights of our trips. Every day we had to pinch ourselves that we were doing all of these fabulous things from Paris, to Normandy, to Brittany, to the Loire Valley, to Burgundy, to Provence and to the French Riviera. As you can see, we covered a lot of territory because of Emilie's willingness to customize our trip so that we could see a lot of France. We agree with the suggestion to go with your own GPS. It certainly helps to know how to use it before you arrive. We also suggest that you book your trip well in advance so that Emilie has time to arrange the best bed and breakfasts and the best tour guides. We certainly felt like we had that and we booked our trip seven months ahead. And read your tour book(s) before you go. You will still refer to them each and every day but there is so much general information in the books that we found very helpful. We have NEVER had a better trip and it's because of Emilie. Thank you, Emilie, for truly giving us the trip of a lifetime. We have memories that will last forever because of you.

We had the most amazing trip to France which was so carefully curated by Laura at France Just For You. All of our interests were catered for with a fun and interesting itinerary! Laura took the time to find out where we wanted to travel in France and what we wanted to do there and made sure there were plenty of options. Everything was taken care …

We had the most amazing trip to France which was so carefully curated by Laura at France Just For You. All of our interests were catered for with a fun and interesting itinerary! Laura took the time to find out where we wanted to travel in France and what we wanted to do there and made sure there were plenty of options. Everything was taken care from car hire to accommodation and everything in between. The only thing left for us to do, was to experience France! Even with a few small hiccups along the way, Laura was there to provide solutions. I would not hesitate to recommend France Just for You for anyone who wants to experience a wonderful stress free holiday in France!

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The essence of Alsace, in 4 days

Urban escapades and excursions deep into the beauty of nature are part of the plan in this 4-day tour of Alsace. So much to see and do: Strasbourg, Colmar and Mulhouse, the ideal city break destinations, combined with outings in the wine country and Alsatian hillsides.

• Length 4 days
• Means of transport By car
• Distance 130 km

Day 1: Strasbourg, capital of Alsace

Strolling through grande île.

The historic centre of town, Grande Île alone makes the trip worthwhile. You’ll fall in love with the architectural gems in this quarter, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Take a leisurely stroll along the banks of the River Ill and through the narrow cobblestone streets of Petite France, Strasbourg’s most charming quarter. Visit Strasbourg Cathedral and climb its 332 steps to appreciate an exceptional panorama. Browse through the shops on Rue des Orfèvres. Have a drink on Rue des Tonneliers.

A cultural stop at the museum

If you’re curious by nature, Strasbourg and its museums await you! Folk art, modern and contemporary art, history and science: pick your exhibition in one of the 10 museums in the city!

Cruise on a tour boat

Last of all, before leaving Strasbourg , take a river cruise. Head for the Palais Rohan pier and take a cruise to the European Parliament district. From the waterways, the city takes on a different dimension; discover it from a new angle. You’ll admire the view while learning lots of anecdotes about the city. There’s nothing like a pleasant boat ride to add variety to the pleasure of sightseeing!

Day 2: Legendary : Alsace Wine Route and castle of Haut-Koenigsbourg

Storming the castle of haut-koenigsbourg.

You’ll travel through time when you make a stop at the famous Castle of Haut-Koenigsbourg . Admirably restored, this majestic stone sentinel will give you an experience of living the Château life! Drawbridges, walls, towers and keeps: everything you’d imagine about medieval architecture takes form before your eyes. Perched on a rocky outcrop, it dominates the landscape, offering you an unparalleled panoramic view. Fascinated by medieval mystery? Guided tours, workshops and other events will quench your thirst for adventure.

Enjoy the good life on the Alsace Wine Route

Explore the legendary Alsace Wine Route ! An enchanting landscape unfolds as you make your way through vineyards and picturesque villages and past distinctive half-timbered houses. A stop in Riquewihr, Kaysersberg or Eguisheim is a must, so you can admire the beauty of these wine-producing towns. For gourmets and epicureans, it's also a great way for many encounters with winegrowers, who share their love of the vineyards and land.

Day 3: A peaceful stroll in Colmar

A romantic boat ride on the canals.

Situated right at the heart of the Alsace Wine Route , Colmar has it all. You’ll be charmed by its picturesque half-timbered houses, romantic canals, flower-laden windowsills and a labyrinth of cobblestone lanes! Fall in love with Bartholdi’s city, as you enjoy a pleasant boat ride on the Lauch River. What’s in store? A peaceful boat ride and a unique view of the half-timbered façades in the picturesque Little Venice quarter. The Dolce Vita, in Alsace!

Majestic Unterlinden Museum

In the afternoon, you’ll be astounded by the masterpieces at the Unterlinden Museum . Housed in a former convent, the museum holds amongst its collections the famous Isenheim Altarpiece, which marked the art history of the 16th century. On the other side, go into the former Municipal Baths, which now feature the museum’s contemporary wing with works by major artists such as Monet, Picasso and Dubuffet.  The highlight? The Guernica tapestry by René and Jacqueline Dürrbach, a perfect replica of Picasso's painting. There are only three in the world, in New York, Japan and Colmar!

Day 4: Tradition and creativity before the departure

An authentic and poetic adventure at the ecomusée d'alsace and the little prince park.

On the road that will take you to Mulhouse, discover the Ecomusée d'Alsace Museum , where enthusiasts bring back to life the folk traditions of an early 20th century Alsatian village. Travel through time and discover the practices and know-how of the olden days, through workshops, encounters and shows!

At the Little Prince Park , the poetic world of this legendary tale is recreated in various attractions combining thrills, discovery, poetry and sharing. Together, these two sites form the biggest open-air museum in France and the first aerial park in the world.

An open-air art gallery in Mulhouse

To bring a happy ending to these four days full of discovery, go to Mulhouse , a creative hotspot and a city with a remarkable industrial heritage. You absolutely must visit one of its many technical museums! Are you a race car driver at heart? Head for the Cité de l’Automobile (Motor Museum)! You’ll be awestruck by its collection of over 400 prestigious vehicles, including Bugattis, Ferraris and Rolls Royces. If you’re an avid traveller, it’s all aboard at the Cité du Train, the largest railway museum in Europe! The powerful locomotives and legendary railway carriages will take you on a journey through the history of the railways!

Next, set off to discover the culture of street art. It’s a real open-air art gallery, with the city’s walls reflecting the creativity and imagination of the artists and the history of the city.

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Alsace & Lorraine Tours and Trips 2024/2025

We offer 5 tours in Alsace & Lorraine having in total 6 customer reviews. Tour durations range from 4 to 8 days and the top tour categories in Alsace & Lorraine are adventure, walking tours & trekking and hiking. Out of the 5 trips in Alsace & Lorraine, 5 of them are private tours. Our Alsace & Lorraine tours are offered by 3 qualified and hand-picked tour operators and each Alsace & Lorraine trip comes with a best price guarantee and no added booking fees.

• France Travel Guide

5 Trips in Alsace & Lorraine with 6 Reviews

• Starts Alsace & Lorraine, France
• Ends Alsace & Lorraine, France

Alsace Vineyard Trails

• Best price guaranteed
• No booking fees
• Tour Type Private Tour
• Activities Walking tours & Trekking and Hiking Walking tours , Trekking and Hiking & Adventure 'data-more-tripid='16517'>+1 more
• Accommodation Hotel
• Age Range 18-99 yrs
• Operated in English
• May 02 10+ seats left
• May 03 10+ seats left
• View More Jan 1, 2019 Jan 2, 2019 Jan 3, 2019

• Starts Barbentane, France
• Ends Barbentane, France

Provence Backroads

• Activities Bicycle tours & Family
• Transport Train, Bus & Taxi

• Starts Strasbourg, France
• Ends Strasbourg, France

Grand Gastronomic Cruise on the Rhine (port-to-port cruise)

• Tour Type Cruise Tour
• Activities Cruise & Explorer
• Accommodation Ship Cabin
• Transport Cruise Ship
• Age Range 18-79 yrs
• Nov 09 10+ seats left

Alsace Mountains & Vineyards

• Activities Walking tours & Trekking and Hiking Walking tours , Trekking and Hiking & Adventure 'data-more-tripid='20221'>+1 more
• Transport Taxi

• Starts Colmar, Fr
• Ends Colmar, Fr

Enchanting Christmas Markets along Alsatian Canals (port-to-port cruise)

• Activities Cruise
• Age Range 18-95 yrs
• Nov 28 Only 10 seats left
• Dec 14 10+ seats left

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Alsace & Lorraine Tour Reviews

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Alsace-Lorraine Barge Cruises and Tours

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Discover Alsace with our guided tours of the Wine Route

An unforgettable experience in the heart of Alsace

Tour.alsace invites you to discover one of France’s most beautiful regions. Each of our tours has been designed to help you make the most of this exceptional day.

From typical, must-see villages, through the Alsatian vineyards, to walks through historic town centres, you’ll be amazed by every surprise. In our comfortable bu s, you’ll enjoy a panoramic view of the countryside, with commentary in your own language.

And if the weather is fine, you’ll even have the pleasure of travelling in the open!

• From €110 per person (€60 child rate)
• Discover our tours departing from Strasbourg & Colmar
• A comfortable, panoramic open-top bus
• Your tour with commentary in your language

Choose the starting point for your tour

From Colmar in the Haut-Rhin (68) or Strasbourg in the Bas-Rhin (67), tour.alsace offers you tours to see and visit the most emblematic places in Alsace . The hardest part is choosing!

Alsace Villages and Christmas Markets Tour

Strasbourg may be the Christmas Capital but almost all the towns and villages in Alsace host their own Christmas Market and some are certainly worth the trip… So soak up the winter wonderland!

Best of Alsace Tour

Do you want to see Alsace’s top attractions? Tour.alsace is your ticket to visit Alsace’s most iconic sites in a single day starting in Strasbourg.

Coeur d’Alsace tour

Departing from the bus drop-off point at Parc de l’Étoile in Strasbourg, this tour will take you to discover some extraordinary heritage, with the added bonus of a visit to Mont Sainte-Odile and lunch in the sublime city of Obernai.

Medieval Alsace Tour

Explore the stunning region of Alsace on our one-day excursion. Immerse yourself in the charm and history of this area. Discover enchanting villages, savor the fine wines of the region, and explore a majestic medieval castle. An unforgettable experience in Alsace.

Perles du Vignoble tour

Haut-Rhin is full of little medieval villages where every stone tells a story. This one-day tour will allow you to unlock the secrets of these villages, among the most beautiful in France, and enjoy a wine tasting at a local winemaker.

Check availability of our tours

Book the bus for your events.

Our chauffeur-driven Cabriolet Bus just for you? It's possible! Think about it for all your events (weddings, birthdays, family celebrations...)

They talk about their experience tour.alsace

• In japanese
• In portuguese

Foram paradas deliciosas para experimentar o melhor da comida e vinhos da Alsácia. Excelente passeio pelas Aldeias da Alsácia com muito conforto e total atenção do Guia Martin! A veículo microônibus é excelente com sistema de áudio Guide em 12 línguas.  

Merci Henri pour le tour d'Alsace qu'on a pu effectuer hier grâce à vous. C'est un très beau tour et si bien organisé. Nous le recommandons à ceux qui ne connaissent pas l'Alsace, au depart du Strasbourg. Nous avons admiré votre gentillesse et votre professionalisme.

We loved our Best of Alsace tour with Tour Alsace. The bus was very comfortable and immaculately clean, the driver, Martin, welcoming and very helpful. The itinerary hit all the high notes. It was a very pleasant, informative, fun and an enjoyable trip, for us adults and a 10 year old. I was very impressed with the company's responsiveness. 100% recommend and would definitely book again.

Consiglio questo tour che è davvero fantastico. La nostra guida Martin è stata puntualissima in tutte le tappe e ci ha fornito tutte le informazioni di cui avevamo bisogno. Le audioguide ci hanno permesso di approfondire la storia delle diverse cittadine che abbiamo visitato. La durata di ogni sosta è stata sufficiente per la visita.

フランス国鉄のストで、移動が出来なくなったため申し込みました。結論としてはこちらのツアーに参加して正解でした。コルマールでは3時間、他でも十分な時間がとれ、効率的にアルザスの街を回ることが出来ました

O passeio é excepcional e o profissional responsável pelo passeio foi super gentil. Um verdadeiro cavalheiro, cuidando para que todos realmente desfrutassem do passeio. Super recomendo!

Worth every penny of the ticket price and every minute of the ten hour

Ça vaut vraiment la peine de prendre une journée pour le faire! Vous obtenez un aperçu complet de toute la région Alsace, passez un bon moment dans chaque ville et obtenez un historique des villes que vous traversez. Le chauffeur était sympathique et vraiment adorable! Ne vous inquiétez pas pour toute autre tournée. Cela vous donnera tout ce dont vous avez besoin pour en savoir plus sur la région et voir chaque ville.

Une excellente façon de découvrir le charme très pittoresque des villages et des vignobles alsaciens. Nous avons apprécié le rythme des visites qui se font tranquillement. Notre crainte était de devoir les enchaîner "au pas de course" mais ce n'a pas été le cas. Chauffeur agréable, sympathique et attentionné. Nous conseillerons cette formule à tous nos amis.

Très bien chauffeur très professionnel toujours à l'écoute et il fait tout son possible pour satisfaire sa clientèle

Excellent! Notre chauffeur, Martin, est très gentil . Je recommande fortement ce tour . Les villages sont très beaux. Le mini bus avec son toit ouvrant est parfait. Nous traversons plusieurs villages et effectuons 3 arrêts de 1 à 2 heures.

Excursión maravillosa y un anfitrión, Martin, de diez, lo recomiendo

Muy buena la excursión. El chofer encantador y muy profesional.

Der Aufenthalt auf der Burg hätte etwas kürzer sein können, sonst war alles super!

Alsacia llena de historia, pueblos preciosos que vale , la pena visitar y verse envuelto en sus encantos y tradiciones

Honestly it is a well organized trip, with an amazing guide “Martin”, he is nice, attentive and giving clear instructions. The time given for each stop is sufficient. It is enjoyable tour in a comfortable couch and recommended way to visit the magical small villages of the Alsace.

Conducteur aux petits soins pour ses passagers avec une conduite toute en douceur. Véhicule décapotable très apprécié notamment pour les photos Site château remarquable avec le temps nécessaire laissé pour la visite guidée. Visite recommandée !

Week end illuminé sur les marchés de noël alsacien : sous avons pris 3 jours en semaine pour visiter ces 3 marchés de noël et nous avons fait un très bon séjour entre dégustation, coutumes locales et bonne ambiance générale. Le soir les illuminations sont très jolies et avec beaucoup de charme. Nous nous sommes régalés dans tout les sens du terme. ?

Superbe !!!! Ce sont de petites villes sublimes, un coup de cœur pour moi pour Riquewihr, on se croirait dans un décor de cinéma !!!!

I very much enjoyed this well organised tour. Communications before were superb, and the van was comfortable, with a nice itinerary planned. I would have liked another 30 min in Eguisheim, but that’s life. The driver kindly dropped me off at the train station, where other participants also needed to be. Great tour!

The small van we travelled in was great; the roof slides back to allow passengers to take pictures unobstructed by window glare. Our bus driver was also our guide, in the sense that he dropped us at entrances to markets and told us where to return. The “tour” is a recording via headset. We drove through two beautiful medieval villages in the Alsace wine country - no stops were necessary - and we heard the history of the towns.

El tour es soñado,excelente, el vehículo con techo de cristal , alucinante y los dos caballeros muy amables y expeditivos, muy recomendable, volvería a hacerlo .

Vale la pena la excursión, los pueblos son preciosos pero estan llenissimos de coches. El chofer del bus te deja en la entrada y tienes 1/2/3 horas para ver los pueblos!

La verdad es que mereció mucho la pena. Además de los 3 pueblos en los que hace parada, vimos varios más desde el autobús. Nuestro conductor Martín, fue encantador. Sin duda muy recomendable.

Todo bien excepto los folletos que nos facilitaron con la información de los sitios a visitar que no estaban en español, solo en francés e inglés , cuando el tour lo anunciaban en español

Le Bus Cabriolet, c’est vraiment un moyen génial pour visiter l’Alsace en bénéficiant d’une vue panoramique sur le paysage. Pas besoin de GPS, ni de chercher un parking : on prend le temps de découvrir la région et grâce aux commentaires, on apprend une foule de choses. Sans oublier les plaisirs de la gastronomie alsacienne… À refaire très vite, en famille ou entre amis !

Bus très agréable et très propre : les sièges sont hyper confortables, on se sent bien à bord. Les visites sont commentées en plusieurs langues, ce qui est un plus incontestable. Nous avons aimé la facilité de réservation en ligne, la qualité du parcours proposé, la variété des activités.

#sightseeingtouralsace on instagram

New cabriolet bus. #sightseeing #alsacesightseeingtour #visitalsace #mercedes #sprinter #visitfrance #visiteurope #ribeauvillé #riquewihr #strasbourg #colmar

Christmas market in Riquewhir. #riquewihr #alsace #christmasmarket #france #europe #december #tourism #sightseeing

Fall colours! Photo by Susan Goodwin. #fall #kaysersberg #sightseeingtour #sightseeingtouralsace #voyage #tourism #experience #alsace #vineyard #rhinevalley #beautifuldestinations #discoverunder5k

The Holy Cross church of Kaysersberg. Photo by Susan Goodwin. #kaysersberg #fall #disvover #visitfrance #visitalsace #sightseeing #church #medieval #tourism #alsace

Pick up and drop off at one of Europa Park’s hotel. #sightseeing #hotel #luxurytravel #europapark #alsace #luxurytransfer

The Haut-Koenigsbourg castel completely restored in the late 19th century. #castle #alsace #sightseeing #discoverearth #middleages #medieval #visiteurope

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7 Day Alsace & Lorraine Tours & Trips

Find all the best 7 day adventures heading to Alsace & Lorraine, stopping at places like Strasbourg and Colmar. There are 47 trips that go to Alsace & Lorraine, with the most popular time to go being October, which has the most number of tours.

47 Alsace & Lorraine 7 day tour packages with 32 reviews

Alsace on E-bikes guided cycling tour

• Self Guided Walking Holidays
• Self-Guided Cycling

Alsace Mountains & Vineyards

• River Cruise

From the Heart of Alsace to Summits in the Swiss Alps (port-to-port cruise)

• Coach / Bus
• Sightseeing

France and Switzerland with enchanted Alsace

Cruise on the Marne-Rhine Canal from Strasbourg to Lagarde (port-to-port cruise)

Catalonia, south of France, Burgundy and Alsace

• Walking Adventure

Cote d Azur, Burgundy and Alsace

Cote d Azur, Burgundy, Alsace and Black Forest

The Marne-Rhine Canal - From Lagarde to Strasbourg (port-to-port cruise)

Burgundy, Alsace and Black Forest End Paris

Alsace: land of tradition and gastronomy (port-to-port cruise) - GERARD SCHMITTER

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Alsace: land of tradition and gastronomy (port-to-port cruise) - DOUCE FRANCE

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Must-see attractions in Alsace & Lorraine

Cathédrale Notre-Dame

Nothing prepares you for your first glimpse of Strasbourg's Cathédrale Notre-Dame, completed in all its Gothic grandeur in 1439. The lace-fine facade…

Cathédrale St-Étienne

The lacy golden spires of this Gothic cathedral crown Metz’ skyline. Exquisitely lit by kaleidoscopic curtains of 13th- to 20th-century stained glass, the…

Musée des Beaux-Arts

Lodged in a regal 18th-century edifice, Nancy's standout gallery occupies art lovers for hours. A wrought-iron staircase curls gracefully up to the 2nd…

Place Stanislas

Nancy’s crowning glory is this grand neoclassical square and Unesco World Heritage Site. Designed by Emmanuel Héré in the 1750s, it was named after the…

Centre Pompidou-Metz

Designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, with a curved roof resembling a space-age Chinese hat, the architecturally innovative Centre Pompidou-Metz is…

Palais Rohan

Hailed as a ‘Versailles in miniature’, this opulent 18th-century residence is loaded with treasures. The basement Musée Archéologique takes you from the…

History seeps through the twisting lanes and cafe-rimmed plazas of Grande Île, Strasbourg's Unesco World Heritage–listed island bordered by the River Ill…

Musée d’Unterlinden

Gathered around a Gothic-style Dominican cloister, this revamped museum hides a prized medieval stone statue collection, late-15th-century prints by…

Cave de Ribeauvillé

France’s oldest winegrowers’ cooperative, which brings together 40 vintners, was founded in 1895. The huge, contemporary building contains a viniculture…

Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery

The largest US military cemetery in Europe is this WWI ground, where 14,246 soldiers lie buried – a sobering sea of white crosses reaching as far as the…

Petite France

Criss-crossed by narrow lanes, canals and locks, Petite France is where artisans plied their trades in the Middle Ages. The half-timbered houses,…

Citadelle Souterraine

Comprising 7km of underground galleries, this cavernous subterranean citadel was designed by military engineer Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban in the 17th…

Petite Venise

If you see just one thing in Colmar, make it the Little Venice quarter. Canal connection aside, it doesn’t resemble Venice in the slightest, but it's…

Château du Haut Kœnigsbourg

On its fairy-tale perch above vineyards and hills, the turreted red-sandstone Château du Haut Kœnigsbourg is worth a detour for the wraparound panorama…

Vieille Ville

Along the main street that threads through the old town, keep an eye out for the 17th-century Pfifferhüs, which once housed the town’s fife-playing…

Romagne ’14 -’18

This heart-rending museum, which, in the words of owner Jean-Paul de Vries, is all about ‘life stories’ and ‘the human being behind the helmet’. Artefacts…

Ossuaire de Douaumont

Rising like a gigantic artillery shell above 15,000 crosses that bleed into the distance, this sombre, 137m-long ossuary, inaugurated in 1932, is one of…

Ballon d’Alsace

Three régions (Alsace, Franche-Comté and Lorraine) converge at the rounded 1247m-high summit of Ballon d’Alsace. The mountain is a scenic base for…

Musée de l’Œuvre Notre-Dame

Occupying a cluster of sublime 14th- and 16th-century buildings, this museum harbours one of Europe’s premier collections of Romanesque, Gothic and…

Parc Naturel Régional des Ballons des Vosges

Head away from the crowds and into the serene Parc Naturel Régional des Ballons des Vosges, 3000 sq km of pristine greenery in the western Vosges. In…

Fort de Douaumont

Sitting high on a hill, this is the strongest of the 38 fortresses and bastions built along a 45km front to protect Verdun. When the Battle of Verdun…

Mémorial de Verdun

The village of Fleury, wiped off the face of the earth in the course of being captured and recaptured 16 times, is now the site of this memorial. It tells…

Musée Lorrain

Once home to the dukes of Lorraine, the regal Renaissance Palais Ducal now shelters the Musée Lorrain. The rich fine arts and history collection…

Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain

This striking glass-and-steel cube showcases an outstanding fine-art, graphic-art and photography collection. Besides modern and contemporary works of the…

Ecomusée d’Alsace

Ecomusée d’Alsace is a fascinating excursion into Alsatian country life and time-honoured crafts. Smiths, cartwrights, potters and coopers do their thing…

Fort de Vaux

Located in crater-scarred countryside 10km northeast of Verdun, this fort was constructed between 1881 and 1884. It was the second fort – Douaumont was…

Grande Mosquée de Strasbourg

Designed by Italian architect Paolo Portoghesi and opened in September 2012, France's biggest mosque (accommodating 1500 worshippers) sits on a bend in…

Barrage Vauban

A triumph of 17th-century engineering, the Barrage Vauban bears the architectural imprint of the leading French military engineer of the age – Sébastien…

Musée Bartholdi

In the house where Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi was born in 1834, this museum pays homage to the sculptor who captured the spirit of a nation with his…

Place du Marché

Life spirals around this market square, put to use each Thursday morning, where you’ll find the 16th-century hôtel de ville (town-hall building)…

Set amid the vines, this delightful centre is home base for 200 free-flying storks; visit in spring and you're guaranteed to see hatchlings. Cormorants,…

Lorraine American Cemetery

Verdun had a significant military presence from the end of WWII until Charles de Gaulle pulled France out of NATO’s integrated military command in 1966…

Medieval Centre

A stroll through the cobbled streets of the well-preserved medieval centre takes in the early Gothic church; the wall-mounted sundial, dating from 1711;…

Musée de l’École de Nancy

A highlight of a visit to Nancy, the Musée de l’École de Nancy brings together an exquisite collection of art-nouveau interiors, curvaceous glass and…

A saunter through the charming old town takes in the silver-turreted, 14th-century Porte de la Craffe, Nancy’s oldest city gate, and place St-Epvre,…

Musée Lalique

A stunning, romantic tribute to French art-nouveau designer René Lalique, the Musée Lalique harbours a collection assembling exquisite gem-encrusted and…

Place de la République

Many of Strasbourg’s grandest public buildings, constructed when the city was ruled by the German Reich, huddle northeast of the Grande Île area in the so…

Fort du Hackenberg

The largest single Maginot Line bastion in the Metz area was the 1000-man Fort du Hackenberg, whose 10km of galleries were designed to be self-sufficient…

Musée La Cour d’Or

Delve into the past at this trove of Gallo-Roman antiquities, hiding remnants of the city’s Roman baths and a statue of the Egyptian goddess Isis…

Bibliothèque Humaniste

Founded in 1452, this library’s stellar collection features a 7th-century book of Merovingian liturgy, a copy of Cosmographiae Introductio (printed in…

More destinations you need to see

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The 5-minute essential guide to the Alsace vineyards

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Alsace and Lorraine Food and Wine Couples

Reading time: 0 min Published on 6 February 2024, updated on 16 April 2024

Mad about villages in bloom? Love picturesque lanes between half-timber houses, and steep hillsides where local grape varieties find their fullest expression? Then the vineyards of Alsace are where you need to be! You'll know a bit more about them in just five minutes time.

The vineyards are protected by castle strongholds

As a border region, Alsace has always held a strategic position in territorial conquests. The many defensive castles dominating its vineyards stand testament to its tumultuous history. With its famous ruins and renovated monuments, a tour of the Alsace vineyards is also a journey through time.

The wine cellars are fortified

While in most vineyards the winemaking estates stand proud outside the local towns, in Alsace the wine cellars are protected by the walls of fortified villages. The walls protected them from the enemy and meant that the land could be saved for planting vines. The vintners homes have unique architecture. You go in through a big decorative door which opens onto a courtyard leading to the different winemaking buildings. They form part of the irresistible charm of an Alsace village.

The vineyard looks its best in white

Alsace is the promised land for great white wines, which account for 90% of the appellation’s production. Depending on the terroir and the winemaking process used, the eight authorised white grape varieties (Sylvaner, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Chasselas, Auxerrois) produce wines of varying degrees of complexity and freshness, but with consistently great flavour.

(Grape) variety is king

On the labels that adorn the traditional “Alsace flute”, as the shape of wine bottle so characteristic of the appellation is known, the grape variety is the headline name. Alsatian wines promote their grape varieties, as they should! Perhaps because their cuvées are predominantly made from a single grape variety, but definitely because the varieties reflect the region’s identity. Alsace is home to a wide range of native varieties which do not feature heavily in other French winemaking regions, but which here express their full personality through enchanting bouquets.

Gaze upon the famous crus

51 Grands Crus hail from Alsace, making their home on the steep foothills of the Vosges mountains at an altitude of 200-400m, creating some grandiose landscapes. These clearly delineated locations provide perfect conditions for the grapes, as well as a variety of terroirs, and are also paradise for nature-lovers.

Variety is the spice of life

With whites, rosés, reds, semi-sweet, sweet (late harvest, selection of noble berries), and sparkling wines, Alsace is home to an extremely varied range of wines, affording an ample illustration of the expertise of the region’s winemakers, as well as the diversity of the region itself.

Alsace winemakers are welcoming and like to enjoy themselves

Alsace’s route des vins (wine route) is one of the oldest in France. For more than 100 miles, winemakers will welcome you with open arms and tell you all about their amazing craft. Throughout the year, different winemaking villages burst into life as they celebrate the famous wine festivals.

Mouthwatering culinary specialities

Alsace’s gastronomy is known the world over. Sauerkraut, baeckeoffe casserole, flammekueche tart, kougelhopf cake, spätzle noodles... to name but a few. Some of the local dishes are hard to pronounce, but easy enough to wrap your mouth around!

There’s far more to discover in Alsace than just the vineyards. In fact, it’s an authentic sensory odyssey.

• In early June, enjoy a picnic with the winemakers.
• Visit one of France’s most floral villages: Eguisheim.
• Meet the women behind the wines of Alsace: the diVINes d’Alsace.
• Learn about life in the Middle Ages: Haut-Koenigsbourg chateau.
• Recipes for local specialities: “Secret d’Alsace”.
• Plan your trip
• Vins d'Alsace
• La Route des Vins d'Alsace
• Office du tourisme d’Eguisheim
• Divines d’Alsace
• Haut Koenigsbourg

By Redaction France.fr

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