Bike the vineyard trails and Route des Vins villages to really discover the sights, sounds, and smells of the Alsatian countryside. Rent a regular or motor-assist bike and get out into the hillside villages and vineyards. You can rent bikes in child-adult sizes by the hour, half day or full day, and the outfitter will plan a multi-day tour for...
The tourism office in Kaysersberg rents individual audio tours for self-guided walks through old town. Entertaining and informative, the audio includes music and commentary by talented actors. Among the two dozen entries, highlights include: Sainte Croix Church, with its beautiful works of art Town Hall, a Renaissance building with a lovely courtyard Fortified bridge built in 1514 A leisurely stroll...
The National Car Museum or Car City (Cité de l’Automobile) in Mulhouse features more than 500 vehicles, all in working order. The cars are from a collection assembled by Fritz Schlumpf, a Swiss industrialist who spent most of his life in Alsace. He devoted an extraordinary amount of money and energy collecting and repairing antique cars. Some of the most...
This lovely Gothic church is worthy of a visit simply for its architecture and stained-glass windows, but the masterpiece inside is the real draw. German artist Martin Schongauer’s La Vierge au Buisson de Roses (Virgin in the Rose Bush) was painted in 1473 and shows the Madonna, wearing a red robe, holding her infant son in a cluster of colorful...
Christmas is a time for tradition and celebration in Alsace, especially in Colmar. Beginning at the end of November the Christmas Markets set up outside in four public squares and inside the Old Customs House (Koïfhus). The plazas each have a theme and wooden stalls are set up around historical buildings in Place des Dominicains, Petite Venise, Place de l’Ancienne Douane,...
Professional guides from the Colmar Tourist Office conduct walking tours in several languages, including English, for groups and individuals. In addition to town walks, you can arrange a guided tour out to the nearby villages, vineyards, and mountains. Each local guide is trained in Alsatian art, history, architecture, and culture, so you’ll be getting the inside story as well as...
This is a two-in-one eatery, with a top-notch bakery on one side and an upscale restaurant on the other. As you would expect, the prices and service on the bakery side (la boulangerie) are lower, but the food still gets high praise. Offerings include lasagna, hamburgers, and Alsatian tarts. You also can order a glass of fine wine, gourmet coffee,...
Dominican clergy started this church in 1283, but the building has been renovated several times. In the early 18th century the Gothic structure took on a Baroque style, and today your attention will be drawn to the church’s beautiful portals and stained-glass windows. The church is a bit bare and doesn’t have a bell, but the carved doors and stained-glass windows are beautiful. Inside,...
Built of stone in 1550, this nicely restored hotel has the advantage of being in the center of historic Riquewihr. The surrounding streets are pedestrian only, but guests are allowed to drive up to the front of the Couronne to unload luggage. Parking in the private lot costs an additional €3. There’s no elevator, and the spiraling steps are steep,...
Look for this 17th century Renaissance building between Church of Saint Martin and the Unterlinden Museum in the center of town. It is now a restaurant and 18-room 4-star hotel. The exterior is elaborately decorated with more than a hundred sculpted heads (têtes). It was built as a private home for Anton Burger in 1609. The statue on top of the...
This is the heart of Strasbourg’s commercial district. You’ll find upscale shops lining the central square, which is dominated by a statue of Jean-Baptiste Kléber, who was a general during the French Revolution. He was born in the city in 1753, and his remains are buried in a vault beneath the statue. Notice Aubette Palace on the north side of...
Reisling wine grapes grow in the nearby vineyards, and prestigious Bugatti automobiles are made in the factory just outside town. If you need more reason to visit, consider the Porte des Forgerons that you pass under to get into the village. The former fortification gate is supported by a tower from the 14th century that holds a bell from 1412....
Exotic animals and beautiful themed gardens are the highlights here. Kids have fun in the area reserved for interacting with smaller animals in open pens and enclosures resembling native habitats. Petting the dwarf goats is a special treat, even if they try to eat your clothes. Potamochoerus, an endangered pig-like creature from Africa, is one of the newest arrivals. More than 200...
Palais de Rohan is a lovely baroque building constructed between 1732 and 1742, which now houses three important museums. It’s worthwhile to take a high-speed look about. History buffs and art fans will want to linger in each museum on individual floors. The first floor houses the exquisite apartments of the Cardinal de Rohan and the Musee des Arts Decoratifs, ...
Surprisingly, this huge church has never been a cathedral, but locals refer to it as Colmar Cathédrale and it stands on a square named Place de la Cathédrale . The beautiful 13th-century red-and-gold sandstone building was badly damaged during the French Revolution, but it has been restored and well-preserved. Excavations during the 1980s revealed that the church as built on the foundations...
A 45-minute Batorama river tour around the historic island called La Grande Île is fun, informative, and a chance to rest your feet. The bateau-mouche-style excursion boats are heated and air-conditioned, but if the weather’s fine, choose the open-air cruise. From May through September, you can hop aboard as late as 10 pm for a sunset tour along the Île River. Pick up tickets...
The newest shopping and entertainment area in Strasbourg is Rivétoile. Here you’ll find a good assortment of stores, including Leclerc Hypermart, a variety of restaurants, including McDonald’s, and all the services you associate with super malls in the US/UK/Europe. Galeries Lafayette at 34 rue du 22 Novembre is smaller than the one in Paris, but you’ll find almost everything you want...
The small village of Thann marks the southern end of the Alsatian Wine Route. It is surrounded by vineyards and tucked below the Vosges Mountains. It makes a fine starting point for drives along the Route des Cretes (Crest Road) as well as the Route des Vins (Wine Road). The dominating feature of the town is the Gothic Collegiate Church Saint-Thiébaut, with...
Cité du Train in Mulhouse is the largest railway museum in Europe with more than 1,000 cars,locomotives, and other train memorabilia. It also is very probably the best. The museum first opened in 1964 and reopened in January 2016 after a complete renovation. The expanded exhibition space holds a huge collection of French railway history. The Train Trail takes you on a...