Colmar is small enough to visit on foot, and large enough to keep you interested for two or three days. Make your first stop the Office of Tourism at Place Unterlinden, to pick up information on special events around town and exhibits at the city’s five museums. Also ask about guided tours in La Petite Venise, a canal laced historic district right out...
Bordered by vineyards, this medieval village has historic timbered houses decked out in flowers, flowing fountains, and a sandstone church featuring a 13th-century statue. This is the birthplace of Alsatian wine, and some of the local vineyards are classified as Grand Cru. Be sure to sample the wine selections while you’re in the area. Pick up maps and information at the well-stocked office...
La Grande Île is the historic center of Strasbourg and the most interesting part of the city. This stretch of land is surrounded by branches of the Île River and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, due to its well-preserved medieval structures. Allow plenty of time to stroll along the cobblestone streets, visit the centuries-old buildings, and admire the...
This 12th-century castle is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Alsace. It sits on a hilltop west of the town of Sélestat and has an extraordinary view across the valley to the Rhine River. It was in total ruins when Wilhelm II, the German Kaiser, renovated it in 1901. After World War I the much-improved castle was given back...
No doubt you’ve seen pictures of this outstanding house. It was built in 1537 in the medieval half-timbered style, and your eye will be drawn to the carved balconies that blaze with red geraniums during good weather. Stand across the street and admire the building’s unique corner design, its angular windows, and painted facade, which depicts biblical scenes and German...
Five Alsatian towns have the honor of being designated one of the most beautiful villages in France. Named by Les Plus Beaux Villages de France as a village with noteworthy quality, reputation, and development, each location has historical value, places importance on restoring common areas, and offers something unique to visitors. Alsatian destinations include: Hunspach Eguisheim Hunawihr Mittelbergheim Riquewihr
Mulhouse uses its reputation as the birthplace of the region’s textile industry to host an extraordinary festival from late November through December each year. Designers and craftsmen create an original fabric every year to hang on the vendor stalls during the Christmas Market. Place de la Réunion, the town square, and nearby streets decorate extravagantly with the lush cloth and colorful lights....
On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays vendors fill the covered market building and the surrounding street with stalls to sell all types of goods. The best buys are Alsatian foods, especially baked goods, and locally-made products, especially textiles. Arrive when the market opens at 7:00 am for the best selection of fruits, vegetables, meats, and pastries. In addition, look for cloth,...
Around 70,000 visitors per year walk through this museum of Alsatian memorabilia, making it one of the most popular attractions in the region. You may get a back-in-time feeling, as though you’re walking through a house where your relatives have just stepped out for awhile. The three 16th-17th century joined houses are a web of small rooms with wood-paneled walls,...
A statue of Sainte Odile, the patron saint of Alsace, stands above a fountain in the town center, which is lined with historic buildings in a mix of delightful styles. The town hall is the perfect blending of architectural modes, with the earliest construction from around 1370, and extensions added up to 1848. Notice the lovely oriel window that juts...
Allow plenty of time to explore the restored historic center of Colmar. Many of the buildings lining the narrow cobblestone streets date back to the medieval and Renaissance periods, and the half-timbered houses seem more German than French. Consider riding the Little White Train around town to get oriented, and then explore the most interesting areas on foot. The quartier...
This little neighborhood in Colmar’s old city is charming, but it only looks like Venice, Italy if you have a vivid imagination. No matter. The area is captivating in its own Alsatian style. A worker’s community in ancient times During the middle ages, the district was a rural community of farmers, fishermen, and laborers. Its nickname comes from the attractive...
Riquewihr is one of the most beautiful and well-preserved villages in Alsace. Get acquainted with the town and its vineyards with a commentated ride on the open-air Little Train, which runs daily April-November from the town hall on Grand Rue. You’ll want to come back after the train ride to explore the town, which is enclosed by fortification walls and surrounded...
Dozens of small towns and more than 1,000 wine producers (including 51 Grand Cru vineyards) are linked along an itinerary known as Route des Vins d’Alsace. Some of the towns also are on other mapped routes, such as the Route Romane (Romanesque Road) and Route des Cretes (Crest Road). You can travel the wine road north to south, but the southern end is somewhat more...
Strasbourg’s Notre Dame Cathedral is a medieval masterpiece. It’s easy to find since its 15th-century pink sandstone tower is 463 feet high and visible from most parts of the city. It took more than 300 years to build, and it was the tallest structure in the world at that time. You will agree with Victor Hugo that the Gothic church...
Built in 1232 as a Dominican convent, the Unterlinden Museum (Under the Linden Tree) is a treasure house of important international masterpieces and Alsatian art. In December 2015, a new wing opened connecting the former convent to a contemporary building devoted to modern art. A tunnel joins the new with the old and gives the museum more open space. The Isenheim Alterpiece...
The squat Vosges Mountains roll across two large regional nature parks and dominate the countryside of western Alsace. A 48 mile/77 km ridge road links the highest points between Cernay and Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines. Most of the year, you can drive, hike, and bike through the north and south parks. In summer, enjoy the waterfalls, lakes, and hikes into the thick forest. In winter, visit...
Inhale deeply, before you sip, and discover the unique aroma of Alsatian wines. Each variety has the rich fragrance of the fertile soil in which the grapes are grown. The seven Alsatian grape varieties: Sylvaner, dry & fruity Pinot Blanc (aka Kleiner), dry & full-bodied Riesling, dry & fruity Muscat d’Alsace, dry, delicate & fruity Pinot Gris (aka Tokay) rich...