Travel guide Alsace
In the Heart of Europe
Strasbourg (Department
Bas-Rhin) considers itself with all its European institutions such as the Council of Europe and the European Parliament as the "capital of Europe". No wonder, because the transport connections also suggest that we are in the center of the action. You can reach Strasbourg by train via the high-speed lines of the French TGV on the route between Stuttgart and Paris. In addition, the cities of Munich, Augsburg, and Ulm are directly connected to Alsace by TGV. There are also numerous regional connections from the nearby Saarland, for example from Saarbrücken. And from Austria, there are connections via Switzerland to the neighboring Alsace. By air, you can reach Strasbourg Entzheim International Airport and EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg. Connections to the whole of Europe could not be more convenient. As easily as with the train or airplane, you can also reach your affordable holiday home or accommodation in Alsace by private car. Via the toll-free motorway A 35 in France and the motorway A 4 in Germany. Your journey to one of the most beautiful regions of the country - perhaps even with a half-timbered house as holiday accommodation - can start!
Warm Summers and Cold Winters
Alsace is one of the best wine-growing regions in France. Summers are mild and sunny well into the beautiful, colorful autumn. Moreover, Alsace lies in the shelter of the Vosges, so the rainfall is lower than in its neighboring regions. Ideal conditions for a vacation in nature between forests and vineyards. Rent affordable accommodations from private owners in the midst of a fantastic cultural landscape. Alsace is also known for its harsh winters with crisp frost and fog. In that case, a holiday home or apartment with a fireplace is just the thing. Here, a lot of snow falls in winter and the summers are significantly cooler than in the Alsatian plain. Enjoy relaxing hours, no matter what time of year.
Historical Facades and Picturesque Alleys
Alsace does not lack sights. In particular, the cities of Strasbourg, Mulhouse, and
Colmar offer a rich selection of excursion destinations. Visit the Cathédrale Notre-Dame, Strasbourg Cathedral. The cathedral was built between the 12th and 15th centuries in the Romanesque and Gothic styles and is the city's landmark. Near the cathedral, along the Ill River, lies the "Tanners Quarter". Book an apartment in the heart of the Quartier des Tanneries in the La Petite France district, crisscrossed by small canals. The narrow streets with their historical half-timbered houses and characteristic dormer windows invite you to stroll and stop in cozy inns. Strasbourg is the top destination for city trips in Alsace. In Mulhouse, a trip to the small historical center of the city is worthwhile. The upper town was founded in the 13th century. Augustinians, Knights of St. John, Franciscans, and Poor Clares settled here. The Place de la Réunion fascinates with Renaissance facades and an opulent fountain in front of the backdrop of the neo-Gothic Protestant St. Stephen's Church. After a city tour, relax in the botanical gardens of Mulhouse. Although Colmar is the city of wine, the place offers some sights besides all the culinary delights. Colmar is the capital of the Haut-Rhin department. Numerous houses and buildings from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance shape the cityscape. The most beautiful villages of the Alsatian Wine Route, which you, as a traveler, must visit at least in part, include Mittelbergheim, Andlau, Bergheim, Kaysersberg, Hunawihr, Eguisheim, Riquewihr, and Zellenberg. The landscape of the areas is wonderful and allows you to relax.
From Old Masters and World-famous Altars
Art lovers will find cozy accommodations in Colmar close to the major museums and the historic old town. The most famous artwork in Alsace is undoubtedly the Isenheim Altarpiece by Matthias Grünewald from the 16th century, exhibited in the Unterlinden Museum. The altarpiece is famous far beyond France. The museum also displays works by Lucas Cranach the Elder and Hans Holbein the Elder. In addition, the new museum building designed by the architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron is a sight itself. Even if you rent your apartment or holiday home in a picturesque area not directly in Strasbourg, a visit to the Musée des Beaux-Arts in the Palais Rohan is worthwhile. Discover the great old masters like Tintoretto, Memling, El Greco, Goya, or Rubens in the original. Those who want to get to know the creative side of Alsace should rent an accommodation in Mulhouse, the historic textile city. Designers and craftsmen inspire with their creations from industrial design to traditional crafts.
Typically Alsace: Tarte Flambée, Munster Cheese, and Wine
The cuisine from the Alsace-Lorraine region is of course famous for its tarte flambée. A thinly rolled-out bread dough, raw onions, bacon, and sour cream are the basic ingredients of this classic. The name "flammkuchen" comes from the old wood ovens. The flames in the oven were not completely extinguished when the flammkuchen was inserted. The Alsatian Wine Route provides the appropriate wines. Especially Riesling and Crémant d'Alsace have achieved worldwide fame among wine connoisseurs. A holiday home or apartment on the Alsatian Wine Route is a guarantee for a culinary vacation of superlatives, especially in autumn. Choose a chalet in the middle of the vineyards and take a culinary tour from winemaker to winemaker. All over France, the Munster cheese from the Vosges is also known. It is a spicy soft cheese with a reddish mold rind made from the milk of the regional Vosges cattle. Cheese tasting is one of the culinary highlights during a vacation in France. For digestion, you can then stroll through the romantic old town.
Nature Experience in Forests and Mountains
Alsace and the Vosges are the perfect travel destination for young and old, especially in summer:
family-friendly and in the middle of nature. Extensive forests make your
hiking vacation an experience. Young nature researchers can get close to wild animals at the Adlerburg and the Monkey Mountain. Berber monkeys live here in a large enclosure. At the "Volerie des Aigles" bird of prey center near the ruins of Kintzheim Castle, be amazed by the flight show of birds of prey. There, vultures, eagles, and other birds of prey circle high above the forests of Alsace. Those who rent a holiday apartment or house here in the winter can expect a breathtaking ski landscape. Numerous downhill and cross-country skiing slopes are available on the Grand Ballon, the Big Bollen. The mountain rises 1,424 meters above the entire region. Children are curious and want to know how the world works. The ship lift on the Rhine-Marne Canal is an exciting technical sight worth visiting with family.
From Castles and Monasteries
A special highlight for the whole family is a visit to the Hohkönigsburg near Orschwiller. With about 500,000 visitors annually, Hohkönigsburg is the most visited castle in the region and one of the most frequented tourist sites and sights in all of France. The comb castle sits on a mountain at 757 meters above sea level on the eastern edge of the Vosges. On a clear day, the view reaches as far as the Kaiserstuhl. Children's tours inspire the little knights: During guided tours, the children solve tasks and small puzzles and get to know the history of the castle. Another historical highlight is Fleckenstein Castle, a medieval rock castle near the border with Rhineland-Palatinate. The castle dates back to the 12th century. On the eastern edge of the Vosges stands the Odilienberg, the Mont Sainte-Odile, on whose summit a significant monastery is perched. Mont Sainte-Odile is now one of the most famous pilgrimage sites in France. The remains of the so-called pagan wall can be admired on the wooded slopes of the mountain. These were built in the 7th or 8th century - for what purpose, science has not yet found out. Book a holiday apartment or house in the colorful autumn and embark on a journey of discovery between the castles and monasteries of the region.