Itinerary
Strasbourg, seat of the new European Parliament, is an ancient and lively city, filled with treasures to explore. It was named a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1988, the first city to be honoured with the title in its entirety. This tour allows you time to meander the canals, cobblestoned streets, and small boutiques of Strasbourg. Visit the old town, its picturesque quarters and half-timbered houses in the neighbourhood known as “The Petite France”. Visit the Gothic cathedral and its famous astronomical clock, and the European Parliament. Be sure to sate your appetite as well with the pastries, giant soft pretzels and fresh cheeses at every corner.
After breakfast, we transfer you westwards, to the base of the Vosges mountains that you will be skirting along and exploring for the rest of the week. You start in the pretty village of Rosenwiller, with its Jewish cemetery nestled quietly on the outskirts of town – the largest and oldest in Alsace. From there, descend into the vineyard village of Boersch, with its three fortified medieval gateways and magnificent Renaissance town hall. You can stop to explore the town, perhaps do a wine tasting, and find some lunch or a cold refreshment. Your walk from there takes you on small paths and roads following along the Ehn River for a stretch, and passing an old mill. Your final destination is Obernai, entrenched in centuries of history, and with wonderful restaurants and boutiques to explore. Your dinner tonight is included at one of our favourite restaurants
This morning we transfer you to the first of a string of lovely small villages, nestled underneath the Vosges. Rodern is right on the frontier of the dense Vosges forest and the vineyards below, and boasts a beautiful tower – the remains of a Gothic church from 1310. Continue to Rohrschwihr, a vineyard village with & mosaic of no fewer than 21 geological strata giving fantastic flavours in the wines. From there on to Bergheim – a village with medieval flavours, but which actually dates back to Roman times, and is nicknamed “The Witches Village”. Your day’s efforts bring you at last to Ribeauville, with beautiful half-timbered buildings from the 16th and 17th centuries in the old town, and a variety of shops, wineries, and historic sites. (note the Deluxe itinerary includes a transfer at the end of the walk to Kaysersberg)
Today’s walk starts with a short transfer to Riquewihr, one of France’s official Prettiest Villages. Riquewihr has much of its medieval fortifications and a castle still intact; it largely escaped damage during the Second World War, and is quite simply gorgeous. After explorations there, head out through the terraced vineyards, where you ascend a bit to visit the majestic panoramas from the moving necropolis and American War Memorial, before descending then down into Kientzheim, with its twisting cobbelstoned streets, and where you may well stop for lunch. Another short climb out of the village before then descending with fantastic views to the vineyard village of Kaysersberg, voted as favourite village destination by the French in a national competition in 2017, and nestled in a valley created over the millennia by the rushing Weiss River. Take the time to explore the crumbling but still impressive Schlossberg Castle at the end of your day, and wander the streets crisscrossing the river.
This morning you will be dropped on the outskirts of the vineyard village of Eguisheim. You walk through a remarkable enclosure for the breeding and protection of the storks – until not too long agao in great danger f disappearing from Alsace. Thanks to associations such as the one managed here, they are successfully reimplanted and have become once again a familiar silhouette on rroftops here. Eguisheim itself will enchant you, with its concentric round street setup, medieval ramparts, and half-timbered houses. It is recognized as the birthplace of winegrowing in Alsace, and you can do some tasting here, before perhaps continuing on your easygoing walk today. The route here turns away from the vineyards and heads across the plains, entering the town of Colmar on a tranquil path following the Lauch river. The historic center of this town, where you are staying, reveals its charm: the colors and atmosphere of streets still embody much of the Middle Ages. Churches, cloisters, half-timbered houses, facades with ornate wood sculptures, paintings, and edifices from the Renaissance abound. Your final dinner is included this evening.
After a final delicious breakfast, there are easy connections out of Colmar train station for your continued travels from Alsace. Bon Voyage!
What's included
- 5 nights’ accommodation of the comfort level of your choice * CLASSIC, CLASSIC +, or DELUXE
- Hotel taxes
- All breakfasts, 2 dinners (drinks not included with the dinners)
- Orientation with our Trip Manager by phone at the start of the trip
- Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel
- Taxi transfers for the walks, as described in the itinerary
- Detailed maps and step-by-step route instructions
- Uploadable GPS file of the route to use on a free APP in your smartphone **
- Regional information and advice
- Phone call support 7 days a week
* Price based on double room occupancy – please contact us for details on single room supplements
** Can be used without international internet plan (offline)
Hotel Details
Classic Tour
990 € / pers.
1 night
Hotel Roses – Strasbourg
1 night
Hotel le Gouverneur – Obernai
1 night
Hotel de la Tour – Ribeauvillé
1 night
Hotel la Couronne – Riquwihr
1 night
Hotel Turenne – Colmar
Classic + Tour
1190 € / pers.
1 night
Hotel Beaucour – Strasbourg
1 night
Hotel le Colombier – Obernai
1 night
Hotel du Mouton – Ribeauvillé
1 night
Art’Hotel – Kayserseberg
1 night
Hotel Rapp – Colmar
Deluxe Tour
1860 € / pers.
1 night
Cour du Corbeau – Strasbourg
1 night
La Cour d’Alsace – Obernai
2 nights
Hotel le Chambard – Kaysersberg
1 night
Maison des Têtes – Colmar