Alsace Favorites

  Yellow awning across the street.
by Maryimelda
 
  • Yellow awning across the street.
      Yellow awning across the street.
    by Maryimelda
  •   Old Town
    by fabrice
  • Centre Médico-Social - Medical centre
      Centre Médico-Social - Medical centre
    by robertbaum
  • Coat of Arms at Poterie Henri Siegfried
      Coat of Arms at Poterie Henri Siegfried
    by robertbaum
  • Town map
      Town map
    by robertbaum
 

Most Viewed Favorites in Alsace

1.

Old Town   Colmar

Old Town, Colmar

 11 Reviews  The traditional Christmas Markets of Colmar, on different squares, are for me a standard of what a Christmas market should be: A glitter of decorations and magic lightings, Products responding to art... 

 See All 21 Favorites in Colmar

2.

Petite Venise   Colmar

Petite Venise, Colmar

 2 Reviews  There is a district which is called Little Venice by many coz the whole center of the town is cut by numerous small shallow channels.... One can hire a small boat with engine looking like an air... 

 See All 21 Favorites in Colmar

3.

Museums   Colmar

Museums, Colmar

 2 Reviews  For all those who are interested in culture, museums, art collections the regional museums pass (Oberrheinischer Museumspass) is a great deal. The Museums Pass covers more than 150 museums in the... 

 See All 21 Favorites in Colmar

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Symbol of Alsace

by Helga67

Storks have been a part of the Alsatian scenery for many centuries. Every year in spring they come from Africa to this region. Years ago, however, it seemed they were becoming an endangered species. But with the help of locals they establish their nests in the Alsatian trees and chimney stacks and came back more numerous.The stork is a symbol of happiness and fidelity. Having a stork build a nest on your roof or chimney is a sign of good luck. Many locals will encourage nesting by putting a wagon wheel on their roof.

Tip Photo
Route des Cretes

by Helga67

Alsace is a small region with a huge natural diversity. It has two Regional Nature Parks: the Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park and the Northern Vosges Regional Nature Park. A good way of discovery Alsace nature is by taking the Route des Cretes (crest road), once built for strategic purposes during World War I to allow communication between French troops stationed in the different valleys, but now a touristy road winding along high pastures, mountains, lakes and forests.

Tip Photo
Route des Vins

by Helga67

Alsace is one of the best known producers of white wine in France as it has an ideal climate with a lot of sun and few rain. The white wines of this area are riesling, pinot blanc, pinot gris, gewurztraminer, muscat, sylvaner and Tokay. The rolling vineyards are located on a narrow stretch of land between the Rhine valley and the Vosges mountains.If you are interested in visiting the different picturesque wine villages with narrow streets of half-timbered houses and flower-decked balconies and maybe you would like to try some of the Alsace wines in traditional inns or wine cellars, you should follow the "Route des Vins" (wine road) between Marlenheim in the north and Guebwiller in the south (170 km). It's a very touristy road, every tourist office can give you more info.

Tip Photo
Geography of Alsace

by DanielF

Alsace is a long and narrow stripe of land between the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine River. With an area of 8,283 km², it is the smallest région in metropolitan France, being just slightly smaller than Puerto Rico or Corsica. Before the French revolution, Alsace was one of the historical provinces of France. In 1970, it was divided in two départements, which were again regrouped in the région of Alsace after the administrative reform of 1982. The département of the Lower Rhine (Bas-Rhin) is made up of the Northern half of the region, with its capital in Strasbourg. It is the only French department which still uses the adjective lower in its official name (the other departments containing this word or "inferior" decided to change it for considering it belittling or derogatory). The département of the Upper Rhine (Haut-Rhin) is made up of the Southern half of Alsace and has its capital in...

Tip Photo
Languages of Alsace

by DanielF

France has an extremely rich linguistic patrimony, although only French enjoys official recognition. The rest of the languages have traditionally been derogatorily referred to as patois and relegated to the less instructed people. Today, these languages, officially known as langues régionales are gaining some social recognition and prestige, but many of them are on the verge of extinction. Of all the regional languages in France, Alsatian is one of the most important by number of speakers (Only second to the Occitan language of South France). Alsatian is a dialect of German (related to the dialects spoken in Baden and in Switzerland)known by a significant part of the population, although French is the only language known by everybody and spoken by the majority on a daily basis, especially in the cities. Many people speak also German as a second language and English has also a good...

Tip Photo
History of Alsace

by DanielF

Alsace, together with neighboring Lorraine, have been and endless source of dispute and conflict between Germany and France, having changed hands between both countries several times in the course of history. The origin of the dispute was the repartition of the legacy of Charles the Great, in which the titularity of both territories remained unclear. King Louis XIV of France established as a goal of his reign to take France political borders to what he considered to be its natural borders, and thus, during the 17th century all the territories west of the Rhine were gradually annexed to France.Until the end of World War II, the French-German border shifted eastwards and westwards several times pursuant to cruel wars and senseless destruction. Now, Alsace stands as a symbol of reconciliation, with the European Parliament sitting in Strasbourg, and with a culture, a gastronomy, and an...

Tip Photo
When to travel

by markyg

While Alsace is great during the Winter as there are few tourists, it is also more difficult to find things open during this time. Many hotels and shops were closed when normally they would be open. Wineries also were closed or had limited business hours. I would definitely book a hotel ahead of time and ensure that the places you want to visit are open prior to going there.

Tip Photo
Impressive Saint-Odile and Vosges Mountains

by elgin99

Montpellier and the tour on and back from Mont Saint-Odile was the most impressive day in Alsace.And here is the legend of Holy Odile:Legend has it that Odile, daughter of the Duke of Etichon, was blind at birth. Her father orders to have her killed but a nanny saves her and secretly brings her up. During her baptism Odile's vision returns. One day, her brother Hughes reveals to the father that she is alive and out of anger the Duke kills his son. To make up for it, he decides to get her to marry a Knight but Odile refuses, as she just wishes to be a religious. The duke again loses control and wants to kill her but she is saved by a miracle. When the father finally realizes the strength and power of her vocation he offers her his castle. In 720 when she dies her grave becomes a pilgrimage place and Saint-Odile becomes the Saint-Patron of Alsace. Of course, French cusine is...

Tip Photo
Strasbourg

by btex

Strasbourg is a good place for a stroll. I didn't visit any of its museums or parks. I went to the cathedral and walked around Old Strasbourg...aka Petite France. In Petite France, you'll find narrow streets, canals, museums, antique stores, restaurants, cafes, bars, houses that date back to the 16th and 17th centuries and more. Bridges, the Vauban Dam, and boatrides can be found on the river Ill.

Tip Photo
Walkin' the Wine Route

by btex

In Alsace, I visited Strasbourg and the wine route near Colmar. Strasbourg was a nice place, but the wine route was the stand-out...I gotta quit rhymin'. The route stretches for miles through countryside and vineyards...along the way, you'll find Alsatian towns, castles, and, most importantly...wine caves.http://www.visit-alsace.com/

Tip Photo
Related Alsace Favorites Tips

Top 3 Hotels in Alsace

Hotel Gutenberg  Strasbourg

 1 Review and 183 Opinions  I toured Alsace by bicycle in mid-September, 2008. After the group ride was over, I stayed for 3... 

 Hotels in Strasbourg

Saint-Martin Hotel Colmar  Colmar

 4 Reviews and 76 Opinions  We stayed 2 nights in 2004. When we arrived we were given keys to a small attic room which was... 

 Hotels in Colmar

Citotel Hotel d'Alsace Wissembourg  Wissembourg

 7 Opinions

 Hotels in Wissembourg

365 Hotels in Alsace
 
Explore the World
Travel Destinations
Travel Highlights

The Place

Reviews and photos of Alsace attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Alsace sightseeing.

Experience Alsace
Favorites: Cities in Alsace
  1. Strasbourg Favorites
  2. Colmar Favorites
  3. Mulhouse Favorites
  4. Wissembourg Favorites
  5. Soufflenheim Favorites
  6. Turckheim Favorites
  7. Sessenheim Favorites
  8. Saint-Louis Favorites
  9. Riquewihr Favorites
  10. Kaysersberg Favorites
  11. Saverne Favorites
  12. Lauterbourg Favorites
  13. Niederroedern Favorites
  14. Molsheim Favorites
  15. Beinheim Favorites
  16. Barr Favorites

More Cities in Alsace

 

Questions and Answers

Elsarodriguez profile photo

Q:  My daughter 22 and I will be going to Alsace next April. We will travel from Paris.We will stay three nights. What's the cheapest... 

Beausoleil profile photo

A: Where you stay depends on what you want to see and do and also your transportation. We drive so we stay in one of the wine villages. We've stayed in Barr many times and... 

Read 6 Replies

postQuestion_button