Discover the History, Culture, Food and Wines of Alsace !
A visit to this region is always a delightful experience. This small group tour has been designed to make you discover the history, culture, food and wines of Alsace through carefully chosen visits that combine the most significant sights to off the beaten path locations that only a very small group tour will permit.
- DAY 1 - ARRIVAL TRANSFER IN STRASBOURG
- DAY 2 - GOURMET WALKING TOUR & HALF DAY WINE TOUR
- DAY 3 - PEARLS OF ALSACE DAY TOUR
- DAY 4 - DEPARTURE TRANSFER IN STRASBOURG
Come and discover one of the most fascinating regions of France through one of our exclusive regional tours. Alsace, unlike the other French Regions, abounds in both French and German influences. The majority of the population speaks French with a decided German accent, the cuisine is an able blend of French and German cooking, many of the towns of the region have German names and the village architecture delights in a pronounced Germanic influence.
DAY 1 - ARRIVAL IN STRASBOURG / HOTEL TRANSFER
Pick up in Strasbourg (Airport/Train Station) and private transfer to your centrally located hotel. Check in at your hotel and night in Strasbourg.
DAY 2 – GOURMET WALKING TOUR & HALF DAY WINE TOUR
Breakfast at your hotel.
Sample the Flavors of Strasbourg
10.00am Pick up in front of Tourism Office of Strasbourg on Cathedral Square
Discover the city of Strasbourg in a fun & informative way as you taste some of the best gastronomic produce of Alsace. Cuisine and gourmet food are passions for most French people and the region has many specialties combining its unique French and Germanic cultural heritage - a very special flavor!
From lovely fresh white asparagus, local Foie-Gras, juniper flavored sauerkraut, pies made from local berries, smocked mountain hams, colorful Quetsche plums, breads of all shapes, to delicious cakes and pastries, our local produce are known all over France.
Follow your guide as you are introduced to some of the local food as well as traditional Arts & Crafts. Along the way, we will have your sample local food such as cured meat & cheese paired with local wines.
Other stops will include tasting some traditional breads and Pretzels as well as Pain d’épices – our very own Gingerbread. This gourmet tour would not be complete without several tastings of delicious wines that might even include Crémant d’Alsace, a delicious local sparkling wine! The tour will also take you through stunning districts such as the Petite France.
A Wonderful Snapshot of Alsace Wines
2.00pm Pick up in front of Post Office facing Train Station
Depart for a half day tour along the Alsace wine route to discover some of the most fascinating wines of France. Renowned for its aromatic white wines, the region is ideally suited with a dry and sunny climate, complex geology, favorable soils and excellent exposure. During this half day tour, you will wine taste in 2 wineries so as to find out all there is to know about the 7 different types of Alsace wines.
First, depart for the lovely town of Obernai located on the ‘Wine Route’. Here you will most certainly appreciate its little winding streets, old houses with multicolored tiles, ensigns, ramparts and the statue of St Odile patron saint of Alsace. After a guided walking tour of the town enjoy your first wine tasting session in one of our selected wineries. Your tour will then continue along the breathtaking Alsace wine route to admire the stunning landscape. On your way, enjoy a second wine tasting session in a typical Alsace ‘caveau’.
6.00pm return to Strasbourg and night at your hotel.
DAY 3 – PEARLS OF ALSACE
Breakfast at your hotel.
9.00am Pick up in front of Tourism Office of Strasbourg on Cathedral Square
Beautiful Towns, villages and Amazing Landscapes - What a Combination!
Pick up in Strasbourg and depart for the beautiful town of Colmar. Discover the charm of the old town, its prestigious monuments, the Pfister house, the Koïfhus, Saint Martin collegiate church, and the picturesque neighborhoods of small Venice or of the tanners.
Then depart for the most beautiful village of Eguisheim. Surrounded by vineyards, the narrow and concentric streets highlight the architectural merits of its half-timbered houses, lovingly decorated with flowers. After a walk in the village your tour then continues on to the beautiful town of Riquewihr. Surrounded by ramparts, the village has been very fortunate to survive war and destruction. Its tiny streets, fortified walls and old houses have preserved their 16C splendor virtually intact, making for remarkable architectural harmony. Free time for personal discovery and lunch.
Following Lunch, Enjoy the Spectacular Alsace ‘Wine Route’
Located between the Rhine valley and the Vosges mountain range, the 60-year-old route winds across the slopes for more than 170 kms. The itinerary leads across rows of undulating, vine covered hills, and through quaint villages with narrow streets and charming flower decked houses clustered around the local church steeple. Your guide will stop in several areas for great photo opportunities.
End the day with an English Tour of an Amazing Castle
Finally, reach the mighty Haut Koenigsbourg castle. Here, follow your guide for a tour of this mighty fortress that overlooks the valley. Built in 12th century, the Castle occupied a strategic position controlling the wine and wheat routes to the North and the salt route that came from the East. After the visit return to Strasbourg.
6.00pm Return to Strasbourg.
This Evening will be Devoted to a Traditional Dinner in a Local Restaurant
Tonight, enjoy a fabulous regional dinner in one of the most traditional restaurants of Strasbourg – known as a Winstub: The Winstub, literally “wine lounge”, recreates the Alsatian way of life. Originally, it was a room open to the public where wine growers could sell off the surplus of their production. Nowadays, the Winstub is a typical Alsatian restaurant, where the wine is served in carafe accompanied by traditional dishes such as Choucroute (or Sauerkraut), Baeckaoffa - a hotpot of potatoes garnished with a selection of meats marinated in white wine, cooked in a terrine dish – and many more. Don’t be surprised to eat shoulder to shoulder on wooden tables, often covered with tablecloths with red check where the usual customers often “try to solve the world’s problems”.
Night at your hotel.
DAY 4 - DEPARTURE TRANSFER IN STRASBOURG
Breakfast at your hotel and transfer to Strasbourg train station / airport.
