Alsace, unlike other French Regions, abounds in both French and German influences. Follow this intimate, Personalized Tour that will lead you through this wonderful region and discover the History, Culture, Food & Wines with a local Guide.
Get Up Close and Discover the True, Authentic Alsace, see beautiful villages & drink local wine!
DAY 1 - ARRIVAL TRANSFER IN STRASBOURG
DAY 2 - STRASBOURG WALKING TOUR / FLAMMEKUECHE WORKSHOP / WINE TASTING TOUR
DAY 3 - HAUT KOENIGSBOURG CASTLE / VISITE OF RIQHEWIHR AND COLMAR
DAY 4 - A DAY IN THE BLACK FOREST
DAY 5 - 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. A visit to this region is always a delightful experience. This very personalized tour has been meticulously designed to have you discover the history, culture, food and wines of Alsace through carefully chosen visits that combine the most significant sights as well as off the beaten path locations that only such a unique tour will permit.
DAY 1 - Arrival in Strasbourg - private 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 – Strasbourg guided walking tour / Flammekueche Workshop / Wine Tasting
Breakfast at your hotel.
9.30am Pick up at your hotel.
Walking tour of the the city, including the cathedral
Follow your certified guide around the old pedestrian areas, the Cathedral and the Petite France neighborhood. The tour includes major landmarks such as Maison Kammerzell, Gutenberg square, St. Thomas church, the former tanners’ houses, the Covered Bridge and many more.
The old city centers around its Gothic cathedral, Our Lady of Strasbourg, built of red sandstone and described by Victor Hugo as a “gigantic and delicate marvel”! Discover the marvelous façade that provides one of the finest picture books of the Middle Ages that you will ever see. The hundreds of sculptures which almost seem to leap out at you from the wall make great use of light and shadow effects.
Another major attraction that your guide will comment are the stained-glass windows dating from the 12th and 14th centuries and that form a particularly enchanting sight along with the rose window.
Finally, the highlight of the visit is the amazing Renaissance astronomical clock. Built in 1843 it features an orrery, a rotating display of the sun and moon, a planetary calendar, and even a mechanical rooster. Each day at around 12:30, the bird crows and a conga line of apostles issues forth from the clockworks, led by a little Christ.
Give Making Flammekueche a Go
11.00 am Learn the secrets of making traditional Alsatian “tarte flambée” during a 45-minute baking workshop with an expert chef. This is a hands-on cookery lesson in a local “winstub” with group size limited to eight people. Finish the class by eating your own freshly baked flammekueche and wash it down with a glass of wine! It makes for the perfect self-made, local lunch.
After arriving at the local activity provider’s location, enjoy your flammekueche cooking lesson just before lunch. The price includes the cooking class; then you get to eat 1/2 a traditional flammekueche and 1/4 of a traditional sweet flammekueche. A drink is also included: 25cl beer (must be 18+), 1 soft drink or a small bottle of mineral water, or 1 glass of Alsace white wine.
A Wonderful Snapshot of Alsace Wines in the afternoon
After some free time for personal discovery and lunch, you will head towards the small village of Obernai. During your visit, 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. Following a walking tour of the village, enjoy two commented wine tasting session in carefully selected local ‘caveaus’ (wine cellar). Your tour will then continue along the breathtaking Alsace wine route to admire the stunning landscape.
5.30pm Return to your hotel and night in Strasbourg.
DAY 3 – Pearls of Alsace
Breakfast at your hotel.
9.00am pick up at your hotel.
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 dinner at a traditional restaurant in 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 – A day in the Black Forest
Breakfast at your hotel.
9.30am Pick up at your hotel.
Experience Freiburg and Its Lovely Old Quarter
On this tour discover Freiburg, a town known for its ancient university and its medieval minster (Cathedral), for its high standard of living and advanced environmental practices. The city is situated in the heart of a major wine-growing region and is the primary entry point to the scenic beauty of the Black Forest.
Depart from your centrally located hotel in Strasbourg and head towards the town of Freiburg. The town has more to offer than friendly faces alone, including one of Germany’s prettiest old quarters, with its characteristic Bächle – the narrow channels of water that run alongside the pavements. Add to that a wealth of culture and history, lots of cafés and cosy bars, delicious regional food and scenic surroundings. This morning, follow your guide on a walking tour to discover all the main monuments and sights of the town.
Then, a Trip Through the Black Forest (Just Try Not to Eat Too Much Cake!)
After some free time for personal discovery and lunch, head towards the scenic route of the Black Forest. The Black Forest is a wooded mountain range bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 meters (4,898 feet). The name Black Forest comes from the general dark color of the numerous pine trees that grow in this region. The Black Forest gateau and the cuckoo clocks originate from this region. Here, you will follow the scenic route and stop in a small quaint mountain village that borders one of the most beautiful lakes of the area. You might want to try the local food such as the cured meats or the world-famous Black Forest cake that leaves nobody indifferent! After the tour, return to Strasbourg.
Benefit from the undivided attention of your guide on this private tour.
5.30pm return to your hotel and night in Strasbourg.
DAY 5 - DEPARTURE TRANSFER IN STRASBOURG
Breakfast at your hotel and transfer to Strasbourg train station / airport.
