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Alsace, France tourist information

Alsace is found in eastern France, on the border with Germany to the east and the Lorraine region of France to the west.  It is the smallest region in France and very pretty in its location between the Vosges mountains and the Rhine. The setting also means that it has a perfect, fertile environment for grape growing and wine production.

The 'trademarks' of the region include:

- the attractive villages with streets of half-timbered houses overflowing with geraniums - many of these are found along the popular 'Alsace Wine Route ('Route des vins')

- the attractive mountain scenery of the Vosges range

- the castles, many in ruins, that dot the region

The departments in Alsace are: Bas Rhin (north) and Haut Rhin (south)

Alsace has a very individual personality - neither French or German, but somewhere between the two. It is also known as one of the most friendly and welcoming regions of France, although the local dialect can be hard for outsiders to understand.

Places to visit in Alsace

(organised by regions progressively further south in the Alsace region)

North of Strasbourg

This is the northernmost part of Alsace.

Strasbourg is the capital if this heavily forested region, in which the climate is almost 'continental' - hot summers and dry, cold winters.

North of Strasbourg there are some fascinating ruined castles, especially among the hills just west of Wissembourg in the north - example at Fleckenstein

Another town worth visiting is at Saverne, and be sure to see the churches at Marmoutier and Neuwiller-les-Saverne,

A 'most beautiful village' in this part of Alsace is Hunspach

 

Around Selestat

Still in the Bas-Rhin department, in the northern half of Alsace...

There is another cluster of castles in the region around Sélestat. These include Chateau du Haut-Koenigsbourg and Chateau Andlau. (The former of these features in our dedicated French castles section)

- the popular hilltop pilgrimage destination at Mont-Sainte-Odile is a few kilometres from Chateau Andlau

- discover popular Obernai and quiet neighbour Barr

Other towns include Kintzheim (and the aviary in the castle), Rosheim and Molsheim

- stop to see the abbey at Ebersmunster and, by contrast, the little chapel at Epfig

- Le Struthof, the only WWII concentration camp built in France (part of Germany during the war) is in this part of Alsace

 

Around Colmar

In Haut-Rhin department, southern Alsace you can visit Colmar, and three 'most beautiful villages of France nearby at Eguisheim and Riquewihr, and Hunawihr

COLMAR

- the town of Kaysersberg should be a priority for a visit, and the towns of Munster, Turckheim, and Ribeauvillé each have their own characteristics to discover and explore

- the Vauban designed defensive town at Neuf Brisach is in this part of Alsace

 

Around Mulhouse

This is the most southerly part of Alsace.

Mulhouse itself is an industrial centre, but with some fascinating museums.

Very popular at Ungersheim are the Ecomuseum (the largest in France, with more than 70 reconstructed period house) and the Biosphere

Try not to miss the abbey at Murbach, then perhaps the church at Ottmarsheim

Popular towns in the region include Altkirch, also Soultz-Haut-Rhin and Guebwiller,

Visit Alsace - travel information

Map of Alsace, France