Alsace... On the shores of the Rhine river

Alsace...

© ADT du Haut-Rhin

...On the shores of the Rhine river

About 400 km from Paris, north east of France on the borders of Germany and Switzerland, Alsace is the smallest of all the French regions. It is divided into 2 administrative departments, the Bas-Rhin (Lower Rhine) with its capital Strasbourg and the Haut-Rhin (Upper Rhine) the capital of which is Colmar.

Covering an area of 8280 km2, Alsace spreads out between the shores of the Rhine River and the Vosges Mountains. It has a diverse and rich landscape divided among its prairies, valleys, fir and beech forests, plains, mountaintops and vineyards.

Alsace offers its visitors a diverse nature and a rich human and technological heritage. It is famous for its beautiful towns and villages, and their charming houses with timber studs and the colorful and flowery balconies and windows.


La Route des Vins

It is a paradise for trekkers who will find unlimited tracks through the plains and cultivated lands, hills and vineyards, the Vosges Mountains and its fir forests. Among these forests, one can also discover splendid castles protecting the ancestral roots and civilization.

There are many traced routes and paths for those interested to discover the region on foot or on mountain bikes.

The most famous is "La route des vins d'Alsace" (the wine route of Alsace), which covers a track of 170 km passing through vineyards, forests, ruins of castles, ramparts, wine caves, roman churches and many more villages and towns.

The 3 major cities of Alsace are Strasbourg, Mulhouse, and Colmar. The intellectual cultural and financial capital of Alsace, Strasbourg is also the capital of the parliamentary institutions of Europe, including the European Court of Human Rights. The Cathedral, the symbol of Strasbourg, is one of the most beautiful ones in France and is a masterpiece of medieval architecture.

Mulhouse is the industrial and economic center of Alsace. Although the remains of its medieval past are rare (except for a tower or two), it attracts a lot of visitors for its museums. In fact after Paris, the most visited museums are here.

Colmar is the agricultural and winemaking town. Known as the capital of Alsace's wines, it is an important touristic center. Colmar is famous for its old districts, especially the old tanner's district which has been renovated to create one of the most picturesque areas, known today as "Petite Venise" (Little Venice).

For more details on Alsace visit our guide section.