Alsace Travel Forum

Hi guys...I'm planning on spending next weekend in Alsace, and I'm just curious if anyone has some suggestions for what I just HAVE to see!? I don't want to miss out on anything!

Thanks,
Amy

Hi amy,
Welcome in my home region :)
Well one week-end is pretty short, but you should start with Strasbourg:
- the Cathedral is marvelous! From outside, from the top, or from inside.
If you go inside, check out the "atomic clock", a huge clock that has been working for five hundred years... the best is to come at twelve to see all the little characters move.
- then you should see the district of "Petite France" which is the oldest part of the city, some houses date back from the 12th century. It's not far from the Cathedral and pretty well indicated.
- If you're into museum, there are a lot of historical museums to see, depending on your interests.
- The covered bridge ("ponts couverts") is an old building placed where the river splits in four (which creates the original islands on which the city was first build), there is a nice view from there.

Now the rest of Alsace, well that's tough.. it's big :)
There are a lot of really cute picturesque villages, especially along the "wine road" (route des vins), where you can also taste a lot of good wines :)
example of villages that I like:
- Obernai (historical center + surrounding citywalls)
- Riquewihr
- Colmar (historical center)
- Kaysersberg
- Ribeauvillé
... and so on..

There are also a bunch of castles and ruins. Some are pretty well re-built and maintained, for example the castle of Haut-Koenigsbourg. But there are also hundreds of other medieval castles which look more like ruins; they are really nice as well, a lot less touristy and very genuine.

That's all I have in mind for now. Tell me if that's the kind of info you were looking for! Otherwise, feel free to ask about anything else!
Enjoy
/Anne

Well, 5 times is a little much, but your posting is more than complete!!!

The castle of Hautkoenigsbourg is a nice site as well, and Obernai, Riquewihr, Colmar - all those places are just wonderful!!!

Try to have a look at various VT Alsace pages or Strasbourg pages or Colmar pages - and you might just find things, that attract you!!!

Have a great weekend in the Alsace!

Christine

Lucky you! Colmar is touristy but wonderful :-)

Wow, a whole weekend...I think I only had 3 hours in Alsace. In addition to everything that everyone else has already said, Wissembourg is another charming little town worth visiting. It's near the German border on the Wine Road. If you were so inclined, you could make the sort trip across the border and go to the German Wine Gate (Deutsches Weintor)-the official start of the German Wine Road.
Wissembourg has a nice cathedral, the Salthouse-a building with a pecuilarly drooping roof-and great Flammkuchen.

Would be intrested in how it worked out. I will be there mid October for 4 days and want to work down the wine road from Obernai down to Mulhouse. I am interested in 1) wineries, 2) small villages and towns, 3) views of mountains and the like, and, of course, the food.

Did you find any outstanding places?.

I will be there for 4 days in October and then to Mulhouse to run a conference 19-20, departing on 21 (going to Switzerland for 4-5 days first before Alsace). Would it be best to start at Obernai (been to Strasbourg so that not on my schedule) and wind my way down, staying in a different spot each day, or to pick a town and stay for 3-4 nites and use the town as base for touring (I will be with wife and have car).