Alsace is a part of France with a hint of Germany; the region runs west to east from the pine-clad Vosges Mountains through some of the most beautiful vineyards in France, to the mighty river Rhine and the German border.

The Alsace Wine Route is one of the oldest and well-known wine routes in France. Our tour is based in one of the small wine producing villages, perfect to explore the flavours and fascinations of the surrounding region.

Inclusions

2 overnight stays on a half board basis
5 nights at resort hotel including buffet breakfast & dinner
Cellar Tour & Tasting in Saint-Hippolyte
Excursion to Strasbourg
Excursion to the Écomusée d’Alsace
Excursion to the Alsace Villages

Day 1: We will make our way to our overnight hotel, the Mercure Reims Parc Des Expositions, arriving in time for dinner.

Day 2: After breakfast we will continue our journey to Alsace and our resort hotel in Saint-Hippolyte.

Day 3: Saint-Hippolyte is a wine-producing village, famous for its Pinot Noir, ‘Rouge de Saint-Hippolyte’. We will appreciate a taste of what the region and the town has on offer by enjoying a cellar visit followed by a tasting of 6 wines accompanied by traditional Alsatian dishes.

We will enjoy the rest of the day at leisure; you may choose to relax at the hotel or you may prefer to spend some time exploring Saint-Hippolyte. A typical local village well known for its Pinot Noir, Saint-Hippolyte is encircled by a well-conserved medieval wall; it has some Renaissance and Baroque houses leading to the square in front of the Town Hall and the 14^th century church. 

Day 4: Today we will travel to Strasbourg, one of France’s most appealing and sophisticated cities. Strasbourg looks like something out of a Black Forest fairy-tale, with medieval half-timbered houses covered in flowers and set in cobbled squares. Be sure to view the impressive Gothic cathedral and the numerous bridges crossing the River Ill. Wander the little streets of ‘Petit France’ lined with charming inns and flower-bedecked timbered houses, you may even have time to enjoy a short cruise on the river.

Day 5: Our excursion today will take us the Écomusée d’Alsace, the largest living open-air museum in France and shows an Alsatian village from the early 20^th century. Experience what life was like in rural Alsace and explore the extraordinary heritage of the Écomusée d’Alsace, with its houses, crafts, cooking, agriculture and also its surroundings with its gardens, river and fields. Traditional festivities, daily activities and events for all the family, remarkable exhibitions, rides on boats or tractor or horse-drawn carriages, participative workshops and classes, it’s all here in the Écomusée; the museum is a mirror of regional heritage.

Day 6: Today our excursion takes us to two villages classified as being the ‘Most Beautiful Villages in France’. We will take the short journey to Ribeauvillé, one of the oldest medieval towns in Alsace. The town and neighbouring hills are dominated by the majestic ruins of the Three Castles of the Ribeaupierre. The Grand-Rue (main street) and its picturesque neighbouring streets, lined with 15^th to 18^th century buildings, are scattered with Renaissance fountain-decorated squares. The cafés, restaurants and shops certainly will not disappoint.

In the afternoon we will travel on to the delightful, small walled town of   Riquewihr.  Essential of the wine route, Riquewihr cultivates vines on the heavy soils of slopes well sheltered from the North wind.  The town itself   seems straight out of the past with its beautiful half-timbered houses and picturesque alleys.

Day 7: Today sadly we must begin our journey home stopping overnight at the Mercure Reims Parc Des Expositions, arriving in time for dinner.

Day 8: After breakfast we will continue our journey home.