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The Alsace Wine Route, which is now thoroughly popular, was not yet heard of when we, 3 girls, hit the road; because the year was 2013!
Why visit Alsace?
This region, close to the German border of France, is famous for its delicious wines, but I think it attracts many senses with its colorful houses, historical texture, and macaron-smelling streets. There is also the attractive language, French. 🙂
Our Alsace Route
Our journey started by renting a car from Stuttgart. Then it continued through Strasbourg, Obernai, Barr, Ribeauville, Riquewihr, Colmar and ended again in Stuttgart. I have had already determined the major points of the route. But it is so enjoyable to go through these small villages making sudden changes in the way when we see a sign of a new attractive sight.
Strasbourg and Colmar are the most famous cities in this region. You have to be visited. Each village on this route has a different beauty. You can go to different villages. Then you take only a few photos, or to taste the local delicacies of the French cuisine. They are so close to each other that you can easily catch up to 4-5 of them in a day.
What did we do on Alsace Wine Route?
We drove by car from Stuttgart through the Black Forest in Germany. I especially planned this route, because the Black Forest has incredible natural beauty, we were already fascinated by the beauty of nature before we reached our final destination.
First Stop Strasbourg
After a little break on the road, we arrived in Strasbourg at noon. The distance is actually quite short, normally can be reached with a two-hour ride. We’ve extended our journey a bit to enjoy the route.
In our first destination, Strasbourg Cathedral welcomed us with all its glory. We wandered all the streets, especially the streets of the Petit-France region. We enjoyed the colorful historical houses and of course, moved step by step to take a nice photo of each beautiful corner. In the evening, we spent plenty of time around the Barrage Vauban, which was a 17th-century bridge, illuminated by colorful lights.
Next Stop Obernai
Then the next stop, Obernai! We chose to stay in this small and lovely village. Fortunately, we did, so we found the chance to stay in one of the old houses we admire and we enjoyed it a lot. In the morning, we were on the way to one of the French patisseries which spread irresistible delicious smells all over. As 3 girls traveling through France, is it possible to stay away from macarons and croissants?
Third Destination Mont Sainte-Odile
After visiting Obernai, our next destination was Mont Sainte-Odile. This is a monastery built on a hill overlooking the region and offers great views. Besides, the route that climbs up was so beautiful that it is a reason on its own to visit this monastery.
Saint-Odile, which made us feel like being on top of the clouds because of the fog in the early morning, gave us a remarkable experience. I think it is one of the places that is a must-see in this region.
Then Comes Barr
After Saint-Odile, we continued traveling to the south and reached Barr. Fortunately, there was a grape harvest festival here, and we spent quite a pleasant time wandering in the open-air market and drinking a lot of grape juice. (Because they weren’t turned into wine yet. :))
Ribeauvillé and Riquewihr
The next day our stops were Ribeauvillé and Riquewihr. I think these two villages must definitely be visited. With their colorful houses with colorful flowers in their balconies, pastry shops, lively streets hosting many tourists, they were my favorites in this route.
And Finally Colmar…
Our last stop on this route was Colmar and Colmar didn’t let us down. Again we took a long walk through the beautiful streets, we took photos of each corner and we especially enjoyed the beautiful area called La Petite Venise. This place and its colorful houses are built between small canals, so it’s called The Little Venice. But if you ask me, it’s much nicer than Venice and much more enjoyable.
How Long Should Be Planned?
We have completed this route in 3 days but there are many more villages to be seen for those who have more time. You can visit the vineyards and go wine tasting. We bought plenty of wine on the way back 🙂
What are the tricks for this region?
I have visited this area twice, once in October, once in March and I can clearly say that the right time is definitely October. The colors of autumn create a fairy-tale world also in this region, but the main difference is the colorful flowers hanging down from every window. In March, these flowers do not offer the same visual feast as they have not blossomed yet, so the summer-autumn season is definitely the right choice.
Autumn Is More Fun In Alsace
Also in autumn, there are grape harvest festivals. We did not have a chance to take these into account, but for those who can plan a more flexible trip, these festivals will be quite enjoyable.
Wine Is A Must Try
As mentioned at the beginning, the region’s reputation comes from its wines. In this region, mostly white wine is produced and local pinot gris and riesling wines are very tasty. Even those who do not like white wine can get addicted.
French Cusine
Here, of course, the French cuisine prevails and the local Tarte Flambee is very tasty. This thin dough is topped with sour cream, cheese, onions, and bacon and is really delicious when done well. For those who do not consume pork, vegetarian choices are available, of course. And it is a must to have some regional wine with it.
Have Breakfast Like A French
It is very enjoyable to have your breakfast in the small bakeries in the villages. In the morning, you will be smelling freshly baked croissants and macarons overall, do not resist these delicious smells and enjoy the French breakfast.
Sweets Everywhere!
Here, you might see the famous quote from Marie Antoinette “Let them eat brioche” come true. Croissants and macarons, which are abundantly eaten in the first days, cause the salty breakfast that we are used to, to be missed. Inexperienced travelers like us here may encounter a minor problem. The bakeries are closed on Mondays, so it’s hard to find bread. But if the bakeries are open, if the macarons still didn’t bore you, you can stay comfortable and continue eating sweets. If you make a Monday the last day of the holiday and try to find some bread and cheese, you will have some problems. Looking for a bakery all the way, at last we stopped in a gas station and bought some packed bread and sliced cheese to have breakfast in the car. That day that heavy-scented French cheese turned into the most delicious cheese I’ve ever tasted 🙂 🙂
Alsace Is Just Lovely…
The Alsace Wine Route is an ideal area for a few-day trip. Colorful houses, delicious wines, scent of macarons will let you enjoy the life in a fairy-tale world…
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