About Alsace
Dreaming of your Summer Holidays? Imagine warm summer days spent in cosy inns, family-run hotels, romantic gites, caravan or campsites. Think of the very best in wine and food and combine with images of fairy-tale half timbered houses in neat well kept villages and towns set amid a landscape of heavily wooded mountains, vineyards, valleys and lush plains.
This is Alsace, the smallest and some say the most scenic of all the wine growing regions in France. Bordered on the north by Germany and on the south by Switzerland, Alsace comprises of the two Departments of Haut Rhin and Bas Rhin. It is blessed with a natural beauty and offers a wide choice of holiday accommodation. Alsace is not only famed for its hospitality. The French and German cuisine and fine locally produced wines have all earned worldwide respect. No matter whether you are a nibbler, hearty eater, diner, gourmet, vegetarian or vegan, there is something to satisfy every appetite.
Family groups of all ages will discover a multi-choice of year-round attractions and events designed to please and entertain. Younger children will delight in many of the activities offered in the imaginative Adventure Parks. Explore forest lined cycle and walking trails and empty roads. Go mountain biking in the splendour of the Vosges, experience summertime grass sledging. Sample the thrills of para-gliding, bungee jumping or the exhilaration of winter cross-country skiing. Take a wine and gastronomy organized tour or a holiday featuring golfing, fishing or horse riding. Complete a relaxing day with an evening stroll in the peace of one of the many geranium festooned villages all of whom compete for the coveted award of “village of flowers”.
The 34 castles of the region are magnificent well preserved monuments of the past. Of these, Haut-Koenisbourg is a well established favourite not only for its majestic hauteur but for its stunning location high in the mountains of the Vosges. The views of the surrounding countryside are spectacular. A few kilometers to the west of the castle is the town of Selestat. Here, in the Humanist Library the first recorded sale of a Christmas tree is noted in a document dated 1521.
Christmas in Alsace is and always has been a special occasion. Great efforts are made by all to create a magical atmosphere designed to enhance the togetherness of family and friends. The houses of the towns and villages are decorated inside and out in colourful expressions of the Festive Season and every child eagerly waits for the arrival of Saint Nicholas and the Christkindel accompanied by Hans Trapp. Christmas celebrations begin around the end of November with the opening of the Christmas Markets. Strasbourg Market is said to be the oldest in France and others not to be missed are those of Selestat, Colmar, Mulhouse, Saverne and Haguenau.
Many hotels and guesthouses have attractive Christmas Breaks on offer and of particular appeal to the family groups are the comfortable well equipped gites with traditional log burning stoves adding to the cosiness of the moment.
Spring, summer and autumn fairs and festivals are plentiful throughout the region. Many of the most memorable are to mark the completion of the grape harvest. These are celebrated in fine style and made all the more enjoyable by opportunities to savour the quality of locally produced wines and food delicacies.
Alsace provides an “embarrass de choix” and offers an “a la carte”menu of all the fundamental ingredients essential for the complete holiday package. It is a quality region of natural beauty, imposing and dignified historical buildings. It gives the chance to pick and choose from an array of attractions, festivals and entertainments supported by generous hospitality and comfort of a comprehensive range of hotels, guest houses, pensions. gites, hostels, camping and caravan sites. Alsace is “ne plus ultra”, a worthy choice and a destination we are confident that once tasted you will want to return again and again.