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Regions à la carte
Eastern France
Region at a glance |
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 Major city:
Strasbourg
German influence
in language, architecture and cuisine
Picturesque half-timbered houses with flower boxes along
canals
Fortress-like castles
Wine route with many medieval villages to visit along the
way.
Alsace is like a fairy
tale; half-timbered houses adorned with flowers, gabled
roofs, and chimneys topped with stork nests. The majestic
forests and peaceful lakes of the Upper Vosges are
perfect for hiking or biking. The famous Wine Road winds
its way through 75 miles of storybook villages. Other
theme itineraries, such as the Romanesque Road or Rhine
Road make exploration easy.
Strasbourg is not only Alsace's
capital, but is the heart of United Europe. Yet away from
its modern buildings, down canals and pedestrian
alleyways is the enchanting medieval section known as
"Petite France." Colmar, a lovely Renaissance
town is home to the extraordinary Unterlinden Museum. A
restored 13th Century nunnery, the Unterlinden's square
courtyard is flanked by its former chapel where the
Isenheim Altarpiece now hangs. In Mulhouse, visitors find
a museum dedicated to the automobile. Five hundred
classic cars, including many rare Bugattis, are preserved
inside.
Former fortresses like
Riquewihr and Kaysersberg have been bypassed by
history, survivors of the wrecking ball that has
brought progress to larger cities and towns. Their
streets and turreted walls once meant to repel
invaders now invite children to discover that history
is more than just museums.
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Places of interest |
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Colmar |
Bartholdi, Unterlinden Museum |
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Le Grand Ballon |
Highest peak of the Vosges with beautiful views |
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Guebwiller |
Quaint village located along the wine road |
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Haut-Koenigsbourg |
Restored castle
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Kayserberg |
Village on the wine route with old houses, bridge
and renaissance architecture |
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Lembach |
Chateau de Fleckenstein, Four à Faux |
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Le Mont-Saint Odile |
Religious pilgrimage site, beautiful view of the
Alsatian plains |
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Mulhouse |
Automobile Museum, Railway Museum, Fine Arts
Museum, Fabrics Museum, Wallpaper Museum |
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Obernai |
Marketplace, City Hall, Chapel Tower |
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Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé |
Two medieval cities known for their wines and
architectural treasures |
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Saverne |
Château des Rohans, Archeological Museum, Museum of
Art and Histor |
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Sélestat |
Old town and world famous Humanist Library |
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Strasbourg |
European Parliament,Court of Human Rights,
Cathedral with astronomic clock, Museum of L'Oeuvre Notre Dame,
Kammerzell House, Alsatian Museum, the "Petite France"
historical district |
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Trois Epis |
WWI memorial |
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Wissembourg
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Church of St. Pierre & Paul, Bruch Quarter, Museum
Westercamp |
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Technical
tourism and sports |
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The wine route of Alsace winds for 75 miles along
the eastern side of the Vosges, across hillsides and deep
valleys sprinkled with châteaux and half-timbered houses.
Tobacco and beer factories.
Skiing, cross country skiing, biking, hiking, barging |
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Cuisine |
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One of the most celebrated regional dishes
is choucroute, made with fluffy
sauerkraut, ham and sausage, but keep in mind some of France's
most treasured pâté de foie gras come from Alsace's farms. The
fresh trout or partridge redefine the meaning of "the fare of
the country," and a tarte flambée, a pizza-like dish baked
with fresh cream, is considered vital to one's health and
general well-being. The pleasures of the table are usually
capped off by colorless but potent fruit brandies known
collectively as l'eau de vie, the water of life.
Alsatian white wines, dry and rich in bouquet, are sold under
the name of the grape from which they are made. Among the most
famous, all entitled to "appellation d'origine controlée"
(meaning they must come from a specific area), are Sylvaner,
Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Muscat d'Alsace, Tokay
Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer.
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