A Weekend in the Alsace, France

The Alsace region of France is lush with grapevines, cute chocolate box villages, and delicious Germanic food. This border region boasts some fantastic wines, so winery hopping is a must on your weekend in the Alsace.

France is a huge country and is very diverse; so while we live in France, exploring a different region with different food and influences is fantastic fun. While this article only scratches the surface of the Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin regions, it will offer a glimpse of the delights on offer there.

I recommend hiring a car or driving to the region, as some of the best attractions are only accessible by car, or tour.

Things to do on a Weekend in the Alsace, France

Explore the old town in Colmar

Colmar is the largest town in the haut-rhin (the lower part of the historic Alsace). Known for its gorgeous half-timber medieval houses and winding old town streets; Colmar is every bit as delightful in-person as it is in photo.

We were captivated by the window boxes full of summer flowers, the canals, the restaurants spilling out onto the street, and the friendly people.

Where to eat in Colmar

When you visit the Alsace, some of the foods you are likely to discover are:

• Flammekueche (a thin pizza-like dish, with a crème fraîche sauce instead of tomato) – visit Restaurant La Soï (17 Rue des Marchands) for fantastic Flammekueche.
  
• Choucroute Garnie (a local Alsatian sauerkraut) – try Aux Armes de Colmar (2b Rue Rapp) for a delicious choucroute and an array of braised pork and sausages.
  
• Spätzle (a cross between a noodle and a dumpling) commonly served as a side instead of potatoes – almost every restaurant in the Alsace serves Spätzle, so you’ll have no problem finding it.

Where to stay in Colmar

A beautiful high-end option is the Relais & Châteaux La Maison Des Têtes, right in the heart of the old town.

For a mid-range option, the ever-reliable Ibis brand has one of its Ibis Styles hotels in the centre also, and at very competitive prices.

A budget hotel option in Colmar is the Ibis Budget hotel near the train station.

Chocolate Box Village Hopping

The Alsace really is gorgeous, and full of delightful chocolate box villages. The half-timber houses date back to the 15th and 16th century, and are maintained in bright and flourishing colours. Window boxes are planted with geraniums and wisteria drapes gayly over terraces. You will not see cuter villages anywhere.

Here are some of my favourite villages to visit in the Alsace:

Kaysersberg

Surrounded by vines, Kaysersberg is one of the villages on the Alsace Wine Route. In the shadow of the ruins of the 13th century Château du Schlossberg; Kaysersberg also has the Weiss River running through / under some of the centre.

The winemaker’s houses are stone at the bottom, with living quarters above in half-timber framing. This ensured the cellars didn’t freeze in winter. These days, restaurants and wineries spill out onto the cobbled streets. At Christmas, the vibe is about is festive as it comes.

Have a meal at Le Moreote, and try some of the exceptional vins et crémants at Bestheim.

Where to stay in Kaysersberg

If you want to enjoy a night in Kaysersberg (or use it as a base for your Alsace adventures), the high-end Le Chambard Hotel Restaurant Alsace is a beautiful option in the centre of town. Hôtel les Remparts is a good mid-range option as an alternative.

Le Chambard is sadly where Anthony Bourdain died – so it is worth a visit to pay your respects to the legend he was.

Riquewihr

Riquewihr is an absolute fairytale. Although with that, comes more crowds – so you will have to share this gorgeous town with others.

From the vibrant houses, to the cute shop signs, upper door (tower) and window boxes, it is a delight. The bright yellow building on the main street was my absolute favourite.

Visit Domaine Daniel Jung on rue de la Couronne in Riquewihr. This small holding winery has a small but perfectly formed selection of family grown and made wines; including an exquisite gewürztraminer and demi-gewürtz.

Where to stay in Riquewihr

If you are driving, staying at the Best Western Hotel & Spa Le Schoenenbourg on the edge of town. For an historic centre experience, the pet-friendly Hotel Restaurant Au Cerf is right in the thick of it.

Castle Spotting in Ribeauvillé and Eguisheim

There are castles everywhere in the Alsace, but two of the best towns to explore to see some are Ribeauvillé and Eguisheim.

Ribeauvillé

Ribeauvillé is another beautiful chocolate box village, so definitely worth a visit. It also sits in the shadow of two mighty castle ruins – Château de Saint-Ulrich and Château du Haut-Ribeaupierre.

Not far north of Ribeauvillé, in Orschwiller, is the impressive 12th century Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg. Beautifully restored, this castle is deserving of at least half a day of your time. The views out over the Alsace valley are breathtaking.

Eguisheim

In the centre of Eguisheim, you have Château of Saint-Léon-Pfalz – a 13th century keep, plus a chapel built in 1895 sit squashed in the very heart of the village.

On the hill not far away, with some excellent hiking trails, you’ll see the the Three Castles of Eguisheim. The ruins of three chateau towers are visible for miles around.

Nearby, you also have the ruins of Château de Hagueneck, Château de Pflixbourg; and the Château du Hohlandsbourg, which has been restored and has exhibitions.

Wine Tasting

You can’t come to the Alsace region and not taste the incredible local wines. Don’t worry, if you don’t like the sweeter Gewürztraminers, there are delicious pinot gris, dry rieslings and pinot noirs.

There are tasting rooms in every village along the wine route; so pick your designated driver, or stay the night to explore as many as you can. Or you can take a guided tour from one of the main cities, and let someone else do the driving!

Hike in the hills around Soultzmatt and the Noble Valley

There are hiking and nature trails everywhere, but I personally love the hills around Soultzmatt and the Noble Valley. Pine forests provide shelter, and chemins (trails) up into the rolling hills give plenty of opportunity for faux ‘Sound of Music’ moments!

Where to stay in Soultzmatt

The secluded Hotel De La Vallée Noble is a quiet and laidback hotel with balconies in every room, a pool and trails at your doorstep. They have a top class restaurant, and are also pet friendly.

If you have extra time in the Alsace…

See the city of Strasbourg

Strasbourg is my favourite city in the Alsace. It is exceptionally beautiful, but small enough to walk around the centre. The cathedral is one of the most stunning buildings I have ever seen.

If you are able to extend your stay in the Alsace beyond the one weekend, I recommend adding a day or two in Strasbourg. Convivial squares of bars and restaurants, palaces, history and museums, and the quaint Petite France are picture perfect.

Pop over to the Black Forest

If you are driving and have some extra time, popping over to the Black Forest in Germany is a really fun day trip. Only 1.5 hours from Colmar, exploring the winding roads and clock shops of the Black Forest is a treat.

For a delicious black forest gateau, I recommend Café Bachbeck Konditorei in Schiltach, and Café Pause in Freudenstadt.

How to spend a weekend in the Alsace, France

We spent 2 weeks in the Alsace and could have easily spent more. However, a weekend in the Alsace will give you a great taste of the region. Being so close to the German border means that you get to experience a variety of cultures, architecture, food and wine.

The unparalleled beauty of the half-timber house villages, and the friendly people absolutely makes the Alsace a brilliant place to visit in France.

If you need advice for visiting France, please do get in touch!

All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM; and an iPhone.