Start with a tour of Alsace, a region that is, quite unusually, traditionally bilingual. Famous for its wine trails and delicious cuisine, the River Rhine forms a natural border, running from north to south. Discover its diverse landscape, from the long flat stretches of the Alsace Plain to the enchanting peaks and valleys of the Regional Natural Park Ballons des Vosges.
Discover charming Alsatian towns including Strasbourg with its “Little France” on the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Grande Île, and the old towns of Colmar, Eguisheim and Riquewihr, small jewels of medieval architecture, with their iconic half-timbered houses. If you have a little extra time, why not explore the écomusée d’Alsace, an open-air museum in Ungersheim, and Haut-Koenigsbourg castle, between Obernai and Colmar.
Back to the modern era visit the European Parliament quarter in Strasbourg, or the young and dynamic university town of Mulhouse, home to the largest car museum in Europe.
For another equally tempting option, follow the Alsace wine route, which runs north to south, from Marlenheim to Thann, virtually parallel to the Rhine. As you visit each vineyard in turn, discover Alsace’s most famous grape varieties: Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris. Enjoy some of the region’s unmissable culinary specialities with your wine: sauerkraut, tarte flambée and Kougelhopf cake, to finish on a sweet note.
Then go and explore neighbouring Lorraine, on the border with Luxembourg and Germany. Although most often associated with its industrial past and the coal reserves of the North, Lorraine has some beautiful surprises in store.
For heritage, you simply have to visit Metz, with its superb Gothic-style Saint-Etienne Cathedral, the remains of its medieval fortifications, Saint-Maximin Church with its stained-glass windows, and the banks of the Moselle River. Take a trip to Nancy to see the La Craffe door that opens onto the old medieval city, the Gothic Ducal Palace which now houses the Lorraine history museum, and UNESCO World Heritage Site Place Stanislas, with its 18th-century buildings and its art-nouveau masterpieces.
Lorraine is also one of France’s greenest regions. Go hiking in Darney Forest, or take your children to France Aventures or Amneville Zoo.
Since 1 January 2016, Alsace and Lorraine have come together to form the Grand Est region. The region is served by several airports, including Metz-Nancy-Lorraine Airport, halfway between Nancy and Metz, Strasbourg-Entzheim Airport, Colmar-Houssen Airport and Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg Airport. You can also get there from Paris on the TER regional train, and by car via on the A35 and A31 motorways.
To save money and travel stress-free, book your rental car online when making hotel reservations for your holiday in Alsace-Lorraine.
