Alsace Wine Trail

• Easy walking through vineyards, ancient oak forest and totally unspoilt gingerbread villages bedecked with flowers
• Romantic castles, Gothic churches, exquisite Riquewihr and Colmar - the Venice of Alsace
• Great views of the Black Forest, Vosges mountains and their string of stone castles on panoramic crags Storks, butterflies, orchids, birds of prey
• Easy driving distance from the UK or take the high speed TGV from Paris

This gentle, relaxed walking route runs in parallel with the central part of the famous Route du Vin, where practically every colourful village has its own vineyard and east-facing ruined castle. There are countless opportunities to taste wines along your way. The Alsatian vignerons are so proud of what they produce that they will insist you sample their whole range, while everyone enjoys a good chat. We find them really hospitable and welcoming

The walks average three hours a day - options to extend on some days - and follow sentiers viticoles (paths via neatly-groomed vineyards) and pleasant forest tracks. And all along your way, you'll find exquisitely preserved villages, dominated from the heights by their own feudal castles, usually only two or three kilometres apart. Geraniums spill from window boxes and balconies, and the half-timbered buildings can be plastered in pastel colours, bright blue, apricot or red.