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France : Alsace

Cycling the Wine Route of Alsace

Trip code: C05AS 4.8 (9 reviews)

Self-guided cycling

5 nights,
hotel-to-hotel

Level: 1+
Leisurely plus

Flights
available

8.0Kg CO2e

Navigation App

Book Early and Save 10%. T&Cs Apply

SUMMARY

  • Alsace's 'Route des Vins' wine road through world-famous vineyards
  • Rich historic interest: hilltop Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle and the UNESCO listed Selestat Humanist Library
  • Half-timbered houses adorned with geraniums in unspoilt villages

WHAT'S INCLUDED?

  • 5 nights accommodation
  • All breakfasts
  • Bike fitting and briefing at the start of your holiday
  • Navigation app
  • Bike hire included
  • Luggage transfers between hotels

TRIP DESCRIPTION

Discover the famous Alsace vineyards along the Alsace Wineroad cycle trail. Between Colmar 'the Little Venice' and the 'Petite France' in Strasbourg (listed on as a UNESCO World Heritage Site). You will ride through the prestigious vineyards on the Alsace wine road cycle trail, which will guide you along a bucolic itinerary toward the charming villages and their vinicultural nuggets. Explore the secrets and flavours of the sylvaner, pinot blanc, noir or gris, riesling and gewurztraminer, not forgetting the beer and brasseries.

Alsace is also home to rich and fabulous cuisine. Grab a table at a 'winstub' (a traditional Alsatian restaurant) and try local dishes such as 'baeckeoffe' (a casserole of lamb or beef with potatoes and onions, marinated overnight in Alsatian white wine infused with juniper berries), or 'tarte flambee/flammekueche',a thin pizza-like creation with creme fraiche, onions and lardons. 'Sauerkraut'(pickled cabbage) is also iconic, widely celebrated in Alsatian villages and eaten with various types of sausage.

The half-timbered houses adorned with geraniums in Ribeauville, Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, Barr or Obernai immerse yourself in a very delightful atmosphere.

Terrain

The route takes you on quiet country lanes and well marked paths through vineyards to sleepy villages. Well marked cycling paths are also used throughout.

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DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY

 

Day 1: Arrive in Colmar

Explore this picturesque town with half-timbered houses, romantic canals, flower-laden windowsills and a labyrinth of cobblestone lanes. Visit the scenic Fishmongers' Quarter or 'Little Venice', the Tanners' Quarter and the Place de L'Ancienne Douane. Discover plenty of shops and a covered market before you sample the fabulous local cuisine.

You stay at Hotel Turenne.

hotel details

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Hotel Turenne, Colmar

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Hotel Turenne, located in the Petite Venise district of Colmar, combines the Alsatian charm of its colourful facade with exposed studs with the modernity and sobriety of its rooms.

Room upgrades: Please contact us for details.

Day 2: Colmar - Kaysersberg (31km/19.3mi)

Set off along the 'Wine Route' through the vineyards, enjoying spectacular views. Stop in beautiful and ancient Eguisheim. This typical Alsatian small town waits for you to wander in the heart of the ramparts, in a maze of alleys lined with old half-timbered houses. Explore the mediaeval Turckheim and continue to Kaysersberg, elected the favourite village of France in 2017. You'll see why when you walk along its fortified bridge and through its medieval streets that lead up to the castle.

elevation

You stay at At Hotel Abbaye d'Alspach.

hotel details

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Hotel Abbaye d'Alspach, Kaysersberg

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Located in the heart of the medieval town of Kientzheim/ Kaysersberg, the original architecture at this former convent has been successfully preserved to create a cosy hotel. The smart rooms at the L'Abbaye d'Alspach have been carefully designed by the owner to ensure a calm and comfortable night's sleep. They include modern amenities such as free Wi-Fi internet access. To guarantee your wellbeing L'Abbaye d'Alspach has a shady garden, a sauna and a fitness room.

Day 3: Kaysersberg - Selestat (26km/16.2mi)

Highlights today include Riquewihr, still enclosed by its mediaeval walls; Ribeauville, with its Renaissance fountains and hillside ruins. Then, before reaching Selestat, you will have the opportunity to conquer the chateau Haut Koenigsbourg.

The amazing Chateau of Haut Koenigsbourg perched on mountain summits offering spectacular panoramic views of the Alsatian countryside towards the Vosges mountains and the Black Forest. The Haut-Koenigsbourg's beautifully refined rooms are decorated with mural paintings, Renaissance furniture and enormous cast-iron stoves - and there's an impressive collection of weaponry from the Middle Ages in the basement. Towering at 757m above picture-perfect villages and colourful vineyards, it's one of France's most visited castles.

In Selestat, do not miss a visit to the Humanist Library building designed by Rudy Ricciotti serves as a showcase for the outstanding collection of the humanist Beatus Rhenanus collection, composed of medieval manuscripts and documents of the fifteenth and sixteenth century.

elevation

You stay at Hotel Vaillant.

hotel details

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Hotel Vaillant, Selestat

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Hotel Vaillant was built in 1967 by Mr Vaillant in a modern, avant-garde style. The hotel was the pinnacle of modern hospitality in Sélestat. Renovated in 2019, all 47 rooms and restaurant spaces combine sophistication with modernism. You will discover numerous works of art here,

Day 4: Selestat - Obernai (38km/23.6mi)

Following tranquil lanes through the vineyards, take a look at the chateau de l'Ortenbourg overlooking the vineyards before reaching the pretty village of Dambach-la- ville then Barr and its beautiful flowery square.

In Barr, on the main square lies city hall, built on the ruins of a castle destroyed by fire, has a monument historical classification thanks to its Renaissance-style facade and its 1604-dated balcony.

Continue to the medieval city of Obernai. Behind the ramparts of Obernai ancient medieval city are half-timbered houses painted in bright colours and windows bedecked with flowers and some unexpected architectural gems, including the Renaissance-style townhall and the sublime belfry made of pink sandstone, which the Alsatians call Kappelturm.

elevation

You stay at Le colombier.

hotel details

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Hotel Le Colombier, Obernai

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In the heart of Obernai, surrounded by shops and cultural interests, you can relax in the 4* Hotel Le Colombier, an Alsatian house, discover an atmosphere of tranquillity enhanced by contemporary furnishings and original decoration. The Hotel Le Colombier in Obernai will make your stay in Alsace a stay to remember.

Day 5: Obernai - Strasbourg (39km/24.2mi)

Ride through the vineyards to Molsheim, a very pretty wine town. Then follow the bike path along the 'Canal de la Bruche': one of the most beautiful greenways in Alsace, with its shady banks and old locks! This bike path will lead you to Strasbourg.

In Strasbourg the bicycle is king! Admire the town on two wheels along the canals, through the parks and gardens and through the historic centre. Listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, there are delightfully twisting alleyways lined with half-timbered houses and a Gothic masterpiece of a cathedral, described by Victor Hugo as 'a gigantic and delicate marvel' and visible from miles around with its 142-metre spire. The 'Petite France' is a picture-postcard quarter once home to tanners, fishermen and millers, now a haven of peace at the city's heart

elevation

You stay at Hotel Diana Dauphine.

hotel details

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Hotel Diana Dauphine, Strasbourg

HOTEL WEBSITE      TRIP ADVISOR

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Located at the centre of Strasbourg, a few minutes from the Cathedral and La Petite France, Diana Dauphine Hotel welcomes you in a warm, elegant setting. 46 attractive rooms, decorated with a personal touch, are available. They all have excellent facilities and a luxury, private bathroom. After a day of strolling around the city, you will relax in one of the cosy armchairs in the Hotel's small lounge. The Hotel's many facilities are top of the range: pleasant breakfast room, private car park, mini-bar etc. You will be enchanted by this Hotel which is an excellent pied-à-terre to explore the city.

Room upgrades: Please contact us for details.

Day 6: Leave Strasbourg

Extending your holiday

If you'd like to extend your trip with extra hotel nights we recommend: Hotel Diana Dauphine, Strasbourg; Hotel Turenne, Colmar.

hotel details



Hotel Diana Dauphine, Strasbourg

HOTEL WEBSITE      TRIP ADVISOR

Shops
Mastercard
Visa
AmEx
Hairdryer
WiFi
TV
Minibar
Aircon
Safe


Located at the centre of Strasbourg, a few minutes from the Cathedral and La Petite France, Diana Dauphine Hotel welcomes you in a warm, elegant setting. 46 attractive rooms, decorated with a personal touch, are available. They all have excellent facilities and a luxury, private bathroom. After a day of strolling around the city, you will relax in one of the cosy armchairs in the Hotel's small lounge. The Hotel's many facilities are top of the range: pleasant breakfast room, private car park, mini-bar etc. You will be enchanted by this Hotel which is an excellent pied-à-terre to explore the city.

Room upgrades: Please contact us for details.



Hotel Turenne, Colmar

HOTEL WEBSITE      TRIP ADVISOR

Shops
Mastercard
Visa
AmEx
Hairdryer
WiFi
TV
Aircon
Safe


Hotel Turenne, located in the Petite Venise district of Colmar, combines the Alsatian charm of its colourful facade with exposed studs with the modernity and sobriety of its rooms.

Room upgrades: Please contact us for details.

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These tour only prices are based on two people sharing. Single supplement from £337.

We can book your flights, protected by ATOL and ABTA. Please ask at time of enquiry.

TRAVEL DETAILS

If you choose a flight inclusive package with us, you will fly into Basel airport.

We hold an ATOL License and are fully ABTA bonded, so you can book your flights with us in confidence. We can book most airlines and will advise you of your most convenient airport and flight options.

Flight prices vary massively and change quickly. At Headwater we will sell you your flights at the same price you can buy them yourself. We simply add £35 per person to cover your flight protection, to learn more please click here.

OPTIONAL UPGRADES
  • Flights from London or any available regional airport*
  • Airport parking and airport hotels
  • Priority at Security and Fast Track
  • Airport lounge access
  • Priority boarding and extra leg-room seats
  • Business/club/first class fares

Subject to availability and dependent on service provider, please ask at time of enquiry and book early to avoid disappointment. *Unfortunately, due to the airline themselves we are unable to book Ryanair.

REVIEWS

The locations were fantastic, everything worked and we had a great time.

Mrs White, 15 Sep 2024

 

Very good communication - it is always easy to speak to someone.

Wendy Congrave, 29 Jun 2024

 

If you like exploring, have an independent spirit and enjoy an active holiday, tours like this tick all the boxes. With the improved quality of the accommodation, and (in this case) the freedom to choose where to eat that comes with B and B, we happily recommend Headwater to others. The Alsace tour was really pretty and despite getting truly soaked one day, our enjoyment was not dented!

Gwyneth Holt, 1 May 2024

 

We had a fabulous first cycling holiday. The route was beautiful and the mileage just right for us. We loved all the places we cycled through from the beautiful countryside to the little towns, where we found plenty of opportunity and time to explore and have lunch. The hotels were all good - some better than others, but all comfortable and clean. We particularly enjoyed our stay at the Abbaye d'Alspach on the second day, it was so very charming and the village was the same, like going back in time. Although relatively fit, we are non cyclist at home and this was our first cycling holiday so I did find some of the hills a bit challenging, particularly on the second day but managed through it (my husband better than me), sometimes getting off to push! The hard work was worth it though as we came back feeling fit and healthy and having cycled through some breath taking scenery. The route guidance and GPS tracker were excellent and meant we never got lost. I would highly recommend this holiday.

Maureen Homewood, 6 Aug 2023

 

Excellent locations some hills which are quite hard due to the weight of the bikes

CALVERT, 12 Jun 2023

 

Wonderful cycling route along the Route des Vins d’Alsace- relaxing and stimulating scenic route with fascinating stops.

DICKINSON, 27 May 2023

 

Good itinerary. Comfortable distances even though weather was hot

Mr Mison, 20 Jul 2022

 

Will do this on feefo

Mr Phillips, 11 Jul 2022

 

We thoroughly enjoyed cycling the Wine Route of Alsace. It is a very picturesque part of France, and the villages we visited were lovely, including storks nesting on rooftops. The second day was a bit hilly, but nothing we couldn't manage and the length of ride each day suited us well.We were very fortunate to have perfect weather, which made the holiday even more enjoyable. The hotels were very clean and comfortable and in the evening there was a good choice of restaurants in every town or village. Lots of interesting ice-cream flavours to try too, such as rhubarb, gooseberry, red currant etc in most towns. All in all a great holiday, and we returned home with lots of photos and happy memories.

Mrs PAYNE, 10 May 2022

 


Self-guided cycling

5 nights,
hotel-to-hotel

Level: 1+
Leisurely plus

Flights
available

8.0Kg CO2e

Navigation App

5 nights from £969

CHOOSE A DEPARTURE

Call: 01606 720199

 

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