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Alsace

Wine Route : 10-day cycling tour to discover Alsace

Cycle through Alsace for 10 days along the canals and vineyards. From Strasbourg to Colmar via Obernai, Sélestat, Riquewihr, Eguisheim and Guebwiller, discover the rich natural and cultural heritage of Alsace.

Reviews (1) :
4.00 / 5
Reference AL1001
  • Itinerant trip
  • 10 days
  • Challenging
  • From April to November
  • Minimum age 12 years
GPSGPS-app available
1409€ / pers.
  • Itinerary
  • With its 2,500 km of cycle facilities, Alsace is THE ultimate cycling destination. As proof, Strasbourg was elected cycling capital in France. Whether cycling along the canals, through the vineyards or the forests of the Vosges mountains, you will follow a rich and varied itinerary. Your path will be punctuated by charming villages with half-timbered houses and flowered balconies: Barr, Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, Eguisheim... Do not hesitate to stop on your way at one of the many local winegrowers to taste the famous Alsatian wines: Gewurztraminer, Pinot-gris or Riesling. Be charmed by Colmar, its district of "Little Venice" and its cobbled streets where you can stroll peacefully. Then, discover the Alsace plain through Cernay and Ensisheim. Finally, cycle along the Rhine cycle route to reach Neuf-Brisach, city of Vauban, and take a detour through Germany to Vieux-Brisach. This rich and varied 10-day cycling trip in Alsace will convince both history and wine lovers.

    Day 1

     
     

    Strasbourg

    You start your cycling holidays in the capital of the Alsace region: Strasbourg. This city has a rich cultural heritage, so do not miss its architectural treasures including the majestic Notre Dame cathedral, the covered bridges and the Palais Rohan. Then take the time to stroll in the picturesque district of "Petite France" (Little France) with the beautiful half-timbered houses, where once fishermen and tanners lived.

    Day 2

     
     

    Strasbourg - Obernai

    Bike
    39km
    You’ll leave the cobblestone streets of Strasbourg’s old city center to follow south of the city the channel "Canal de la Bruche". The canal was built by Vauban to transport the sandstones of the Vosges to Strasbourg for the construction of the city’s fortifications. You ride on a bike path along the shady banks and the old locks. This scenic route will take you to charming Alsatian villages with their colorful and blooming facades. Then reach to the famous Alsace Wine Route cycle path in Molsheim, a very pretty wine town, birthplace of the Bugatti automobile brand. You continue your ride on the hillside through the Alsatian vineyards and wine villages to reach Obernai and its belfry.

    Day 3

     
     

    Obernai - Sélestat area

    Altitude
    ±230m
    Bike
    ~40km
    Choice between 2 itineraries
    Leave Obernai behind and visit in Gertwiller the Gingerbread House and later the pretty village of Barr. Take small country roads that meander through vineyards, old railway lines and segments of the former Roman road. Near Blienschwiller 2 routes options lies before reaching Selestat.

    You can continue through the vineyards passing the charming villages of Blienschwiller, Dambach-la-Ville and Scherwiller, where you can see above you the ruins of the castle of Ortenbourg.

    The other route is a little sportier. You leave the vineyards and discover the Vosges towards Val de Villé. Ride on wooded slopes and pass the villages Saint-Pierre-Bois and Thanvillé. From there, you take the former Salt Road, a beautiful cycle path through the forest to Sélestat.
       

    Visit and wine tasting 1h

    Included

    Day 4

     
     

    Day-trip to the Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg

    Altitude
    ±741m
    Bike
    43km
    Enjoy a rest day to visit the Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg, witness to the various rivalries that moved the Europe’s history over the centuries. There are 2 choices :

    - You leave your bikes for the day. A shuttle takes you from Sélestat to the castle and also stops at two animal parks on the way : the Eagle Park and the Monkey Mountain.

    - The more athletic ones can cycle up to the castle located 757m high, taking a beautiful road through the forests of the Vosges mountains.

    Day 5

     
     

    Sélestat area - Colmar

    Altitude
    ±350m
    Bike
    ~37km
    You leave the Selestat area overlooked by the famous 12th-century-old castle of Haut-Koeningsbourg, then ride into the fortified village of Bergheim, one of the few Alsatian villages which has preserved almost all of its medieval fortifications. Then you leave the Alsace Wine Route cycle path and ride up the hill to Ribeauvillé and its picturesque streets, Riquewihr, the "Pearl of the Alsatian vineyards," and Hunawihr, both referred to as one of the most beautiful villages in France. Do not miss the detour to Kaysersberg, one of the most charming towns in Alsace. Finally, you ride quietly down through the vineyards and apple orchards to reach the beautiful city of Colmar, capital of Alsace wines.

    Day 6

     
     

    Colmar - Guebwiller

    Bike
    40-50km
    You leave Colmar to cycle the southern part of the Alsace Wine cycle route. We recommend a stop in Gueberschwihr to admire its half-timbered houses and its Romanesque bell tower. Your route continues on the hillside through the Grand Cru Goldert vineyard before reaching Rouffach, recognizable by its beautiful yellow sandstone church. Then, you cycle to Soultzmatt located in the heart of the Vallée Noble, where once stood proudly seven castles that have now disappeared. The village has preserved beautiful vestiges of this prosperous period. Your day’s stopover ends in the Lauch valley, in Guebwiller.

    For those who wish to extend the day, we recommend a 10km detour to the Murbach Abbey, a treasure hidden in the heart of the valley.

    Day 7

     
     

    Guebwiller-Ottmarsheim

    Bike
    54km
    You take the Alsace Wine cycle route to Cernay, nicknamed the city of storks. You may be lucky enough to come across them freely in the city or in the stork park. Then, you leave the vineyards and the Wine Route to cross the great plain of Alsace on small country roads. In Ungersheim, you can stop at the Alsace Ecomuseum. This open-air museum immerses you in an Alsatian village from the beginning of the 20th century and share with you the popular traditions of Alsace. Your path then continues to the flowered town of Ensisheim where you can visit its beautiful Regency Palace which now houses the town museum. You end your day cycling through the forest to reach Ottmarsheim and its Romanesque abbey.

    Day 8

     
     

    Ottmarsheim-Colmar

    Bike
    50/60km
    Today you are cycling back to Colmar but this time taking the Rhine cycle route. You ride on a great cycle path across the Alsatian plain, a few kilometers from the Rhône-Rhine canal and the river. We advise you to cross the Rhine for a small detour in Germany to Vieux-Brisach and its imposing collegiate church (+10km). Back on the French side, cycle to Neuf-Brisach, a city built in 1697 by the French military engineer Vauban and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Finally, you take small roads through the countryside to reach Colmar and its charming historic center.

    Day 9

     
     

    Day-trip to Eguisheim

    Altitude
    ±165m
    Bike
    35km
    You leave Colmar and reach the shady banks of the Thur river. Then keep biking in the Alsatian countryside until Eguisheim, ranked among the most beautiful French villages and many times awarded for its flowers. Admire its beautiful 16th century-old houses with their bright colors and stroll through its cobbled streets. Continue through vineyards to the pretty village of Turckheim where a night watchman continues every night to make his rounds from May to October. You can pause in Ammerschwihr to enjoy a glass of Kaefferkopf, before returning to Colmar.

    Day 10

     
     

    Colmar

    Enjoy a last stroll in Colmar. Stroll in the district of "Little Venice" and admire the "house of heads" and the "Pfister house".
  • Accommodation
  • Category A

    You stay in hotels with **/*** standards offering all the necessary comfort after a day outdoors. These family hotels welcome you warmly. Breakfast is included.



    * Example of the type of accommodation

    Category B

    You stay in hotels with *** standards selected for their style and quality. Breakfast is included.
    * Example of the type of accommodation
  • Bikes, luggage and documents
  • Bikes

    On your arrival day, we provide you with:
    • a touring bike adjusted to your size
    • equipped : front rack pack, saddlebag, helmet (on demand), reflective vest, repairing toolkit with patches etc.

    We also provide you with the appropriate equipment for your children : baby seat, bike trailer or trailer bike depending on their age and size.

    Electric bikes are also available for adults (+1m55).

    You can of course also bring your own bikes, in this case a reduction will be applied (see the Tarif tab)


    Luggage

    Our services include luggage transport in order to let you enjoy your trip comfortably and without stress :
    • We transport your luggage from one accommodation to the next using a private vehicle.
    • Your luggage is directly delivered in your accommodation before you arrive.
    • We provide a saddlebag for the things you shall need during the day.

    Our word of advice : as we know from experience, we strongly recommend you to avoid wearing a backpack during your cycling trip.
    If you expect to arrive at the next accommodation before 5 p.m., we recommend that you take an extra set of clothes with you in your bicycle bag.


    Travel documents

    A cycling holiday is the best way to explore a region and discover its culture, landscapes and local traditions.

    Your tour is self-guided to give you the freedom to ride at your own pace. You will be provided all the information you need to enjoy the itinerary and its points of interests.

    We can provide you with travel documents in paper format (for a supplement of €15 for printing and postage), which include:
    • a roadbook with maps that we drew at the easiest scale to follow on a bike
    • a roadbook with step-by-step description giving the direction to follow at each intersection and highlighting the points of interest

    Example of a map and of a step-by-step description


    Our GPS App

    For this trip, you can also use our smartphone app featuring GPS guidance (without extra fee).

    You will find in the app all the information given in the map and step-by-step roadbooks. You will be located on the itinerary with the GPS device of your phone. The route and directions to follow will be both viewable on the screen of your phone and announced aloud. As you ride along the itinerary, you will be given information about visits, restaurants, services and useful alerts on the way.

    -> You need to have a smartphone and download Le Velo Voyageur app on your Apple or Android store before the trip. All details concerning the downloading and the use of the application will be given after we have confirmed the booking and the balance is paid. Once the trip is downloaded, the GPS guidance can be used off-line.
  • Practical information
  • To get to departure point:

    • By plane: flight to Strasbourg
    • By train: TGV (fast trains) from Paris Gare de l'Est. The duration of the trip is between 2h20. To plan your trip, www.sncf-connect.com.


    Parking

    If you drive to Strasbourg, you can park your car in a secured car park located close to the train station. The weekly rate is 55€. The location and contact details of the car park will be given in your travel documents.


    To get back to starting point:

    Regional trains take you back to your starting point if you wish. They are accessible without booking in advance and bicycles are free. You have to buy your ticket on spot (full rate 15€/adult). There are several trains per day. You will find the timetable in your travel documents.


    Meeting time:

    The first day is an arrival day without cycling. You arrive whenever you want depending on from where you come. Please note that rooms are usually available in the middle of the afternoon depending on your accommodation. We thank you to advise us if you plan to arrive late.

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  • Reviews
  •   Memory of the trip  

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    1 bike travelers reviews 4.00 / 5

    First time - and all is well!

    On the 2023-09-29 by MM
    Four of us enjoyed the Alsace bike trip from Strasbourg to Colmar - great weather, some challenging hills and great views, food, and accommodations. There are always a few hiccups but Levelo sorted things out and accommodated us. Recommend you ensure a bike pump and a spare tire for every bike as some bumpy spots! I think the value for money was really fair.
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