Press release What’s New in Alsace 2019 www.alsace-destination-tourisme.com ̈ A dedicated press area: Read all our articles and press releases ̈ A photo library: Download photos Copyright-free to illustrate your articles, reports … Follow us on Twitter to remain updated all year long @ADT_Alsace - Cover photo: Promenade méditative - D. LETT photo: Promenade méditative - D. - Cover L&là Strasbourg office Head office 1 rue Schlumberger - BP 60337 Hôtel du Département - 1 place du Quartier Blanc F-68006 Colmar Cedex F-67964 Strasbourg Cedex 9 Tél : +33 (0)3 89 20 10 68 - [email protected] Tél : +33 (0)3 89 20 10 68 - [email protected] 1<< Home page Version 31-01-2019 ᕡ General Presentation Page 3 ᕢ Well-being, Rest Page 7 & Relaxation, Spas ᕣ Sites, Facilities Page 15 and Services ᕤ Accommodation Page 20 & Restaurants ᕥ Events Page 25 and Exhibitions ᕦ Upcoming Projects 2020 Page 29 and More… PRESS CONTACTS Head office COLMAR Pierre JOCHEM : +33 (0)3 89 20 10 69 - +33 (0)6 32 79 17 19 [email protected] Strasbourg office STRASBOURG Catherine LEHMANN : +33 (0)3 88 15 45 92 - +33 (0)7 76 00 45 12 [email protected] >>2 ᕡGeneral Presentation Alsace encompasses two departments: the Bas-Rhin in the upper half and the Haut- Rhin in the lower half. Alsace, the Champagne-Ardenne and the Lorraine form the region called Grand Est, at the cross- roads of several European countries: Belgium, Luxem- bourg, Germany and Switzer- land. ACCES By road Alsace is an intersection which is connected to Germany, Switzerland, the Rhone Valley and Paris by motorways. By train With the TGV, Strasbourg is 1.46 hours from Paris and Mulhouse 2.50 hours from Lyon. By airplane 2 international airports: Strasbourg-Entzheim and Basel/Mulhouse Euroairport. 3<< ˾ KEY FIGURES NUMBER OF INHABITANTS 1 868 183 TOURISM Eurometropolis Strasbourg (28 municipalities) 473 375 Natural Heritage Mulhouse (34 municipalities) 264 723 2 regional nature reserves: the Regional Nature Parks Colmar (14 municipalities) 101 972 of Northern Vosges and the Ballons des Vosges Weight of Alsace / Grand Est 33,6 % over twenty nature reserves 7 long hiking trails (GR) 11 000 km of marked trails in the 2 nature parks POPULATION DENSITY 224,6 inhabitants./km² Villes et Villages fleuris (Towns and Villages in Bloom competition) Mainland France 120 hab./km² Grand Est 96,6 hab./km² Architectural and Cultural Heritage 3 sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage: Grande Ile (1988) – Neustadt (2017) in Strasbourg SURFACE AREA 8 280 km² and Place Forte in Neuf-Brisach (2008) ̈ 1 collection listed on UNESCO Grand Est 57 433 km² World Memory Register: Beatus Rhenanus Weight of Alsace / Grand Est 14,4% collection kept at the Sélestat Humanist Library (2011) Source : Insee 2013 5 cities and regions of art and history: Mulhouse, Pays de Guebwiller, Pays du Val d’Argent, Sélestat et Strasbourg THE TOP 10 PAYING - 5 labels of “Most Beautiful Villages in France”: AND MOST VISITED SITES IN ALSACE Eguisheim, Riquewihr, Hunawihr, Mittelbergheim, Hunspach Boat tours / Strasbourg 772 582 2 Villages préférés des Français France 2: (a French TV program where people can vote for their favourite village on France 2) Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle/ Orschwiller 518 279 Eguisheim in June 2013 and Kaysersberg in June 2017 Zoological and Botanical Park / Mulhouse 385 579 13 labels for “Remarkable gardens”(awarded by French Ministry of Culture) Monkey Mountain / Kintzheim 337 678 Climb up Cathedral platform / Strasbourg 245 284 Grands événements touristiques Musée Unterlinden / Colmar 213 530 Christmas markets Carnivals in Strasbourg, The Vaisseau (hands-on Science Mulhouse, Erstein and Sélestat museum) / Strasbourg 206 927 Wine Fair in Colmar The Little Prince amusement park / Ungersheim 197 834 20 music festivals Alsace Ecomuseum / Ungersheim 183 748 Recreational facilities and equipment European Centre on Resistance and Deportation 13 skiing areas Struthof / Natzwiller 175 698 9 golf courses (clicalsace.com - Regional Tourism Monitoring Agency, Alsace - Figures 2017) 420 km of navigable waterways 36 marinas and stopovers 2,700 km of bike paths, passage of the Euroveloroutes 5, 6 and 15 Œnotourisme 119 wine-growing municipalities 51 Grands crus Accommodation 604 hotels and 46 holiday residences making a total of 50,000 beds 101 campsites making a total of 10,000 pitches 5,800 rentals making a total of 30,000 beds 190 group accommodation making a total of 11,300 beds (source LEI Alsace – Regional Tourism Monitoring Agency of Alsace – September 2018) >>4 ᕡ Présentation générale Alsace Located amidst the “Blue Line” of the Three large cities mark out the region Vosges, the former borderline between from north to south: France and Germany from 1871 to 1918, First and foremost there is Strasbourg, Alsace has the ability to always intrigue, the seat of the European Parliament and astonish, surprise and enthral, never numerous European institutions such as leaving a visitor indifferent. Heritage, the Council of Europe, its Cathedral which culture, gastronomy, nature, vineyards, celebrated its thousand years a couple of mountains, tradition and warm welcome years ago, and its two districts labelled as … everything is quite simply heavenly. UNESCO World Heritage sites – the Grande Ile and its “Petite France” on one hand, and since 2018, the “Neustadt” or German Quarter, dating from the German period between 1870 and the First World War. Then there is Colmar, capital of Alsace wines and its historic centre so typical of the Rhineland Renaissance, its Unterlinden Museum which houses the unquestionably major piece of artwork from the 16th century – the Issenheim Altarpiece by Matthias Grünewald. Last but not least Mulhouse, European capital of Technical Museums and its notable collections of fabrics and old cars which are universally unique and exceptional from both their quality and importance stand- points. 5<< A multi-seasonal offer combining rural ț vineyards and gastronomy, an essential and urban tourism, activities which are component of the Alsace identity blending cultural, fun or outdoors as well as many Grands Crus, starred-chefs and traditional events and festivals: cuisine at the crossroads of two worlds and In the spring, come visit when nature is influences. waking up. In summer, come hike or have ț rest and relaxation, connecting back to fun biking along the bicycle paths in the nature and yourself within a naturally vineyards, the plain, or for those who are preserved environment, relaxing in a spa and highly experienced, ride along the Vosges experiencing calm while contemplating the mountain passes and enjoy a drink with beautiful landscapes. friends outside in the heart of bustling cities. In autumn help-out with the harvest and take ț the Heart of Europe, a meeting point of part in village parties along the Wine Route. the Latin and Germanic world, where you In December wander through the Christmas can discover the extraordinary history of markets with the delicious aromas of ginger Alsace, its conflicts but also its humanists, bread and mulled wine, and for the winter, its memorial sites and the fruition of get away to ski or on rackets to really appre- European projects. ciate a true moment of bliss in a spa or just relax in the evening in front of a fire. To see, to discover … and definitely to taste. You will constantly experience regional excellence in Alsace as it’s a deep-rooted part of their identity and endless tourist attractions: a priority for moving about, on foot, by bike over the 2,700 km of bicycle paths and its three European marked trails which cross the region, including the vineyard Véloroute, but also why not try horse- riding or a boat ride. then the magic of fortified castles: the region has about 200 of which 80 can be accessed and visited with restoration worksites, fun-filled activities, fairy tales and imaginary stories, different exhibits, staged productions and mappings … thou- sands of ways to discover them for all age groups. the mountain, its two regional nature parks, its authentic farm-inns, ski resorts, serious hi- king trails and a paradise for mountain bikers. >>6 ᕢ Well-being, Rest & Relaxation, Spas ˾ From the north to the south of Alsace ˾ RECONNECTING TO NATURE AND MEDITATION Forest-bathing > PETERSBACH Revitalise ancestral ties with the forest thanks to an intense usage of the senses and affective memory. A body and mind immersion within the community of trees. A mindfully guided walk combining breathing exercises, gentle movements and meditation. This walk is ideal to decompress in the present moment and restore a body-mind equilibrium by calming the mental state for better body focusing. Manuela also offers forest therapy. This pertains to hands-on training of various techniques for tree connection to fully take advantage of their benefits on health and emotional balance, focusing on awakening of senses and reconnecting to nature. This workshop is a series of sensory experiences to nurture the 5 senses and intuition to reconnect with the regenerating vibratory frequencies of Nature. www.facebook.com/perschmann.sophrologue Qi Gong in the vineyards > KIENTZHEIM Philippe Blanck comes from a long generation of wine-makers and has also been doing Qi Gong for several years now. He invites participants in the middle of vines, on the slopes of Kientzheim. An initiatory session of this Chinese art founded on the knowledge and mastery of life energy, helps to recover serenity and tranquillity which is conducive to tasting. A supple body and deep breathing, perfect for appreciating the energy from wine and the Grands Crus terroir in your glass. Wine-tasting becomes a deliciously generous experience… www.parenthese-vigneronne.com/fr/sejours.html 7<< ˾ SPAS SPA About forty kilometres from Strasbourg, there are two spa FACILITIES resorts which offer specific treatments for traditional state- funded cures in the heart of the Northern Vosges Regional Nature Park, an ideal environment for healing.