ALSACE WINE ROUTE CASTLES, VILLAGES & VINEYARDS OF ALSACE ALSACE WINE ROUTE - SELF GUIDED WALKING HOLIDAY SUMMARY Enjoy a gentle wander through the vineyards of Alsace. Medieval villages of gingerbread houses, hilltop castles, charming hotels and wonderful food and wine. As you walk between the picturesque towns of this region you will discover the best of Alsace. The perfectly kept vineyards, welcoming cellars, gourmet restaurants, quiet forest trails and sweeping views of the Vosges mountains. A relaxed walking holiday in Alsace is perfect if you enjoy your walking combined with the good things in life. Tucked away in the eastern corner of France between the Vosges Mountains and the German border Alsace retains a rich Germanic character, a hangover from the many times that it has been under German control. The architecture, food and wine are more German than French in character. Vine covered hillsides generously sprinkled with picturesque villages, castles and churches make Alsace a delight to explore on foot. Tour: Alsace Wine Route Code: WFSAWR Type: Self-Guided Walking Holiday Price: See Website Single Supplement: See Website HIGHLIGHTS Dates: April - October Days: 9 Days (7 Walking Days) Easy walking between picture perfect Alsatian towns and villages. Nights: 8 Nights Start/Finish: Sélestat / Turckheim Wonderful views of the Vosges Mountains, Rhine and Black Forest. Grade: Easy to Moderate Enjoying the marvellous vins d’Alsace and regional specialities in each village. Stumbling across medieval Chateaux’s at almost every twist and turn of the trail. Charming and friendly traditional hotels and auberges. Is It For Me? · The Alsace Wine Route is the ideal mix of easy walking, great wine, good food, picture perfect towns and charming hotels. You will love it if you are looking for a relaxed walking tour with plenty of time to experience the WHY CHOOSE A SELF GUIDED-WALKING TOUR WITH US? delights of Alsace. Macs Adventure is a small, energetic company dedicated to delivering adventure excellence. We are passionate about delivering outstanding walking tour where every last detail is taken care of. Each tour we What’s Included? offer is unique, tailor made to meet your requirements. From your first contact with Macs Adventure you will Accommodation: 8 Nights in traditional 2* deal with a local specialist who knows the region intimately. and 3* hotels Meals: Breakfast included every morning Self-guided walking tours are a wonderful relaxed way to experience the Alsace region. Free to travel at and 1 evening meal, 2 wine tasting included. your own pace, wander off the beaten track and make your own choices you will discover the beauty of Baggage Transfer: Door-to-door baggage Alsace your way. So, from the moment you decide to walk in the Alsace you can relax and look forward to transfer included. an unforgettable walking tour. We hope that you will choose to walk with Macs Adventures soon. Info Pack: Detailed route notes and maps on arrival and emergency support from our local representative. ALSACE WINE ROUTE CASTLES, VILLAGES & VINEYARDS OF ALSACE resident druids to be “energising”. nestled in a tiny hidden fold of the mountain, DETAILED ITINERARY which have been a place of pilgrimage since Thannenkirch, the village of the carvers, lies medieval times. nestled amongst the forest at the foot of Day Route Km Taennchel and offers a splendid panorama over Ribeauvillé is a picture perfect town of colourful the plain of Alsace and the Black Forest. overhanging houses and narrow streets 1 Arrive Sélestat overlooked by three castles dating from the 12th 2 Walk to Thannenkirch 8/12 Walk: 8 km or 12km and 13th centuries. 3 Thannenkirch free walks 11/17 Overnight: Auberge de Melkerhof ** or Hotel La 4 Walk to Ribeauvillé 7/10 Walk: 7 km 5 Ribeauvillé free walks & 4/10 Meunière**, Thannenkirch wine tasting Overnight: Hotel de la Tour***, Ribeauvillé 6 Walk to Kaysersberg 12/14 The rustic Auberge de Melkerhof enjoys a 7 Kaysersberg free walks 11/22 tranquil setting in the heights of Thannenkirch. Located right in the center, of town the Hotel de 8 Walk to Turckheim & wine 12/17 Corinne and Thierry restored the 1832 farm la Tour is a bright and cheerful hotel faithful to tasting house, which boasts nine individual rooms and a the generous Alsatian traditions of hospitality. 9 Onward Travel lovely restaurant, which specializes in authentic The hotel has 31 individually decorated rooms, a regional cuisine featuring the freshest of small bar, sauna, steam bath, jacuzzi, tennis produce. court and rental bikes DAY 1 Located in the heart of the village the recently DAY 5 Arrive in Sélestat refurbished Hotel La Meunière has a traditional atmosphere and great views of the Rhine and Ribeauvillé circular walks The charming city of Sélestat is home to the Black Forest. Choose from two lovely walks through the humanist library, one of Alsace’s great treasures. vineyards around Ribeauvillé. The first goes via Sélestat was for a time at heart of Alsatian DAY 3 the ruins of Reichenbery castle to Bergheim. The culture and there are numerous interesting sites Thannenkirch circular walks second shorter walk visits the stork park east of to visit. Hunawihr. Today’s loop from Thannenkirch visits the Sélestat is on the Strasbourg - Colmar railway impressive medieval Château du Haut In the afternoon perhaps enjoy a wine tasting of line and trains run hourly. Strasbourg or Bale/ Koenigsbourg (entrance fee). The 12th Century the local vins d’ Alsace. Mulhouse Euro Airport are the most convenient. pink sandstone castle was restored in 1908 by Walk: Choice of 2. 10 or 4 km Overnight: Auberge des Allies**, Sélestat German Emperor Wilhelm II. It offers a journey back through 9 centuries of history and wonderful Overnight: Hotel de la Tour***, Ribeauvillé The Auberge des Allies is a fabulous eaterie with views. 15 tastefully refurbished and good sized rooms. DAY 6 Located in the heart of the old town the Walk: Choice of 3 walks. 11 - 13km Elisabeths family have owned it since 1958 and Ribeauvillé to Kaysersberg Overnight: Auberge de Melkerhof ** or Hotel La is the place to eat in town with a traditional Meunière**, Thannenkirch A delightful walk through some of the prettiest cooking to gourmet standard, yummy! countryside in Alsace as you follow the “chemin DAY 4 de Santiago de Compostela” to Kaysersberg. DAY 2 The walk passes through beautiful vineyards to Thannenkirch to Ribeauvillé Walk to Thannenkirch the village of Hunawihr. Be sure to visit the Following the GR5 as it contours through the fortified church. Your route continues to the After a 20 minute bus ride to Liepvre you have a peaceful forests of the Vosges foothills you pass picturesque village of Riquwihr, where there are choice of following the GR532 through the the ruins of the three castles of Ribeauvillé (Haut several small museums, to reach the town of forests of the Vosges Natural Park to -Ribeaupierre, St Ulrich & Girsberg). Just before Kaysersberg. Thannenkirch or alternatively the longer route reaching Ribeauvillé you can visit Notre-Dame goes via the mythical mountain of Taennchel, Kaysersberg is dominated by a ruined castle de Dusenbach. A small chapel and convent whose red sandstone was believed by the which serves as reminder of its strategic ALSACE WINE ROUTE CASTLES, VILLAGES & VINEYARDS OF ALSACE importance and violent past. Today it is Overnight: Auberge du Brand***, Turckheim you will be spoilt for choice of local restaurants. considered by many to the most beautiful city in Every village has a patisserie so you can buy The warm and friendly Auberge du Brand has 9 Alsace. Stroll past the colourful half timbered lunch before you set off or stop en route. comfortable rooms and an outstanding houses, visit the Albert Schweitzer or wine restaurant. Run by the delightful Celine you will museum or enjoy one of several lovely walks in Grade & Fitness love it. the surrounding countryside. This walking holiday is graded easy to moderate. Walk: 12 - 14km DAY 9 Daily walks are a mixture of country paths and forest trails. Daily distances range from 4 to 22 Overnight: Hotel Les Remparts***, Kaysersberg Onward Travel km and you have a choice of walks each day as well as optional rest days. Within walking distance of the historic old town There are frequent bus and train connections from Turckheim to Colmar and onto the airport. the Hotel Les Remparts offers you calm and Navigation comfort. The hotel has 44 contemporary rooms, Most walks are way marked and we provide you a sauna, games rooms and dozens of excellent TOUR INFORMATION restaurants within strolling distance. with detailed route notes and maps for you to follow. DAY 7 Accommodation Baggage Transfer Kaysersberg Circular Walk We specifically select your accommodation in local, family run 2 - 3 star hotels and inns to Your bags will be transferred between your Today you are spoilt for choice with three ensure that you enjoy every minute of your stay accommodation when you change hotels. We outstanding circular walks from Kaysersberg. in France. They all offer a warm welcome to ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to The easiest visits Kientzheim and its wine walkers, traditional hospitality and delicious local 15kg per person. museum. The medium wanders through the food. forest to St Alexis Chapel and the Hunter’s Inn, Equipment returning to Alsace via a pretty river. The longest, Alternate accommodation Your information pack has a detailed equipment most scenic option, starts from Orbey and visits During high season, you might be booked into list which includes standard walking gear such as the lovely Lac Blanc and Lac Noir. alternative accommodations which are not listed good walking boots or shoes, warm and Walk: 7– 14km in the description.