Strasbourg, at the Heart of Alsace
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© Istock STRASBOURG, AT THE HEART OF ALSACE Ideally situated, Strasbourg is the perfect starting point to explore not only Alsace, but the Black Forest and Switzerland, too. A multitude of activities and destinations are within easy reach. Less than 30 minutes away Less than one hour away • Kehl • Soufflenheim and Betschdorf Just over the border from Strasbourg, Kehl can be reached by Located north of Strasbourg, near Haguenau, Soufflenheim and tram on line D, as well as by bike or on foot using a special Betschdorf preserve the traditional craft of pottery making. footbridge. For visitors, Kehl is a charming city and a unique Each village is known for its own technique: for example, in opportunity to hop over to Germany. Soufflenheim, the potters are renowned for their kougelhopf N 6 km i marketing.kehl.de moulds and in Betschdorf they're known for their original salt varnish sandstone technique. • Marlenheim and the Wine Route N 42 and 52 km i www.visithaguenau.alsace/en The wine village closest to Strasbourg is Marlenheim. This is • Mont Sainte-Odile where the Alsace Wine Route begins: an itinerary that takes At the spiritual centre of Alsace, Mont Sainte-Odile offers visitors to the heart of the magnificent Alsace wine country. stunning views from its altitude of 753 metres. The area offers N 22 km i www.wineroute.alsace lots of hiking trails. • Obernai N 45 km i www.mont-sainte-odile.com The main curiosities of this charming, very lively little city are • La Fabrique à Bretzels its city hall, belfry, wheat market and ramparts. At the Boehli pretzel factory, discover the history and recipe N 28 km iwww.tourisme-obernai.fr/en behind the success of the famous Alsatian pretzel maker. N 48 km i www.boehli.fr/lafabriqueabretzels • The Alsace-Moselle Memorial Less than an hour and a half away The Alsace Moselle Memorial traces the unique history of the region, as it changed nationalities 4 times between 1871 • Freiburg im Breisgau and 1945. Visitors interested in memorial tourism might also Freiburg im Breisgau is a charming medieval city crisscrossed want to visit the nearby European Centre of Deported Resis- by little alleyways and streams, boasting a castle, a cathedral, tance Members and the Struthof concentration camp, the only and more. And it’s known as the sunniest city in Germany! one in France. N 90 km i visit.freiburg.de/en N 48 km i www.memorial-alsace-moselle.com/en • Alsace Ecomusée • Baden-Baden The Alsace Ecomusée is the largest open-air museum in The pretty German city of Baden-Baden is famous for its spa, France. It presents the region’s rural heritage, with its arts overhung by Hohenbaden Castle and its casino. It’s also and traditions. Many aspects of daily life are covered: home popular with culture enthusiasts, with its music scene and life, arts and crafts, cooking, farming and the environment. Frieder Burda Museum. N 110 km i www.ecomusee.alsace/ N 60 km i baden-baden.com/en • Mulhouse • The Lalique Museum With its charming historical centre, Mulhouse has plenty At the heart of the Northern Vosges Regional Nature Park, to offer. For example, visitors can go to several great visitors find the Lalique Museum, devoted to the master museums, such as the Motor Museum, the Train Museum glassmaker and jeweller René Lalique and his successors. (the largest railway museum in Europe) or the Museum of It’s a delight to see exceptional pieces and experience an Printed Textiles. immersion in the designer’s world. N 115km i www.tourisme-mulhouse.com/en N 62 km i www.musee-lalique.com/en • The Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park • Haut-Koenigsbourg castle The Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park is one of the The Castle of Haut-Koenigsbourg is the only fully restored largest regional nature parks in France. This remarkable medieval castle in Alsace. It has been overhanging the natural area offers lots of possibilities for hiking. valley since the 20th century and offers a remarkable vision of N 120 km i www.parc-ballons-vosges.fr/en what medieval life was like in Alsace. N 62 km i www.haut-koenigsbourg.fr/en Less than two hours away • Alsace’s finest villages • Basel Voted the most beautiful villages in France, Hunspach, Mittel- This metropolis, split in two by the Rhine, is surprising for bergheim, Hunawihr, Riquewihr and Eguisheim are all one its perfect combination of old-town charm and modern hour or less away from Strasbourg. architectural landmarks. Basel has an incredible number N 62 km i www.les-plus-beaux-villages-de-france.org of museums. The most remarkable include the Kunst- museum (Museum of Fine Arts), the Beyeler Foundation • Colmar and the Jean Tinguely Museum. Not-to-be-missed Colmar, with its canals that have earned N 140 km i www.basel.com/en it the nickname Little Venice, is about an hour’s drive away from Strasbourg. The city features the Unterlinden Museum, The times shown above are estimated driving times. located in a 13th-century former convent, exhibiting artworks However, each place can also be reached by public from every period, including the famous Isenheim Altarpiece. transport (Fluo Grand Est 67 coaches or regional express N 73 km i www.tourisme-colmar.com/en trains). STRASBOURG, AT THE HEART OF ALSACE THE HEART AT STRASBOURG,.