Press Release 21 March 2011 On the current of the Rhine Press Contacts : Alsace Press Contact Fatiha Rachedi - Alsace Tourist Board Tel.: + 33 (0)3 89 24 73 82 / E-mail: [email protected] Schwarzwald Press Contact Irene Ulrich - Project Manager “Upper Rhine Valley” Tel.: + 49 (0)761 3881-1211 [email protected] Basel Tourismus Press Contact Ann Müller – Basel Tourismus Tel.: + 41 (0)61 268 68 11 E-mail: [email protected] Projet cofinancé par l'Union Européenne - Fonds européen de développement Dépasser les frontières – projet après projet. régional (FEDER) Der Oberrhein wächst zusammen, mit jedem Projekt. Dieses Projekt wurde von der Europäischen Union kofinanziert - Europäischer Transcending borders with every project. Fonds für regionale Entwicklung (EFRE) This project is cofinanced by the European Union / European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 1 I. The Rhine… A mythical river Source of life and purveyor of precious resources, the Rhine nourishes the most exuberant of landscapes, creating the perfect symbiosis between water, earth and vegetation… Perceived in times past as a ‘barrier’ between countries, today the Rhine is seen as both a natural - and cultural - link. First trinational ‘Wine & Gastronomy’ cruise in the Upper Rhine Valley Connected by the thread of a mythical and majestic river, the Palatinate, Alsace , the Black Forest and Basel Region are all taking part in the promotion of a new and original tourist product: a trinational gastronomic and wine cruise on the River Rhine . The most renowned French, German and Swiss Michelin-starred chefs will be working their magic at the stoves and sharing their passion for cuisine with the on-board passengers. With world-famous wine growers and wine waiters in attendance, they will offer an exclusive dinner prepared by 6 expert hands. CroisiEurope: The European leader in river cruises Run by CroisiEurope , the travel itineraries aboard has a fleet of 26 vessels that navigate the most the MS Modigliani have been set to fall on 8 special beautiful rivers in Europe. These comfortable and dates spanning the period from June to September spacious boats boast the latest technology with a 2011 , at an extremely attractive price of discreet, efficient crew. They are able to €299/person . accommodate between 100 and 180 passengers depending on their size, and are well equipped to organise cruises with ‘human proportions’. www.croisieurope.com 11 and 12 June (leaving from Strasbourg) & 12 and 13 June (leaving from Basel) With the participation of chefs from the following establishments: “l’Auberge du Cheval Blanc” in Lembach, France [www.au-cheval-blanc.fr] “Hotel Colombi” in Freiburg, Germany [www.colombi.de] “Brenner’s Park Hotel” in Baden-Baden, Germany [www.brenners.com] “Grand Hôtel Les Trois Rois” and the restaurant “Le Cheval Blanc” in Basel, Switzerland [www.lestroisrois.com] 6 and 7 July (leaving from Strasbourg) & 7 and 8 July (leaving from Basel) With the participation of chefs from the following establishments: “Bistro des Saveurs” in Obernai, France “Bristol Rendez-vous de Chasse” in Colmar, France [www.grand-hotelbristol.com] Hotel & restaurant “Adler” in Lahr, Germany [www.adler-lahr.de] Restaurant “Talmühle” in Sasbachwalden, Germany [www.talmuehle.de] Restaurant “Teufelhof” in Basel, Switzerland [www.teufelhof.com] 14 and 15 August (leaving from Strasbourg) & 15 and 16 August (leaving from Basel) With the participation of chefs from the following establishments: “Hostellerie du Rosenmeer” in Rosheim, France [www.le-rosenmeer.com] “Villa Hammerschmiede” in Pfinztal-Söllingen, Germany [www.villa-hammerschmiede.de] “Grand Hôtel Les Trois Rois” in Basel, Switzerland 15 and 16 Sept. (leaving from Strasbourg) & 16 and 17 Sept. (leaving from Basel) With the participation of chefs from the following establishments: Restaurant “Le Crocodile” in Strasbourg, France [www.au-crocodile.com] Restaurant “Au Vieux Couvent” in Rhinau, France [www.auvieuxcouvent.fr] Hotel “Ritter Durbach”, Germany [www.ritterdurbach.de] Restaurant “Teufelhof” in Basel, Switzerland [www.teufelhof.com] 2 On the programme: MS Modigliani / CroisiEurope “Strasbourg – Basel” route 17.00 Boarding in Strasbourg 18.00 Departure for Breisach am Rhein Arrival in Breisach at night 20.00 Gourmet dinner on board 8.00 departure for the trip “Escapade across the Rhine: the two Brisachs” Arrival in Basel around 16.00/Disembarkation “Basel – Strasbourg” route 17.00 Boarding in Basel Departure for Breisach am Rhein 20.00 Gourmet dinner on board Arrival in Breisach at night Vieux-Brisach (‘Breisach am Rhein’ in German) 8.00 departure for the trip “Escapade across the is a fortress town in Baden-Württemberg, Rhine: the two Brisachs” Germany, situated along the River Rhine. The Arrival in Strasbourg around 16.00/Disembarkation French call it ‘Vieux-Brisach’ (Old Brisach) to distinguish it from the Alsatian town of Neuf- Brisach (New Brisach), which was built by Vauban in the 17th century on the French side of the Rhine . Neuf-Brisach (France) Fortifications of Vauban, a UNESCO World Heritage Site The stronghold of Neuf-Brisach, considered as Vauban’s masterpiece, is the second site in Alsace (after the Breisach am Rhein (Germany) Grande Ile of Strasbourg) to be Vieux-Brisach (in German ‘Breisach am Rhein’) is a inscribed as a World Heritage Site by fortified town in Germany’s state of Baden- UNESCO . Neuf-Brisach - of which Louis Württemberg. XIV himself said ‘of all the diamonds in Not to be missed: a tour of the St. Stephansmünster in Vieux- France’s crown, the Rhine fortress is Brisach: an extraordinary jewel situated at the top of the Münsterberg hill, Breisach’s emblem towers over the houses the most beautiful’ - is, in this context, of the old town and the Rhenish Plain. Its two towers guide a perfectly preserved and unique example visitors towards an interesting edifice that is home to of a fortified town. Built between 1698 numerous treasures. Owing to its Roman and Gothic and 1703 along the Rhine, Neuf-Brisach elements, this cathedral is thought to have been built over was the last stronghold constructed by the period spanning the end of the 12th century up to the Vauban and the sole illustration of beginning of the 15th century. www.breisach.de Vauban’s third system of defence. www.tourisme-rhin.com 3 II. The Rhine… A gastronomic river New! The ‘Upper Rhine’ Red Michelin Guide With 60 Michelin-starred eating establishments and an array of legendary wine routes , the Rhenish region of humanism has acquired a unique identity and reputation in Europe over the centuries. Emile Jung, one of the greatest Alsatian chefs, evoked an image of this gastronomic River Rhine, which has, since the dawn of time, carried across the Alsatian Plain “spices from India, pasta from Italy, herrings from Scandinavia…unleashing the intense desire to blend and to cook…in short, to create”. Alongside the great names of European gastronomy, who relied on the best products to forge their famed reputations, taverns have also contributed to the renown of the Rhine Valley’s gastronomy. No other region brings together so perfectly the true nature of people: warmth, good naturedness, humour, a taste for good dishes, the best wines and a certain art of living… With a view to synergising all that this region has to offer and to promoting the travel destination, the Agence de Développement Touristique de Haute Alsace (Upper Alsace Tourism Development Agency) formed a partnership with Michelin in order to publish a cross-border Red Guide (Guide Rouge) covering the entire Upper Rhine territory, namely Alsace, South Palatinate, the Black Forest as well as Basel and its surrounding areas. [As a matter of interest, this area had already featured in an Upper Rhine Green Guide publication and a corresponding map, a project steered by France’s Tourism Development Agency (ADT) within the framework of Interreg in 1993.] Available in shops from this coming 21 March, the brand-new bilingual Michelin guide - GUIDE ROUGE MICHELIN - RHIN SUPERIEUR-OBERRHEIN (Upper Rhine Red Michelin Guide) A completely new concept, given that it covers a region on both sides of the Rhine without taking national borders into account, this project was entered into jointly by Haute Alsace Tourisme (Upper Alsace Tourism) , the Agence de Développement Touristique de Haute Alsace (Upper Alsace Tourism Development Agency) , head of operations, and the partners of the INTERREG project, whose aim was to promote the ‘Upper Rhine Valley’ region in a manner transcending national boundaries, represented by the Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co.KG . The guide, like all the editions in the Red Guides collection that aficionados of good fare know and consult, lists and classifies in particular the best restaurants, distinguishing them from one another by means of ‘Stars’ for their degree of excellence, or ‘Bib’ symbols, which represent value for money. In addition, it lists and classifies accommodation in pleasant, peaceful or unique locations, while indicating establishments offering the most attractive wine menus. The guide is a fantastic digest of addresses that absolutely must be tried, tasted and remembered on both sides of the Rhine, hence containing all that is necessary to convey and to promote the region, facilitating exchange and discovery. 4 III. The Rhine… A river that transcends boundaries ‘Upper Rhine Valley’: a European project The Upper Rhine Valley records 17,1 million overnight stays annually and may be compared to other tourism areas such as South Tyrol, Tuscany or the Basque Country. In the heart of Europe, the Metropolitan Region’s central location is reinforced by its high level of accessibility and its powerful embodiment of European cohesion. The ‘Upper Rhine Valley’ project is co-financed by the European Union within the framework of the INTERREG IV A programme. It incorporates 31 partners in Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Alsace and North-West Switzerland. The Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co.