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Alsace

Alsace

Alsace is made up of two départements (counties): Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin

The principal cities are : Strasbourg and Mulhouse  with also Colmar ideal for city breaks. 


An Ideal Geographical Location

Located in north-eastern France, alongside Switzerland and Germany, Alsace enjoys an ideal location in the heart of Europe. The region has 1.7 million inhabitants, and comprises two départements. Upper Alsace to the south and Lower Alsace to the north. At 190 km in length and 50 km wide, Alsace is a moderately sized region, making it easy to discover, while at the same time offering a wide variety of landscapes ranging from forests and valleys to plains and peaks.

A Dynamic Local Economy

Alsace is one of the most dynamic and prosperous regions in France. With its border location, Alsace is situated at Europe's economic crossroads around the Rhine. The region boasts an impressive modern infrastructure enabling it to fulfil its role as a trading centre between northern and southern Europe.

Industry continues to thrive here, representing approximately 30% of Alsace's GDP. Alsace also plays a leading international role, being one of France's top regions when it comes to attracting foreign capital.

Industrial activities carried out here are extremely varied, and include the automotive and petrochemical sectors. However, the main driving force of the local economy is now the service sector, with the biotechnology industry taking pride of place.

Where agriculture is concerned, Alsace's farming sector is chiefly represented by winegrowing and hop production.


Les Labyrinthus in Alsace


The Maze Leisure Park. Very popular in times gone by, mazes are today enjoying something of a comeback. Designed in 1996, "Les Labyrinthus" are temporary mazes made from corn which are pulled up or harvested at the end of the summer.


Winter Sports in Alsace

The Vosges range offers winter sports lovers a huge choice of sporting possibilities including downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, dog sleigh rides and biathlon. 


Adventure Parks in Alsace

Located in a forest of 200-year-old oak trees, this treetop adventure park combines a chance to discover nature with the opportunity to enjoy fun and adventure up in the treetops.


Bas-Rhin in Alsace

Haut-Rhin in Alsace

Spas in Alsace


Recharge your Batteries in Thermal Baths in a landscape of hills, vineyards and forests, Alsace has spa sites offering modern facilities and custom or beauty treatments.  The special characteristics of its waters help you to regain your health.


Wine in Alsace

Grape Varieties. While other French regions name their wines after their terroirs, Alsatian wines bear the name of the grape varieties used to produce them. There is only one type of red wine (Pinot Noir) in Alsace, as white wine is by far the most common.

Horse Riding in Alsace

If you enjoy trekking out in the forests and among the vineyards while discovering local fauna and flora on horseback, by pony or in a horse-drawn carriage, you'll find plenty of options when planning your horse riding trip in Alsace. 


Food and Wine in Alsace

All year long, traditional Alsatian festivals and events present opportunities to get together and enjoy culinary specialities and customs. Christmas in Alsace would simply not be the same without the famous bredele, the Christmas cakes with countless shapes and flavours.


See Alsace from the Air

Discover the Alsatian plain at first hand, get a bird's eye view of the Vosges Forest or glide across the vineyards... There are many excellent reasons to discover Alsace from the air.


Alsatian Restaurants

From win stubs to star-rated restaurants, and not forgetting the region's farm-inns, an impressive range of establishments welcome visitors and Alsatians alike to enjoy authentic regional dishes.


Boat Trips in Alsace

Enjoy the Waterways! The boat journey between Mulhouse and Strasbourg is a truly outstanding experience. The total journey covers some 120 km, enabling you to visit the region's three main towns: Mulhouse, Colmar and Strasbourg.

The Science and Technology Discovery Centre


Produced in collaboration with the Cité des Sciences de la Villette (La Villette Science Centre) in Paris, this science and technology discovery centre covers an area of more than 5000 m² and is chiefly aimed at children aged between 3 and 15.


Cycling in Alsace
A number of trails reserved for mountain biking and suitable for cyclists of all abilities have been created throughout the Vosges. The terrain here is particularly well-suited to mountain biking.

The European Centre for Deported Resistance Fighters

A site designed with the aim of promoting information, reflection and awareness, the European Centre for Deported Resistance fighters was opened in 2005. It helps visitors to discover the concentration camp system and the history of European resistance against the Nazis.

The Renaissance and Classicism in Alsace


Classicism began to gain a foothold in Alsace around the 18th Century, at a time when new churches were being built. It was inspired by ancient art and characterised by a preference for sober and symmetrical designs.


Dialect and Languages in Alsace


One of the Last Regional Languages Still in Use. The Alsatian dialect is used throughout the whole of Alsace as well is in part of the Moselle area. It is one of the most widely spoken regional languages in France.


Cycle Trips for the Whole Family in Alsace

With almost 2000 km of cycle trails and cycle routes, Alsace offers cyclists an extremely dense network. Whether you're looking for endurance or simply a leisurely ride with the family, Alsace will meet your needs, with mountain biking in the Vosges or down in the valleys, and cycle trails criss-crossing the Alsatian plain.

Hiking & Rambling in Alsace

Whether you're a sports fanatic or simply looking for a change, why not discover Alsace on foot! The region offers many hiking and rambling trails, from the Vosges hills to the banks of the Rhine, and throughout the Alsatian plain.


Mont Sainte Odile


A Popular Place of Pilgrimage. Dedicated to Alsace's patron saint, Mont Sainte-Odile is a site visited both by pilgrims who come here to pay their respects and by tourists attracted by the incredible view offered from its peak, situated at an altitude of 763 m.


World War I I in Alsace


Opened in 1941, Struthof was the only camp of its kind on French soil. Some 52,000 prisoners including German detainees and deportees from 20 other countries were subjected to forced labour here in the quarry close to the camp. In total, 22,000 people died here, usually from starvation and exhaustion. Some however perished in the "experimental" gas chamber, making it all the more important to ensure that what happened here is never forgotten.


Romanesque Art in Alsace

Simple Decorative Schemes and Styling. From the 10th Century onwards, Romanesque abbeys and churches began to appear in Alsace. These were characterised by their simple decorative schemes and styling, with the main detailed sculptures being reserved for the portal.

World War I

 
"Le Linge" was one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War. Between 20th July and 15th October 1915, the Germans organised their defence here in order to prevent French troops advancing on Colmar.


Regional Culture in Alsace

Alsace: a Region with a Distinctive Local Identity. You don't need to be a history lover to appreciate Alsace's rich heritage.  Many  events, both happy and tragic, have shaped this region’s distinctive identity. 


The Bioscope in Alsace

An Innovative Leisure and Discovery Park.
A cross between an amusement park and a scientific museum, the Bioscope is a completely new kind of leisure and discovery park, where visitors can learn more about the relationship between man and his environment.

Gothic Art in Alsace

Gothic art only arrived in Alsace in 1225 with the construction of Strasbourg Cathedral, which subsequently served as a model for other churches.

Culture and Heritage in Alsace


More than 250 museums and collections throughout Alsace look forward to welcoming visitors keen to discover their rich heritage, ranging from prehistory through to contemporary art.


The Maginot Line in Alsace

History to Experience. Following its experience during the First World War, the French government took the decision to modernise the country's defences with the building of the Maginot Line.

War Remnants in Alsace

The Largest Fortification in the Maginot Line in Alsace. When it was completed in 1935, the Schoenenbourg fort was considered to be indestructible. This was amply demonstrated in 1940, when a hailstorm of 3000 bombs and shells rained down on the site.

An Authentic Open Air Village Museum

Created in 1984, the Ecomusée d'Alsace comprises almost 70 authentic rural homes, dismantled in their original village where they were due for demolition, and rebuilt it here brick by brick.


Not to be missed in Alsace

Very long and narrow and backing onto the Rhine, Alsace has seen its borders moved on many occasions. The ups and downs of history have caused it to hang on to a very strong regional tradition. This can be seen in its language, its folk traditions and its cuisine. Its countryside beckons the walker, with its hillsides streaked with vineyards in the Munster valley and the flower-decked valleys of the Florival.


Mulhouse in Alsace

Strasbourg in Alsace

 

VFB Holidays Strasbourg City Break
3 days/2 nights from £241pp. Travel by rail or air, 3 star hotel accommodation(B+B) & city pass.

Inntravel Cycling Holidays
Leisurely self-guided holidays for easy to moderate cycling in France.

European Waterways
Six nights of pampered luxury with gourmet meals; fine wines; daily excursions to vineyards, chateaux and markets and daily gentle cruising. Cabins are ensuite and air-conditioned.

Arblaster & Clarke Wine Tours by Train & Coach
The worldwide leaders in wine tours present a greener approach to wine touring, travelling to the great vineyards by coach and train

Francophiles Exploring France
Accompanied cultural luxury coach tours to regions of France

Cycling for Softies/Cycling for Gourmets
Live as gypsies by day and kings by night. Cycling for Softies offers luxurious, independent holidays in rural France. Hotels are chosen for comfort, character, friendliness and, most importantly, the gourmet menus! susi@cycling-for-softies.co.uk

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Strasbourg's Contemporary Art Fair
November 2009

Strasbourg


Central and Eastern Europe is the theme for Strasbourg's 13th Contemporary Art Fair which takes places at the Wacken exhibition centre. The event gives visitors the opportunity to experience the rich cultural heritage of these countries along with current creative trends.



Strasbourg's Carnival
March

Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin

More than 40 colourful floats and 3,000 street performers will join the procession for Strasbourg's annual carnival.

Auto Festival
13 March - 24 May 2009

Mulhouse - Alsace

Sponsored by Yvan Muller, Vice-champion of the World Touring Car Championship and champion of the British Touring Car Championship, this fun festival gathers the most beautiful cars from throughout Europe.

Art in Arp
February 2010

Strasbourg, Bas -Rhin

An exhibition of drawings, collages, sculpture and poetry by Hans Jean Arp will be on display at Strasbourg's Musée d'Art Moderne et Contemporain, to mark the museum's tenth anniversary.

Marché de Noël de Mulhouse
November - December

Mulhouse - Haut-Rhin


Known for producing beautiful fabrics, Mulhouse incorporates its famous export into the annual festival celebrations.

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