Practical Guides & Tips

Colmar is one of the most visited cities in France and the undisputed jewel of tourist Alsace. Its cobbled streets, colourful half-timbered houses and the famous Little Venice district make it a living postcard, spared by the destruction of the Second World War. The unofficial capital of Alsatian wines and the natural starting point of the Wine Route, Colmar deserves far more than a brief stopover - this complete guide helps you plan your visit and bring home the best of it.

The Alsatian gift box is one of the most popular solutions for giving an authentic, representative gift from the region, without needing to multiply individual searches. Gourmet, wine-themed or artisan, each gift box formula meets different expectations, making it easy to find the perfect gift for every occasion and recipient.

Bringing home a gourmet souvenir from Alsace allows you to extend the pleasure of your trip well after returning. Gingerbread, artisan jams, local honey and vineyard wines rank among the most authentic and representative specialities of the regional terroir, to gift or to enjoy at home.

Three days are enough to discover the essentials of Alsace, provided you organise your itinerary well. Between Strasbourg, Colmar and the emblematic villages of the Wine Route, this balanced programme allows a complete immersion in the region's heritage, gastronomy and vineyard landscapes.

Alsace reveals two radically different faces depending on the season. Winter, magical and enchanting with its Christmas markets and illuminated villages, contrasts with summer, bright and festive, ideal for strolling through the vineyard and lively terraces. Two equally exceptional experiences, for different desires.

The Pfifferdaj, "day of the fife players", is one of Alsace's oldest and most colourful traditional festivals. Celebrated annually in Ribeauvillé at the heart of the vineyard, this minstrels' festival has perpetuated since the Middle Ages a unique festive heritage combining costumed parades, traditional music and wine-growing generosity.

Alsace is a family destination par excellence. Between animal parks, enchanting villages, educational farms and outdoor activities suited to all ages, the region offers an exceptional playground where young and old alike find their happiness, summer and winter alike.

The Alsatian Ried, a vast alluvial plain woven between the branches of the Ill and Rhine rivers, is one of Western Europe's richest wetlands. The historical birthplace of stork reintroduction, land of century-old orchards and floodable meadows, the Ried offers a unique landscape where preserved nature and farming traditions blend harmoniously.

The Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park spans nearly 3,000 km² across Alsace, Lorraine and Franche-Comté. Its rounded summits - the famous "ballons" - its flowering high pastures and glacial lakes make it one of eastern France's most emblematic and best-preserved natural spaces.

With its 13,000 hectares, the Haguenau Forest is Europe's largest lowland forest. This green lung of northern Alsace, crossed by ancient paths and steeped in legend, offers walkers and nature lovers a timeless journey into the heart of an exceptionally rich ecosystem.

Wissembourg, nestled in a bend of the Lauter river at the German border, is one of the most charming and least-known towns in Alsace. Its medieval half-timbered houses, its thousand-year-old Romanesque abbey church, its cobbled streets and its northernmost vineyard make it a discreet gem that is well worth the detour for anyone seeking an authentic and unspoilt Alsace.

In southern Alsace, between the Rhine, the Swiss Jura and the first Vosges foothills, the Sundgau is the great forgotten region of Alsatian tourism. Yet this peaceful and unspoilt territory holds unsuspected treasures - its carp ponds, its flower-filled villages, its unique three-country border and a rare authenticity that captivates all those who take the time to discover it.

Alsace is one of Europe's richest regions for medieval castles. More than 60 castles line the Vosges ridges, dominating the Rhine plain from their rocky promontories. From the majestic Haut-Koenigsbourg to the mysterious Fleckenstein, each one tells a fascinating page of Alsatian history.

The Alsatian calendar tea towel is a gift idea that is as original as it is practical - combining the region's textile tradition with the art of the illustrated calendar. Printed on quality fabric, it decorates your kitchen throughout the year with colourful Alsatian illustrations. Landscapes, storks, villages, traditions... a beautiful piece of Alsace to hang up or give as a gift !

Alsatian wine-growing tradition extends all the way to the glasses ! Discover our selection of Alsatian glasses and carafes : screen-printed wine glasses with stork, Hansi or grape motifs, decorated carafes, Alsatian crystal and water, beer or champagne glasses. Authentic artisan creations to enhance your table and bring a beautiful piece of Alsace home.

Between golden vineyards, cobbled lanes and colourful half-timbered houses, Alsace is home to some of the most beautiful villages in France - and Europe. Three Alsatian villages have been voted "Favourite Village of the French". Our selection of unmissable stops, from north to south.

The second most visited destination in Bas-Rhin after Strasbourg, Obernai packs everything Alsace has to offer into a few cobbled streets : half-timbered houses, a medieval square, belfry, ramparts, vineyards and a sacred mountain. The complete guide to a perfect day in Obernai.

170 kilometres, over 70 communes, 7 emblematic grape varieties, 51 Grands Crus and hundreds of half-timbered villages - inaugurated in 1953, the Alsace Wine Route is the oldest wine trail in France. From Marlenheim to Thann, at the foot of the Vosges, it crosses some of Europe's most beautiful landscapes and villages. The complete guide.