Tue, 16 Jun 2026 22:45:07 +0200
Kaysersberg - literally "Emperor's Mountain" - is one of the most captivating villages in Alsace. Nestled in the Weiss valley at the foot of the Vosges, it captivates with its ruined castle dominating the rooftops, its medieval fortified bridge unique in Alsace, its architecturally exceptional Renaissance half-timbered houses and its wines ranked among the finest in the region. Birthplace of Albert Schweitzer, 1952 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Kaysersberg wonderfully combines history, culture and authenticity in a natural setting of incomparable beauty.]]> Wed, 01 Jul 2026 10:46:00 +0200 0
Mulhouse is the great misunderstood of Alsatian tourism. The region's third city with 110,000 inhabitants, it is too often ignored in favour of Strasbourg and Colmar. This is a mistake: Mulhouse houses a concentration of technical museums unique in Europe - the world's largest collection of vintage cars, France's largest railway museum, the electricity museum - and an unexpectedly rich Art Deco and Renaissance historic centre. A city absolutely worth rediscovering.]]> Wed, 01 Jul 2026 10:29:17 +0200 0
Eguisheim is often considered the most beautiful village in Alsace, and one of the finest in France. Its unique structure of concentric circles around a medieval castle, its cobbled lanes overflowing with geraniums, its shimmering colourful half-timbered houses and its Grands Crus among the most renowned in Alsace make it an essential destination. Birthplace of Pope Saint Leo IX, Eguisheim wonderfully combines exceptional historical heritage with authentic Alsatian way of life.]]> Tue, 30 Jun 2026 17:46:05 +0200 0
Riquewihr is nicknamed the "Pearl of Alsace" and the title is well-deserved. This medieval village of 1,200 inhabitants, nestled within its 16th-century ramparts at the heart of the Alsatian vineyard, is one of the best-preserved architectural ensembles in France. Its cobbled lanes lined with pastel-coloured Renaissance half-timbered houses, its flower-decked fountains and its renowned wine cellars make it a magical destination in every season - and particularly in winter when snow and Christmas markets lend it an incomparable fairy-tale atmosphere.]]> Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:10:02 +0200 0
Ribeauvillé is one of the most captivating medieval towns in Alsace. Dominated by three castles perched on the Vosges ridges, it stretches its main street lined with Renaissance half-timbered houses between the Alsatian plain and the first vineyard slopes. Town of the famous Pfifferdaj - the minstrels' festival - and cradle of wines ranked among the finest in Alsace, Ribeauvillé is an essential stop on the Wine Route that one never tires of revisiting.]]> Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:03:49 +0200 0
Heiligenstein is a small wine village in the Vosges foothills that conceals a treasure unique in the world: the Klevener de Heiligenstein, a pink-berried grape variety grown nowhere else in Alsace and in no other French wine region. This discreet and distinguished wine, with its delicate aromas of rose and gentle spices, is one of the finest curiosities of the Alsatian vineyard. Discover the history of this village and its exceptional grape, a true ambassador of an authentic and preserved Alsatian wine culture.]]> Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:48:37 +0200 0
Haut-Koenigsbourg castle is the most visited tourist site in Alsace after Strasbourg, with nearly 500,000 visitors per year. Perched at 757 metres altitude on a rocky spur of the Vosges dominating the Alsatian plain and the Rhine, this medieval fortress magnificently restored at the beginning of the 20th century offers an exceptional panorama and a fascinating immersion in the history of medieval Alsace. An absolute must for every visitor to the region.]]> Wed, 24 Jun 2026 16:22:05 +0200 0
Obernai is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Alsace. Nestled at the foot of the Vosges some twenty kilometres south of Strasbourg, it captivates with its lively market square, its Gothic belfry, its medieval ramparts and its colourful half-timbered houses. Birthplace of Saint Odile, patron saint of Alsace, and the natural starting point of the Wine Route, Obernai is an essential stop for those wishing to discover authentic Alsace away from the crowds of Strasbourg and Colmar.]]> Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:36:49 +0200 0
Alsatian pewter is one of the little-known treasures of regional craftsmanship. Rotund beer tankards, plates engraved with vine and stork motifs, ornate cutlery, candlesticks and spice boxes: for centuries, pewter was the noble metal of the Alsatian table and decoration before being supplanted by porcelain and steel. Today these antique objects are sought after by collectors and folk art enthusiasts, while a few craftspeople still perpetuate this ancestral knowledge in their Alsatian workshops.]]> Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:24:29 +0200 0
Sélestat is one of the most overlooked and most captivating cities in Alsace. Sandwiched between Colmar and Strasbourg on the Wine Route, it is all too often driven through without stopping. This is a mistake: this medieval city is home to one of the most precious libraries in Europe, two remarkable churches and an authentic historic centre untouched by mass tourism. This guide invites you to discover it differently.]]> Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:50:15 +0200 0
La Petite France is Strasbourg's most iconic neighbourhood. Its half-timbered houses leaning over the canals of the Ill, its cobbled lanes and its locks make it one of the best-preserved medieval ensembles in Europe. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988, this former quarter of tanners, millers and fishermen attracts millions of visitors from around the world every year. This guide takes you on a journey through its history, its monuments and its best-kept secrets.]]> Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:26:31 +0200 0
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.]]> Tue, 23 Jun 2026 15:54:56 +0200 0
The Colmar Wine Fair has been, for over seventy years, Alsace's largest wine event and one of France's most important wine fairs. Every summer, hundreds of thousands of visitors gather in the Alsatian capital to discover and taste the entire regional production.]]> Sun, 21 Jun 2026 12:07:15 +0200 0
The Barr harvest festival is one of Alsace's oldest and most spectacular wine celebrations. Each autumn, the town dresses in colour and flowers to honour the end of the grape harvest through a vibrant parade, blending agricultural tradition, regional folklore and popular festivity.]]> Sun, 21 Jun 2026 12:02:24 +0200 0
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.]]> Sat, 20 Jun 2026 17:56:58 +0200 0
Alsatian wood carving draws its origins from the forest abundance of the Vosges and from a centuries-old farming craft tradition. Storks, miniature half-timbered houses, nativity figures and Christmas decorations bear witness to skills passed down through generations, where the craftsman's gesture transforms raw material into objects charged with regional symbolism.]]> Sat, 20 Jun 2026 17:48:41 +0200 0
Alsatian weaving, with its characteristic colourful check patterns and centuries-old textile craftsmanship, constitutes one of the lesser-known pillars of the region's artisan heritage. Tablecloths, tea towels and household linen have for generations perpetuated a manufacturing tradition that helped shape Alsace's economy and visual identity.]]> Sat, 20 Jun 2026 17:39:32 +0200 0
Betschdorf pottery - in reality stoneware rather than faience in the strict sense - is one of Alsace's most distinctive ceramic traditions. Instantly recognisable for its characteristic grey-blue glaze and cobalt decorations, this pottery from northern Alsace bears witness to uninterrupted craftsmanship since the 17th century.]]> Sat, 20 Jun 2026 17:32:57 +0200 0
Since 1704, the village of Meisenthal has perpetuated the ancestral art of blown glass in the Vosges forest of northern Alsace. Birthplace of the modern Christmas bauble and a hub of contemporary glass art, this small Moselle village bordering Alsace embodies exceptional craftsmanship passed down for over three centuries.]]> Sat, 20 Jun 2026 17:25:26 +0200 0
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.]]> Sat, 20 Jun 2026 16:52:27 +0200 0
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.]]> Sat, 20 Jun 2026 16:47:05 +0200 0
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.]]> Sat, 20 Jun 2026 16:42:07 +0200 0
Alsace is a land of legends. Vosges forests, castle ruins, misty valleys and old half-timbered villages have for centuries nourished a teeming imagination peopled with mysterious creatures - mine witches, nocturnal washerwomen, mischievous dwarves and water spirits. A fascinating intangible heritage that tells as much about Alsace as its monuments and its gastronomy.]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:24:58 +0200 0
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.]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:13:10 +0200 0
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.]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:05:33 +0200 0
Jean-Jacques Waltz, known as Hansi, was not merely the picturesque illustrator of a happy Alsace. He was above all a cultural resistance fighter of rare determination, who used his pencil as a weapon against German occupation for nearly fifty years. Condemned by the Kaiser's courts, driven into exile, hunted - his fight for Alsatian identity is one of the most moving pages of regional history.]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:59:20 +0200 0
Traditional Alsatian costumes are among the most colourful and recognisable in Europe. From the great red bow of Strasbourg to the majestic black headdress of the Sundgau, through the floral embroidery of the Vosges foothills, these regional costumes tell a thousand years of history, influences and Alsatian identity.]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:44:36 +0200 0
Munster - or Munster-Géromé - is the quintessential Alsatian cheese. Produced in the Munster valley and on the Vosges high pastures since the Middle Ages, this soft washed-rind cheese has held a Protected Designation of Origin since 1969. Powerful in aroma, surprising on the palate, it is the most authentic expression of the Vosges terroir.]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:36:51 +0200 0
Gertwiller, a small village on the Vosges foothills between Obernai and Barr, is recognised worldwide as the world capital of gingerbread. Two exceptional artisan houses - Lips and Fortwenger - have been perpetuating a unique craft for generations, making this village of a few hundred inhabitants the global epicentre of a timeless Alsatian speciality.]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:28:36 +0200 0
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.]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:18:49 +0200 0
Strasbourg's Notre-Dame Cathedral is one of the most fascinating monuments in Europe. Built over more than four centuries, with its spire that long dominated the entire world, its prodigious astronomical clock and its façade sculpted like a lace of stone, it embodies better than any other building the genius of Rhenish Gothic architecture and the deep soul of Alsace.]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0200 0
The Alsatian dialect is far more than a way of speaking: it is the living witness to a thousand years of history between France and Germany. A Germanic language deeply rooted in regional identity, it has survived wars, annexations and bans to endure to the present day - weakened, but still alive and proudly claimed by those who still speak it.]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0200 0
Alsace is one of Europe's richest regions for Christmas markets. From Strasbourg to Colmar, from Obernai to Kaysersberg, each market has its own character, atmosphere and specialities. This comparative guide helps you choose - and plan your visit.]]> Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0200 0
Strasbourg proudly calls itself the Christmas Capital - and for good reason. Since 1570, its Christmas market, the Christkindelsmärik, has lit up the city's squares every December. A look back at more than four centuries of a tradition that has made Strasbourg one of the world's great festive destinations.]]> Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0200 0
From 1582 to 1683, in Bergheim - the very village voted France's Favourite Village in 2022 - 40 women were accused of witchcraft and burned alive. This is no legend. This is history. A journey into the darkest and most fascinating chapter of Alsatian history.]]> Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0200 0
For more than seven centuries, the Kappelturm has dominated Obernai's Market Square with its 60 metres of Vosges sandstone. Former bell tower of the Chapel of the Virgin, civic belfry, watchtower, guardian of medieval bells - this monument is the beating heart of one of Alsace's most beautiful squares. A journey through history and architecture.]]> Sat, 06 Jun 2026 13:45:45 +0200 0
11 kilometres long, 5 to 6 metres high, 2 metres thick, 300,000 cyclopean sandstone blocks linked by unique dovetail wooden tenons - the Pagan Wall surrounding Mont Sainte-Odile is one of Alsace's most impressive and mysterious archaeological structures. Who built it? When? Why? Historians are still debating.]]> Sat, 06 Jun 2026 13:36:12 +0200 0
With their exposed beams, colourful facades and flat-tiled roofs, half-timbered houses are Alsace's most recognisable architectural symbol. But why the exposed wood? Why the vivid colours? And what did they really mean? A journey into the fascinating history of a living heritage.]]> Sat, 06 Jun 2026 13:00:58 +0200 0
Born blind around 660, probably in Obernai, rejected by her father the Duke of Alsace Etichon-Adalric, miraculously healed at her baptism, founder of the abbey of Hohenbourg on the mountain that bears her name, canonised in 1049 and proclaimed patron saint of Alsace in 1946 - Saint Odile is one of the most fascinating spiritual figures of the Middle Ages.]]> Sat, 06 Jun 2026 12:22:49 +0200 0
With its white plumage, black wingtips and long red bill, the white stork is Alsace's most iconic bird. But this symbol came close to vanishing forever : by the 1970s, only a handful of breeding pairs remained in the region. The story of a fascinating bird, caught between medieval legends, ecological crisis and a remarkable comeback.]]> Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:35:46 +0200 0
These songs are examples of the rich Alsatian musical tradition, which mixes French, German and Swiss influences.]]> Thu, 23 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0100 0
These superb Vintage Decorative Plaques in thick laminated cardboard are decorated with authentic Alsatian motifs: storks, half-timbered houses, traditional costumes and Héritage Alsace inscriptions. Perforated with 4 holes for easy wall mounting, they bring a touch of authenticity and character to your interior. An original and lasting Alsatian souvenir.]]> Thu, 21 Apr 2022 10:52:37 +0200 0
Déco Alsace is expanding its Collection of Illustrated Books about Alsace with 12 new titles. Tourism, heritage, legends, terroir recipes and illustrations by great Alsatian artists - fascinating works to discover and fall in love with Alsace in all its facets.]]> Fri, 25 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0100 0
Buying our pottery is good, but understanding how it is made is better ! Discover below the 10 main stages of pottery making. You will discover a step that is very important to us because it improves the quality of the pottery significantly...]]> Sat, 19 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0200 0
The Alsatian dialect is a Germanic language. It has a multitude of variants from the south (Haut-Rhin) to the north (Bas-Rhin) of Alsace. But it is also, at least since the Revolution, the language of the enemy, subject to particular historical conditions.]]> Thu, 11 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0200 0
Hansi, real name Jean-Jacques Waltz, was born in Colmar in 1873. Illustrator, caricaturist and watercolourist, he is the most beloved visual artist of Alsace and the undisputed ambassador of Alsatian folk traditions. His colourful illustrations of half-timbered villages, storks and figures in traditional costume have stood the test of time and remain the most recognisable symbols of Alsatian identity.]]> Sat, 12 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +0200 0