Strasbourg is the ideal meeting place to stay for your pre-trip, and is easily accessed from Paris or Frankfurt by train. Upon meeting, you will need to be ready to ride as we will transfer into the Alsace region, fit you with your bike, and immediately engage in a warm up ride that gives you an overall impression of the variety of landscapes you encounter during the week.
Our route moves from south to north which means you will finish close to Strasbourg for a short onward transfer. It also means you can plan on seeing this great city on your own before or after your tour. We will gladly help you with selecting a hotel in the medieval center to enhance your stay here. We depart from the unusual village of Neuf Brisach also known as the Citadel of the Sun King founded in 1699 at Louis XIV's behest. Today, it is considered Vauban's masterpiece. Its architecture is unique in Europe, and the Citadel is listed as part of the world Heritage by UNESCO. Its 48 quarters form a perfect octagon and the bastion fortifications make it unique in its kind. As we prepare the bikes we suggest you take a short stroll that follow the blue line for a tour of Vauban's work.
Our predominately flat ride crosses the Rhein River and skirts the German border along a bike path surrounded by corn fields and soon give way to the rolling vineyards the Alsace is renowned. Unfortunately Sunday does not allow for a stop for a wine tasting, but we have plenty of time for this in the coming days. Thus we have opted to stop at the Alsace Ecomuseum where 70 authentic country houses, dismantled piece by piece in their village of origin before they were condemned to disappear, are now a national treasure. Over the years and thanks to the contribution of thousands of enthusiasts, the Alsace Ecomuseum has become one of the major of its kind in Europe, with its village, fields and forest totaling around 100 hectares. Here you discover the traditional know-how, and taste the local products during our picnic lunch and then admire the unique collection of old-fashioned merry-go-rounds recounting the evolution of fairgrounds since the 19th century.

Lodgings (2 nights): Chateau Isenbourg - A beautiful 4-star Chateau located in the heart of the vineyards on the Alsatian wine trail. The Chateau dominates the old town of Rouffach, offering a magnificent panoramic view of the Vosges foothills, the Rhine Plain and the Black Forest in the distance.

Today we set off on a loop through some of the more impressive Gand Cru wines of the region. On the west side of Westhalten we find the imposing Grand Cru Zinnkoepflé. With its peak at 420 meters, it reaches higher than any other of the 51 Grands Crus of Alsace. Zinnkoepflé has a unique and characteristic, violent acidity that provides the backbone to Gewurztraminer, but also puts a requirement on Riesling to mature for at least 5 years. As you ride you may notice there is a unique geologically formation, with a strain of sandstone rich in lime that runs from south to north along the western rim of Westhalten. Thus many growers in Westhalten have land in this region.
Our sights are set on the climb to Murbach Abbey, located at the foot of the Grand Ballon. We take time to explore this Monastery that was one of the most powerful in the Holy Roman Empire in the 11th and 12th centuries. Rebuilt after the Thirty Years' War, it remains an impressive edifice. You can admire the typical red sandstone Romanesque facade and the tympanum of the Southern Portal.
Every climb deserves reward and after lunch we descend back to Rouffach to visit the winery of Rene Mure who together with his children make up the 11th and 12th generations responsible for running this exceptional vineyard. Before the wine taste if anyone is interested in ceramics you will have the opportunity to visit the remarkable collection of earthenware by the famous ceramics artist Théodore Deck. Born in Guebwiller in the 19th century, he rediscovered the turquoise blue formula of Ottoman ceramics. Called "bleu de Deck", this unique color and its original uses are still admired today.

We leave our chateau via several charming villages that make up an area whose expansion took place during the Middle Ages when the bishops of Strasbourg and certain Abbeys developed their vineyards. Our first stop is in what many consider the most beautiful village in Europe, Eguisheim. This unique medieval village features quaint winding streets abundant with flowers and architecture faithful to the Alsatian tradition. Your camera will surely be working overtime trying to capture the magic of the preserved cobbled streets, historic courtyards, colorful façades, traditional half-timbering, sculpted windows and balconies full of flowers.
Of historic importance, it was in 1049 Bruno of Eguisheim was born here; he would become Pope under the name of Léon IX and was partly responsible for the reform of the Church in the Middle Ages and was later canonized. From a totally different point of view, Eguisheim was already considered the cradle of Alsatian wine-making in the 4th century. The reputation of the marvelous wine that came from this region soon traveled. Wines from Eguisheim were found on the royal tables of England and Holland. Later, Voltaire, who stayed in a nearby region, would declare his preference for these wines and acquired certain domains.
Each village we pass through has its own personality. We take the opportunity to see as many of the most typical villages as possible before reaching our destination, Colmar. The day just keeps getting better when we stop at the Vignoble Klur Winery to participate in their organic and biodynamic wine and food pairings at estate Bistro. Then for desert we stop at a small village, on the outskirts of Colmar, where the jam epicenter of Christine Ferber, France's number one jam master, offers us a chance to examine her creations filled with artisanal deliciousness and loaded with France's most profitable creation: terroir. The flavors of Madame Ferber's jams mix local Alsatian fruits, tropical fruits, flowers (most rose and violet), herbs, spices of all sorts, nuts and chocolate. Then we visit Au Relais des Trois Epis, a mixture of bakery, delicatessen and local market that offers a little bit of everything.

Lodgings (2 nights): La Maison des Tete-- 5-star in Colmar's medieval center

Explore the many treasures of Colmar starting with a 2-hour private morning city tour that better acquaints you with this fascinating city known as the wine capital of the Alsace. Mostly spared by the destructions of the French Revolution and the 20th century wars, the cityscape of old-town Colmar is homogeneous and renowned worldwide. Colmar, the town, offers an exciting glimpse of 1000 years of European history. Wonderfully preserved from the ravages of time, its historical center is classed as a 'protected area' and has benefited from careful restoration and ongoing improvements for more than 20 years. What's more, Colmar retains a 'country town' atmosphere which contributes so much to its charm.
One area of interest is the area crossed by the canals of the river Lauch, which formerly served as the butcher's, tanner's and fishmonger's quarter, known as "little Venice" (la Petite Venise). Colmar was founded in the 9th century, and gained recognition as the city where the Emperor “Charles the Fat” held a diet in 884. The city was granted the status of a free imperial city by Emperor Frederick II in 1226 and in 1575 it adopted the Protestant Reformation, long after the northern neighboring Strasbourg. In 1548 Josel of Rosheim urged the Reichskammergericht court to repeal the Colmar market ban for Jewish merchants. During the Thirty Years' War, it was taken by the Swedish army in 1632, who held it for two years. Briefly; it was conquered by France under King Louis XIV in 1673 with the rest of Alsace and was annexed by the newly formed German Empire in 1871.
It returned to France after World War I according to the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, and was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1940, and then reverted to French control after the battle of the "Colmar Pocket" in 1945. Colmar has been continuously governed by conservative parties since 1947 and has only had three mayors during that time. The Colmar Treasure, a hoard of precious objects hidden by Jews during the Black Death, was discovered here in 1863. With the afternoon free there’s time to explore this fascinating history and much more or we can do a 40km loop to the Rhine River bordering Germany. We later gather to partake in a cooking class headed by our local Chef Raphael who will guide us in preparing dinner which includes a starter, main and desert. Lodgings: same as previous night

Our first stop is the jewel in the crown that makes up the Alsace wine region, Riquewihr. Famous for the Riesling and other great Alsace wines produced here, it looks today exactly as it did in the 16th Century. Once we reach Riquewihr you will discover a wonderful romantic little medieval city hidden between the Vosges Mountains and some of the most famous vineyards in Alsace.

It is one idyllic village after another as we soon after pass through Hunawihr, ranked among "the most beautiful villages in France" and home to the Center of Stork reintroduction. We may want to stop at the base of our first ascent of the day for some energy at the chocolate center of Ribeauville and if you really need a pick me up they are well-known for home-made brandy. Our sights however are set on the regions one “must see” castles, the imposing majestic Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle. Built in the 12th century, it occupied an important strategic position. Its purpose was to watch over the wine and wheat routes to the North and the silver and salt routes from West to East, so be ready for some amazing views. It was reduced to ruins by the Swedes during the 30Years' War and then abandoned. In 1899, Kaiser Wilhelm II decided to rebuild the castle.Inside the beautifully refined rooms are decorated with mural paintings, Renaissance furniture and enormous cast-iron stoves. There is an impressive collection of weaponry from the Middle Ages in the basement with crossbows, all types of swords and armor.

As we make our way for Obernai we pass several surreal castles such as the Kintzheim Château which plays host to some of Alsace's most unusual inhabitants: birds of prey from La Volerie des Aigles. Our destination, Obernai, is home to France's best known beer, Kronenberg, and is also a wine making town of the legendary Vin du Pistolet.

Lodging: Hotel Colombier (2 nights) in medieval center of Obernai 

Obernai, the birthplace of St. Odile, is a condensed version of Alsace. Located at the crossroads of three large regions of the Alsace: the vineyards of the wine route, the Vosges Mts., and the large rural plain that start right at the town gate so the proud city of Obernai.
Obernai is so attractive that it is the most visited city of the Bas-Rhin after the capital of Europe. The historical wine of the Obernai is called the Vin du Pistolet in reference to a local legend of the Emperor who held a gun to the mayor's head for a new response to his denied request for their wine. From this time on it became known as the “wine from the gun”.
In an authentic and warm, friendly setting, 11 winstubs will delight you with their regional specialties, such as the traditional sauerkraut, baeckeoffe and tartes flambées. At the center of this charming city, which was fortified in 1257, we find the remains of the fortified castle that was constructed in the 13th century by the Duke of Alsace, and the nephew of Saint Odile. Our scenic ride passes along the “Le Route du Vin” leads through several fortified villages, pine forest, vineyards, by majestic castles and rolling meadows and deliver us to the mysterious “Pagan Wall” surrounding the convent of Sainte Odile. We tour these ground, and examine the Pagan Wall and the mystery behind its huge construction of ten kilometers which encircles Mont Sainte Odile. It is composed of about 300,000 blocks, with some archaeologist claiming that it is a 3,000 year old druid construction. For those that want more biking or we transfer to Struhof; one of the lesser known concentration camps from WWII. On our return we have time to explore more of charms of Obernai, shop, relax, and prepare for a grand farewell feast in the medieval center.

Transfers are arranged according to your individual needs and will commence after breakfast or earlier if needed. The Strasbourg airport is 30’ away