Alsace, in Eastern France is the picturesque region, known for its medieval villages with half-timbered houses, hilltop fortresses, world-renowned cities & fabulous wines. This coveted bucket list destination is brimmed with idyllic charm; everything from the architecture to the landscape is captivating and inviting in equal measure. Discover centuries-old traditions, rich cultural heritage and UNESCO-listed sites. You can appreciate towns and historical sites, scenic beauty and enjoy the gastronomic delights through food specialities and wines.
Extras
Welcome to Alsace. Prepare to be charmed! We first take our transfer from Basel to our hotel in Obernai where we then spend the rest of our day either exploring the town or simply relaxing at the hotel.
In the evening we meet for dinner in a local restaurant.
After breakfast we set out on our first excursion, a guided tour of Strasbourg, the largest city of the Grand Est region of eastern France and the official seat of the European Parliament.
On the tour, our private guide will take us through the city’s rich and colourful past. The tour will cover the city’s center and its various quarters, such as Petite France, an old tanner’s district known for its charming half-timbered houses, and the stunning gothic cathedral. You’ll also see the historic Maison Kammerzell from the 16th century. The different districts of Strasbourg each have their own unique identity, yet they are all connected and form a cohesive city, rich with historical heritage, including the Grande Ile and the Neustadt district, both UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Following the tour, we have free time for lunch.
We start the day with a guided walking tour of Obernai. We explore the old town, birthplace of Saint Odile, the patron saint of Alsace and get the opportunity to experience the fine architectural heritage dating back to the Middle Ages. These include the central marketplace, the 13th-century watchtower and the town hall, as well as numerous charming half-timbered houses in the local style.
Walking tour duration approx. 1hr 30mins.
After the walking tour, we hop on a coach tour that will follow the Alsatian wine route, where we immerse ourselves in an idyllic landscape of picturesque villages, distant medieval castles and traditional vineyards that the Alsace region is famed for.
After breakfast, we continue our Alsace tour heading to the historically important and charming town of Kaysersberg, with its rich selection of traditional half-timbered buildings and imposing ruins of the castle with its cylindrical dungeon and crenelated wall that still watches over the town and speaks of its strategic importance in the past! The town boasts a number of historically important figures such as Geiler de Kaysersberg (humanist preacher at the Strasbourg Cathedral), Matthieu Zell (the first reformer of Strasbourg) and Albert Schweitzer (a Nobel Peace Prize winner). Kayserberg was the final place visited by the noted writer and chef Anthony Bourdain.
From the town we continue on to Ribeauvillé – a city lined with the traditional houses of winemakers and craftsmen, dominated by hills and three majestic castles. Its heritage is witness of a rich past which is celebrated throughout the year, with a highlight being the Minstrels festival. We have free time in Ribeauvillé for lunch.
After breakfast we check-out of our hotel and head to our next destination of Colmar. Once there, we take a guided walking tour of the city to discover the history of its various quarters and take in the highlights such as the Maison des Têtes, the House Pfister, the Old Toll house, and the famous Petite Venise – the former fishmonger’s district.
Walking tour duration approx. 1hr 30mins.
Afterwards, we have free time to further explore the amazing city or we can visit the Unterlinden Museum which is housed in a former Dominican convent founded in 1232 on the place ‘Unterlinden’ or ‘Under the Linden’. The museum houses important collections of Renish sculptures and paintings of the end of the Middle Ages and of the Renaissance. It also has the prestigious altarpiece painted between 1512 and 1516 by Grünewald for the Antonine convent at Issenheim. Entrance and guided visit (1hr, fee EUR 23.00).
Today we depart for the spa town of Baden-Baden after breakfast, where we spend the morning relaxing in the luxurious Caracalla Thermal Bath (3hr). Then we enjoy free time for lunch, and explore Baden-Baden at our own pace. Possible sites to visit include the historic old town with its monuments like the Stiftskirche Liebfrauen, Kurhaus and Casino, the Roman Bath Ruins, and various art museums.
We return to Obernai in the late afternoon and enjoy a peaceful evening at our hotel.
We spend our final full day in Alsace at our own pace, exploring additional sights or simply relaxing.
In the evening, we gather for a special farewell dinner at a local restaurant, featuring a delectable three-course menu. The perfect chance to reflect on the wonderful experiences of the past week as we spend our final night at Le Gouverneur Hotel.
This concludes our tour with a transfer back to Basel airport at the end of the day to take our return flight home.
The Gouverneur Hotel is ideally located in the heart of the town of Obernai, in the Alsation region. The property is 400 yards from Saints Pierre et Paul Church. The hotel is an authentic mansion with spacious, comfortable rooms. The inner courtyard of the hotel is picturesque with many decorative pots of geraniums.
The hotel offers free WiFi access, bar/lounge, 24-hour room service, a terrace, a library, and a front desk safe.
The guest rooms are all soundproofed and individually decorated. All rooms have a private bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. They surround a central courtyard.
Note: there is no lift to get from reception/ground floor to floor above.
Frequently Asked Questions
The transfer from the airport to the hotel is approximately 1hr
A reasonable level of fitness/mobility is required as we include plenty of sightseeing/travelling
The order of the itinerary and events may be subject to change
There is often confusion on the question of gratuities, since it frequently depends on the type of holiday, location and, of course, your attitude towards tipping, as to what is normally expected. In order to give you a rough idea, we have given appropriate guidance below. Your Tour Leader will be on hand to offer advice or suggestions if required but gratuities are offered entirely at the sole discretion of the individual. We suggest a group collection to cover drivers, porters and hotel staff of €20.00. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip. The tipping of housekeeping will be left to your individual discretion (a small amount left in your room on departure should cover this and would be much appreciated). As is customary, ‘the hat’ will be passed around for the driver and guide on all optional excursions. For any meals that are not included in your itinerary, or taxi fares, your Tour Leader can advise of an appropriate add on.
Be sure to pack suitable clothing for the time of the year and the climate of your destination. We also advise you to take a sturdy, comfortable pair of shoes, especially for daytime activities or excursions, as some tours may involve walking over cobblestones or other uneven surfaces.
Passport and visas
To enter France your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:
Check both the issue date and the expiry date in your passport. If you renewed your passport early, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. This could affect the requirement for your passport to be less than 10 years old.
Euro
Average Temperatures
| Month(s) | Highest temperature | Lowest temperature |
|---|---|---|
| July | 26 °C | 15 °C |
| August | 26 °C | 15 °C |
| September | 21 °C | 11 °C |
| October | 16 °C | 8 °C |
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