Alsatian is taught in schools (but is not mandatory) as one of the regional languages of France. This had grave effects on trade and the economy of the region since former overland trade routes were switched to newly opened Mediterranean and Atlantic seaports. The German language remained in use in local administration, in schools, and at the (Lutheran) University of Strasbourg, which continued to draw students from other German-speaking lands. After the conclusion of the war, France was again free to pursue its desire to reach the Rhine and in 1444 a French army appeared in Lorraine and Alsace.
Obernai Christmas Market: Alsace’s Charming Hidden Gem
These gems of the wine country are often made up of old medieval ramparts, winding alleyways that bloom with magnificent geraniums, winstubs, vaults, half-timbered houses, and medieval churches. Several cities and villages along the Alsace Wine Route have since become famous and attract a very large crowd of visitors during the summer months and Christmas. As in previous times, these castles still seem to dominate the Alsace Plain even today, watching over the Vosges valleys, communication channels and sometimes the abbeys.
Forest bathing: harness the virtues of the woods
Landowners, who as "local lords" had the right to decide the religion that was allowed on their land, were eager to entice populations from the more attractive lowlands to settle and develop their property. It has regularly increased over time, except in wartime and shortly after the German annexation of 1871 (when many Alsatians who had opted to keep their French citizenship emigrated to France), by both natural growth and immigration. The city of Colmar has a sunny microclimate; it is the second driest city in France, with an annual precipitation of around 550 mm (22 in), making it ideal for vin d'Alsace (Alsatian wine). It is almost four times longer than it is wide, corresponding to a plain between the Rhine in the east and the Vosges mountains in the west. German is also taught as a foreign language in local kindergartens and schools.
Time travel in Neuf-Brisach
These territorial changes were recognised in the 1697 Treaty of Ryswick that ended the War of the Grand Alliance.But Alsace still contained islands of territory nominally under the sovereignty of German princes and an independent city-state at Mulhouse. France consolidated its hold with the 1679 Treaties of Nijmegen, which brought most remaining towns under its control. France continued to maintain its customs border along the Vosges mountains where it had been, leaving Alsace more economically oriented to neighbouring German-speaking lands. When hostilities were concluded in 1648 with the Treaty of Westphalia, most of Alsace was recognized as part of France, although some towns remained independent. By the time of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, Strasbourg was a prosperous community, and its inhabitants accepted Protestantism in 1523.
- Unfortunately, English is not as widely spoken, but people are generally quite tolerant of English, and many locals will make an effort to communicate despite the language barrier.
- It doesn’t rain much in the area because of the protection offered by the Vosges mountains.
- However, the abandoned Maurice-Lemaire tunnel towards Saint-Dié-des-Vosges was rebuilt as a toll road.
- Most major car journeys are made on the A35 autoroute, which links Saint-Louis on the Swiss border to Lauterbourg on the German border.
- With its splendiferous cathedral and irresistible backdrop of old half-timbered houses and canals, the city of Strasbourg sets the tone.
- Don’t miss the chance to savor dishes like choucroute (sauerkraut with sausages and other meats), tarte flambée (similar to pizza), and delicious Alsatian wines, including Riesling and Gewürztraminer.
To the south, the Jura mountains mark the border with Switzerland from Basle to the vicinity of Porrentruy. The Alsace region is bordered by the German Länder of Rhineland-Palatinate to the north and to the east, across the Rhine, by Baden-Württemberg. Being the smallest administrative region of continental France, Alsace stretches from south to north along the Rhine, which borders its eastern flank. The Alsace region covers an area of 8,280 km2 (190 km long by 50 km wide), which represents 1.5% of the total area of France.
Places to visit in Alsace
Since the 1st January 2016, the administrative region of Alsace has been part of the new Grand Est region along with Lorraine and Champagne-Ardenne. In the postwar years, however, French hegemony reclaimed Alsace, though some cultural ties to Germany remained. During the interwar years, German influence remained strong in the two recovered régions, and in the early 1940s Alsace was once again annexed by Germany, for the duration of World War II. This influence grew during the Thirty Years’ War, when the Alsatian cities, caught between the opposing Catholic and Protestant sides and feeling their liberties threatened, appealed to France for help. That city’s Protestant influence was countered, however, by the resolute Roman Catholicism of the Habsburgs, who tried to eradicate heresy in upper Alsace.
- Since the 17th century, the region has passed between German and French control numerous times, resulting in a cultural blend.
- The region’s wine culture and strong emphasis on local ingredients contribute to its unique gastronomic identity.
- By 4000 BC, farming arrived in the form of Linear Pottery culture in the region from the Danube and the Hungarian plain.
- The culture was characterized by “timber longhouse settlements and incised pottery … favoring floodplain edge situations for their permanent villages … and small clearings in the forest” for their crops and animals.”
- The Alsatian costume as we know it today developed during the 18th century and is reminiscent of rural Alsace, of the region’s history and religious beliefs.
- Many of the independent AOC wine producers offer free wine tasting at their cellars.
- Dishes feature the freshest local ingredients, with a French knack for presentation and a German liking for extra large portions.
The Alsace vineyards extend across the hills of the Vosges at between 200 and 400 metres high, over some 14,000 hectares of grapevines which produce an average of 150 million bottles of wine. From there, you can easily journey through the Route des Crêtes of the Vosges and the Wine Route. The capital, Strasbourg, is home to one of France’s most beautiful Gothic cathedrals, a pedestrian old town centre, and the country’s premier Christmas Market.
But by the 2010s, Alsace had entered a new period of slow demographic growth, though the Strasbourg area had become one of France's fastest growing regions. High population growth during the post-WW2 economic boom of the Trente Glorieuses ended after the 1973 oil crisis. It doesn't rain much in the area because of the protection offered by the Vosges mountains. It includes the départements of Haut-Rhin and Bas-Rhin (known previously as Sundgau and Nordgau). French government institutions employ a variety of means to prevent the German-speaking Alsatians from publishing media in their native language.
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The suppression of local culture led to the Francization of Alsace (and Colmar along with it). During World War II, Hitler reclaimed Alsace (which had been annexed by France after Germany’s defeat in World War I), and it is quite shocking to see photographs from that time with Nazi flags hanging in the streets. Alsace has changed nationality several times throughout history, shifting between France and Germany. From charming medieval towns and vineyard-covered hills to historic landmarks and a unique blend of French and German influences, Alsace has something to offer every type of traveler.
Founded in 1953, this is the oldest, and possibly the most evocative, wine route in France. To the south of the region lies the city of Mulhouse and the rural land of the Sundgau, which reaches the Swiss border in the Jura mountains. The Alsace region is located in north-eastern France and is famous for its wine, its colourful half-timbered houses and its castles, which sit enthroned on the summits of the Vosges mountains.
Alsace experiences a semi-continental climate characterized by distinct seasons, with cold winters and warm summers. Apart from Strasbourg, other towns in Alsace, like Colmar and Mulhouse, host enchanting Christmas markets during the holiday season. Explore historic towns like Obernai, Mulhouse, and Sélestat, each with its unique character and heritage. The region’s diverse landscapes include forests, lakes, and rolling hills.
However, if you want the flexibility to visit multiple wineries and explore the smaller, off-the-beaten-path villages along the wine route, renting a car may be more convenient. Trains and buses connect these cities to smaller towns and villages along the route. Alsace, known for its picturesque landscapes, charming villages, and rich culture, offers several tourist routes that allow visitors to explore the region’s diverse attractions and experiences. The region’s wine culture and strong emphasis on local ingredients contribute to its unique gastronomic identity. The region’s blend of natural beauty, historic charm, and culinary delights, including Alsatian cuisine and wines, make it a delightful destination for travelers. Unfortunately, English is not as widely spoken, but people are generally quite tolerant of English, and many locals will make an effort to communicate despite the language barrier.
The wines of Alsace (except for sparkling wine) are still sold in gracefully-shaped bottles, which are named “Alsace flûtes”. In Alsace, the glitzbets casino registration wines are mostly named after the variety of the grapes and not after the land on which they are produced. The local microclimate is favourable for the slow and prolonged ripening of grapes and the formation of grapes of great finesse. Munster is still being made on either side of the Vosges mountains in Alsace and in Lorraine. In the Vosges mountains, many farmhouses (fermes-auberges) serve an authentic traditional farm meal called “marcaire”, which features pie as a first course and roïgabrageldi (potatoes with smoked pork shoulder) as a main.