Backroads of France - Alsace & Black Forest
This itinerary tkes you to a region with the most unique blend of French and German cultures – often deep-rooted and often idiosyncratic. As you gently weave through the adorable little hamlets replete with traditions, history, architecture & gastronomy influenced by both sides, you notice that the international border here is purely notional. From historic Strasbourg down to the foothills of the Vosges mountains, you will pass through medieval town with half-timbered houses with charming flowers, vineyards and churches. Stop by in any of them, and take a step back in time!
Trip Highlights
- This road trip will take us through dense woodlands, traditional deep-roofed farmhouses, cuckoo clocks, and half-timbered fairy tale villages as we begin in Baden-Württemberg in Germany’s southwestern corner.
- Marvel at the stunning Freiburg Münster one of the great masterpieces of Gothic architecture in Germany
- Bike along the shores of the popular Lake Titisee or pick up a kayak or motorboat to get closer to the water
- Take in the charms of old town Colmar – colorful fishermen’s houses on the Quai de la Poissonnerie and the lovely old burghers’ houses of the 16th and 17th centuries
- Drive on the designated Alsace Wine Route, as it touches some of the most picturesque villages of France, like Riquewihr & Ribeauvillé, and passes through countless vineyards, offering you opportunity to tastes some of the best wines in the world.
Which Visa Do I Need
Indian citizens require a Schengen visa to visit France & Germany.Â
Length of Stay
We recommend at least 7-8 days for this itinerary. You may wish to spend an additional 3-4 days in Paris at the end or at the beginning of the trip (as Paris is the most convenient airport)
Best time to visit
This region is best visited before the grapes harvest season in October, while the winter months of November-January tend to be cold, with short days, and many attractions are closed, or work on limited hours.
scenic mountain drives, trekking, cuckoo clocks, canal cruise, vineyards & wine tasting
Did you know
- 90% of wines made in Alsace are made with white grapes. The most common Alsatian grape varieties include 6 white grape varieties and 1 red grape variety: Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Gewurtztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir (red grape), Sylvaner, and Muscat.
- Frederic Auguste Bartholdi was a French sculptor, one who was responsible for designing the Statue of Liberty. He was born in Colmar, and the city has the Bartholdi museum at the heart of the old town. Bartholdi originally named his most famous statue Liberty Enlightening the World, which was then shorten to Statue of Liberty.
- The Romans called the region „Silva Nigra” which means the black, the dark, the murky forest. At that time the Black Forest was an almost impenetrable region, depressing and scary.
- The world’s largest cuckoo clock – the size of a house – is in Eble Uhren-Park in Triberg.
- Black Forest cake is not named after Germany’s Black Forest but rather a specialty liquor from the Black Forest region. Distilled from tart cherries, Schwarzwälder Kirschwasser is what gives Black Forest cake its flavor.
- The springs in Baden-Baden are up to 17,000 years old and discharge around 800,000 liters of thermal water a day.
