dossier
Alsace Vineyard Trails
Travel Information
Season:Any date April to end of October.
Arrival: Between4p.m and 6pm on first day.
First hotel:At Turckheim 5 km from Colmar (car parking available free of charge).
Travel: Flights to Strasbourg, via Paris or carrental in Paris and drive to Strasbourg; or taking the train via Paris toStrasbourg. The starting point of thetour is at Turckheim. This is a train and bus journey of about 1 to 1.5 hoursfrom Strasbourg.
Alternatively, Strasbourg can be reached by TGVtrain from Paris. There are about 4 services per day and the journey time is 4to 5 hours.
The onward journey by train, from Strasbourg toColmar, takes around 30 minutes and from Colmar to Turckheim another 12minutes.
These rail tickets are not included in the tourpackage.
A sample of recent train times from Strasbourg toTurckheim is as follows:
Strasbourg (departure): 13.00 (not Sun), 16.16 (Mto F), 17.04 (M to F), 17.39 (daily)
Colmar (arrival): 13.36, 16.46, 17.34, 18.11
Colmar (departure): 14.07 (Sat), 17.11 &17.44 (not Sun), 18.23 (Not Sun)
Turckheim (arrival): 14.20, 17.20, 17.58, 18.42
The above times are only given to show the typicalpattern of service. You will receive up-to-date train times for your date oftravel, or alternatively you can visit Rail Europe's website at www.raileurope.co orwww.eurorail.com/railsked.htm. There are many other trains from Strasbourg andColmar. There is no train service between Colmar and Turckheim on Sundays, butthere is a limited SNCF bus service. There is also a more frequent urban busservice between Colmar and Turckheim.
Nearest Airport: Strasbourg. Then airport bus to Strasbourg rail station(30min) and train to Colmar (45 mins) then bus to Turckheim (10mins); Colmar isabout 5 to 6 hours by train from Paris Gare de l'Est or Brussels.
End of Tour:Obernai after breakfast. Direct train dep Obernai to Strasbourg throughout theday, journey time approx. 30-40 minutes. Please check times of trains locally.
Level of Difficulty
Fitness:This moderately graded walk should present no difficulties for anyone inreasonable condition and accustomed to walking in hilly terrain.
Day Stages:In the region of 15km/9.3 miles to 25km/16 miles per day with average altitudegains of 550m. 4 to 6 hours walking per day.
Waymarks: Thetrails are well waymarked.
Accommodation & Meals
This is on a half board basis (eveningmeal and breakfast) in hotels of 2 and 3 *** category with private facilities.One hotel is a listed historic monument, and another dates back to theRenaissance. All are hotels of distinctive character.
Picnic lunches: Are not included in the tour cost but are available fromhotels at a cost of 10 Euros (US$11.80). We indicate in our route notes wherethere are suitable restaurants or cafes for lunch stops, or recommend you carryfood, if there are none convenient.
Night 1:Turckheim. This is one of the prettiest inns 2* inns in Alsace. It has typicalAlsatian decor in the Renaissance style. The rooms are very comfortable and theatmosphere is friendly. The hotel offers traditional cooking with very goodwines. The hotel bridges the present and past. Please note that if the hotel is full then a guesthouse located veryclose by will be used.
Night 2:Riquewihr. Extremely comfortable, modern 3* hotel with a sauna and terrace. Itis situated at the gates of the village and has been chosen for its quietnessand cleanliness. Evening meals are arranged in a typical restaurant in thevillage.
Night 3: Thannenkirch.A flower bedecked modern building in a mountain village, but built in thetraditional style. 48 rooms with en suite facilities and phone in room. 3*. Thewelcome is warm and there is a good restaurant. It boasts a cellar bar whereyou can sample excellent Alsatian wines.
Night 4:Chatenois. A very small, family-run 2* hotel. Comfortable rooms, traditionalstyle. A beautiful dining room. A delightful small typical Alsace village.
Night 5:Andlau. One of two different 3* hotels in this large village, pleasantlysituated at the mouth of a narrow valley with vineyards and forest on theslopes above.
Night 6:Obernai. Another typical 2* Alsatian hotel, all rooms are very comfortable withen suite facilities.
If there is a group of you, we can also arrange customized escorteddepartures, please contact us for details.
|
ITINERARY |
|
Day 1: Arrive in Turckheim, a mountain village set above the vineyards. A ski resort in winter. Day 2: 14kms/9 miles, 676m ascent/4 to 5 hours, via Katzenthal, Ammerschwir, and Kaysersberg. We descend at the end of the day through forest and vineyards to Riquewihr, a medieval museum of a town with fortifications dating back to the 13th century. Many of the old buildings have dovecots and are built round central courtyards. Day 3: 11 kms/7 miles,460m ascent/3 to 4 hours, via Hunawihr, Ribeauville, the 3 chateaux of Ribeaupierre and Dassenberg mountain. We enjoy wide views today over the plains of Alsace as we climb to 645 meters past the ruined chateaux of St. Ulrich and Gisberg to the small mountain village of Thannenkirch. Day 4: 12.5 kms/8 miles, 257m ascent/ 4 hours walking, via Haut Koenigsbourg, Vick (the monkey mountain). There is a wonderful chateau at Haut Koenigsbourg with panoramic views of the valleys below. There is also the chance to visit the Eagle Center before descending through the vineyards to Chatenois. Day 5: 19kms/12 miles, 575m ascent/6 hours walking. Chatenois to Andlau, via Ortembourg Chateau and on to Dambach, a medieval town surrounded by ramparts. The route then goes on to Neue Matten, Bernardville, it takes us along wooded paths and through vineyards until you reach your overnight stop at Andlau. Day 6: 20km/12 miles, 693m ascent/6 hours. Andlau to Obernai. From Andlau we start by walking through Mittelbergheim, dominated by the ruins of the Chateau d'Andlau, to the small town of Barr. From here it is hilly walking via Mont St. Odile. Some steep climbs today offering fine views. You climb to St. Odile - a monastery situated on a rocky promontory. You descend to Ottrot before walking on to Obernai. Day 7: Depart Obernai after breakfast. 40 minutes by train to Strasbourg. |