Sightseeing in Alsace - what to see. Complete travel guide

Alsace is located in the eastern part of France. It is a popular tourist region that attracts travelers with its breathtaking scenery, fine wines, ancient monuments and trading cities.

The capital of the province is Strasbourg, the city with a long history. It is located in the heart of Europe at the crossroads of major trade routes. Shoppers will enjoy local shopping malls and markets. The most striking tourist attraction is Notre Dame Cathedral. The construction of this magnificent Gothic building has begun in the 13th century and lasted for more than 150 years. A great place for hiking is Broglie area, next to which there are several bright architectural structures of a later period.

Many historical objects have preserved in Colmar that is situated in the Rhine Valley. Beautiful old streets and pavements, stone buildings of past centuries and plenty of channels have made Colmar a little Venice. Most of the attractions can be found in the so-called Old Town; here you can find several museums. The art museum features a huge collection of works of Grunwald and Mathis; the Unterlinden museum houses the famous Isenheim altarpiece, the most famous work of Mathis Nithard.

Ribeauville is full of charm; most travelers arrive there in September, when the Virgin Mary Festival is held. For several days the little town turns into a colorful carnival venue. There is music, actors and performances on the streets of the town. Rekvir amazes with natural beauty; it remains the same for the past several hundred years. Beautiful gardens decorated with sculptures and fountains, cozy restaurants and springs - these places have always attracted artists. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Fans of relaxing holidays would enjoy Marlenheim located near Strasbourg. Its territory has many architectural attractions. Local restaurants serve the best wines and premium national dishes. Alsace is sure to charm every traveler and leave the best impression of a holiday here.

One of the main symbols of the region is Mount Sainte-Odile. The ascent of its top is very popular with fans of active holidays. The mountain is 764 m high and you need no special skills to climb it. On top of the mountain, there is an old monastery, a very important pilgrimage and a historic place. You can also see here the mysterious old construction that is called The Pagan Wall. This is a megalithic object constructed of over 300 000 stone blocks. The researchers still can’t shed light on the meaning and purpose of this construction.

On the territory of Elsass, there are more than ten wonderful castles, some of which are aged over 700 years. One of the most famous castles is Koenigsbourg. It was built in 1147 and has been excellently preserved after a hundred years. The castle is located on the hilltop. It was reconstructed completely at the beginning of the 19th century. Now, you can take excursions around all the inner rooms of the fortress. After the excursion, you can explore the adjacent territory and admire its beauty. Here, you can see the fragments of strengthening walls. The hilltop has a fascinating view of the neighborhood.

One of the oldest castles in the region is Château Haut-Barr built in 1100. It is located in the surroundings of Saverne. This medieval castle is located on the hilltop too. It has a view of historical city streets and main attractions. The most extraordinary castle from an architectural point of view is Château du Fleckenstein built in 1165. It resembles a boat with its outlines. The length of the castle is 52 m.

The acquaintance with food traditions of Elsass is very exciting too. The region is famous for its historical traditions of breadmaking. Many types of bread are baked here. In local bakeries, you can taste bread with olives, bacon, raisins, walnuts, and other unusual additives. The important food symbol of Elsass is Munster cheese, the recipe of which was created by the monks of the namesake abbey and had been kept secret for a long time. Gourmets come to Elsass to taste fois gras that is cooked in accordance with the unique recipe of the 17th century. The important peculiarity of the national cuisine is nourishing meat dishes.