When you hear “riesling” your mind may jump straight to Germany, but the Alsatian wine region of France, just on the other side of the Rhine River, holds its own in charm and flavor. Alsace specializes in Riesling, Pinot Gris & Gewurztraminer for their white wines, and not the over sweet kinds you may be used to in America. Both the wines and the villages surrounding them exude a balance of French and German influence, a true testament to their history.
Colmar
Less than 3 hours from Paris by train or 3 hours driving from Frankfurt brings you to the fairytale village of Colmar that some say was the inspiration for the village in Beauty and the Beast. If I’m honest, the opening song from that movie literally played on repeat in my mind all day.
Don’t go searching for long lists of “things to do” in this city – there are only 3 things you need to be doing in Colmar: walking, drinking & shopping.
Walk
Seriously, the one thing you HAVE to do is walk around the most beautiful streets and buildings and admire how picture-perfect they are. Wander among the canals, colors, and timber-edged buildings – it’s a small village so you won’t get lost, but it is fun to just take it all in without a plan. If you want to hit some of the historical highlights, look for the Lady Liberty arrows on the sidewalk (like the owl ones in Dijon) that direct you to signs explaining the historical significance of certain parts of the city. It’s Lady Liberty because Colmar is where her creator lived!
Drink
It would be sinful to travel down this French wine route to Colmar and not stop for a glass (or bottle, or case) of their delicious regional wine. Head to a local winery like Domaine Martin Jund in the heart of the city for a tasting and learn a little about the wine’s history!
Shop
When I talk about shopping, I mean shopping for wine, cheese, and other French delights. There are certainly some quaint boutiques along the streets but I’m more concerned with the delicious crepes and desserts that I can find! If you’re lucky you will hit the city when they are having one of their festivals, whether it is a wine festival, spring festival (or Easter Market), or their famous Marche de Noel, or Christmas Market!
Riquewihr
Less than 30 minutes from Colmar is another charming town that deserves a stop (& another glass of wine) – Riquewihr. It’s smaller than Colmar, which is why I recommend it as an additional city and not the main event. No parking garages here, just find some street parking and head down to the main road, through the 13th century walled gate for a picturesque scene and a bite to eat.
Between Colmar and Riquewihr are so many vineyards and wineries you may have already stopped to grab a drink but don’t take too long because Riquewihr seems to close up early. This town has been a wine village since the 16th century so you know you are doing something right if you grab a glass of wine.
If you hit these towns in the off-season (Feb-April) you will miss the heavy crowds, but don’t let that stop you the rest of the year. If you are planning an extended stay in Paris, it is well worth the escape for a day trip (especially if you already made your way to Champagne!)
Happy Travels (& drinking!)
Xx
Kali