Day 1 : Arrival in Colmar
Time to settle into the hotel and explore this charming town; the center of the city reveals its charm: the colors and atmosphere of streets still embody much of the Middle Ages. Churches, cloisters, half-timbered houses, facades with ornate wood sculptures, paintings, and edifices from the Renaissance abound. Dinner included tonight.
Day 2 : Eguisheim to Turkheim 18 km
Short transfer out of Colmar to the charming vineyard village of Eguisheim. Eguisheim is one of the most authentic villages of the region – before starting your walk, be sure to take some time to explore! Beautiful vineyard walk from Eguisheim to Turkheim, with great views onto the Vosges mountains in behind you, and the villages tucked into the curves above the plains below. Take some time in Turkheim: this wonderful old town is encircled in ramparts and adorned by many renaissance structures. Short transfer at the end of the walk back to Colmar. Dinner on your own tonight, with recommendations.
Day 3 : Kaysersberg to Riquewihr 15 km
Short transfer after breakfast from Colmar to Kaysersberg, the home of Dr Schweitzer, and a beautiful 13th century castle. Stunning walk with some climbing past more castles and a popular auberge at the summit, where you can have lunch. From there descend into Riquewihr, where you spend the night. Riquewihr shows how a village in the region would have looked 400 years ago. Many of the houses date from the 16th and 17th centuries, and still have gorgeous courtyards and fountains from that time. The town has much of its medieval fortification and a castle; it largely escaped damage during the Second World War. Dinner included tonight.
Day 4 : Haut Koenigsburg to Riquewihr 18 km
Transfer this morning up to Haut Koenigsberg, the most famous castle of Alsace. The neo-gothic castle is nestled at a strategic location on a high hill overlooking the Alsatian plain; as a result it was used by successive powers from the Middle Ages until the Thirty Years' War when it was abandoned. In 1900 it was restored under the direction of Emperor Wilhelm II. You can visit the castle before starting your walk. Great walk, with spectacular views, passing the “Minstrel’s Village, Ribeauvillé, back down into Riquewihr for your second night. Dinner on your own tonight, with many choices.
Day 5 : Scherwiller to Obernai 17 km
Short transfer from Riquewihr to near Scherwiller, at the foot of the Castles of Ortenberg and Ramstein. Walk from there, following the peak of the hill, and continue, along hillside paths, until you descend back towards the vineyards and Barr, just outside of Obernai. Barr, a wine-growing village located near Strasbourg, is nestled up in the vineyard covered hills. During the summer it's decked out with flowers; you’ll love its winding cobblestone streets that challenge motorists and enchant pedestrians and cyclists. Either sleep in Barr, or in Obernai itself (with all its beautiful half-timbered houses, and the home of Saint Odile, the patron saint of Alsace) depending on which hotel category you choose. Dinner on your own this evening, with many choices.
Day 6 : Hohwald to Barr 14 km
Hohwald is a small ski station in the winter time, at 570 m altitude, filled with mountain charm in the spring and summer. Your short transfer leaves you here to start the walk back to Barr. This final walk is quite beautiful, starting high up in the hills above Obernai, passing the ruins of the Abbey of Truttenhausen, and heading back down, protected in a fold of the mountain and with spectacular views of the vineyard region and villages below you. Final dinner included this evening.
Day 7 : Departure
Transfer by train after a final breakfast up to Strasbourg. Bon Voyage!
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