Wine Cycling in Alsace

Welcome to Strasbourg and the start of a week through one of France's most distinctive corners. Check in at the hotel and use the rest of the day to get acquainted with the city. Strasbourg has a fantastic historic centre where French and German influences meet in architecture, food and culture. Don't miss the mighty Gothic cathedral and a stroll among the half-timbered houses in the older quarters. The city's historic centre is listed on UNESCO's World Heritage list, setting the bar high even before you've had time to get on the bike.

Today the cycling begins. You leave Strasbourg and follow the Rhône–Rhine Canal south through the flat Alsatian landscape. Today's destination depends on the chosen route and accommodation, and could be Osthouse, Saint-Hippolyte or the Sélestat area. If you choose the longer variant, you'll get plenty of time in the saddle, while the shorter one gives more room for stops along the way. Sélestat has a rich architectural heritage and a strategic location between Strasbourg and Colmar. This is a fine introduction to Alsace: calm waterways, small communities and easygoing cycling southward.

Today's stage takes you deeper into Alsace. Feel free to make a stop at the beautiful baroque abbey church in Ebersmunster before continuing through the traditional villages of the Ried. The area between the rivers Ill and Rhine is crisscrossed by waterways, canals and wetlands with rich flora and fauna. Eventually you'll find your way back to the canal and follow it onward towards Colmar. The destination is one of France's most charming smaller towns, where colourful half-timbered houses, canals and well-preserved historic quarters await. Park the bike and set out on foot – Colmar deserves it.

Today's shorter cycling stage gives you the chance to stay a little longer in Colmar in the morning. Art lovers should head to the Unterlinden Museum and the Isenheim Altarpiece, one of the great masterpieces of the Rhenish Renaissance. When you feel ready to leave city life behind, hop on the bike and continue southward. The destination is Westhalten or Guebwiller, both in wine country at the foot of the Vosges and near Grand Ballon, the range's highest peak. The landscape now begins to take on more relief and the vineyards become increasingly prominent – a little appetiser ahead of the coming days' journey along the wine route.

This is the day when Alsace delivers the whole postcard. You follow the famous Route des Vins through a rolling landscape of vineyards at the foot of the Vosges. Lined up in a row are some of the region's most beautiful wine towns: Eguisheim, Turckheim, Kaysersberg and Riquewihr. Pastel-coloured half-timbered houses, flower-lined lanes and wine cellars appear at regular intervals – this is no day to rush. The landscape is somewhat more hilly than in the trip's first stages, but the reward comes in the form of views and fantastic little villages. The evening is spent in or around Riquewihr.

Continue northward along the wine route with yet another row of Alsatian gems ahead of your handlebars. The route passes, among others, Hunawihr, Ribeauvillé and Bergheim before continuing on to Andlau, known for its Romanesque heritage. Each village has its own appeal, offering opportunities to delve into the region's nature, history, folk traditions and, of course, wine culture. This day too, the terrain is somewhat more hilly than in the first part of the trip, but the cycling still takes place on pleasant roads through a cultural landscape that almost begs for many pauses. Overnight stay is in Andlau or Obernai.

The last cycling day ties together the round trip. In Rosheim you can stop at the church of Saints-Pierre-et-Paul, one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in Alsace. After that, you continue towards Molsheim, where you join the cycle path along the Bruche Canal. From here you get a pleasant finish all the way into Strasbourg. After a week among vineyards, canals, wetlands and half-timbered villages, you return to the European metropolis and its restaurants, culture and special blend of French and German. The trip ends upon arrival; feel free to stay an extra night if you want to wind down without rushing.