The Upper Rhine offers varied landscapes, picturesque villages, and historical sites. Colmar and the Alsace wine route are major attractions.
The Upper Rhine department, located in Alsace, offers a multitude of tourist, culinary, and cultural activities. Here is a list categorized by type:
Culinary Activities
1. Christmas Markets: The Christmas markets in Colmar and Mulhouse are among the most famous, offering local specialties such as mulled wine, pretzels, and gingerbread.
2. Alsace Wine Route: Explore this route to discover vineyards and taste local wines like Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris.
3. Restaurants and Winstubs: Try Alsatian specialties like choucroute, baeckeoffe, flammekueche, and kouglof in traditional restaurants.
4. Farm Inns: Enjoy local products and traditional dishes at farm inns in the Vosges.
Cultural Heritage
1. Colmar: Visit Little Venice, Unterlinden Museum, and admire medieval and Renaissance architecture.
2. Mulhouse: Discover the City of Automobiles, the Railway Museum, and the Textile Printing Museum.
3. Eguisheim: Listed among France's most beautiful villages, known for its half-timbered houses and paved alleyways.
4. Riquewihr: Another picturesque village with medieval ramparts and colorful houses.
5. Haut-Kœnigsbourg Castle: A restored medieval castle offering panoramic views of the Alsace plain.
6. Murbach Abbey: Ruins of an old Benedictine abbey situated in a magnificent natural setting.
Outdoor Activities
1. Hiking in the Vosges: Explore hiking trails, including the Grand Ballon, the highest peak of the Vosges.
2. Cycling: Ride on numerous cycling paths, such as the Rhine Cycle Route.
3. Skiing and Winter Sports: Enjoy ski resorts like Blanc Lake and Markstein.
4. Regional Natural Park of the Ballons des Vosges: Ideal for nature lovers with varied landscapes and rich fauna.
Cultural Activities
1. Festivals: Participate in local festivals such as Colmar's Music Festival or Munster's Jazz Festival.
2. Theaters and Shows: Attend performances at theaters in Colmar and Mulhouse.
3. Museums: In addition to those mentioned in Mulhouse, visit the Toy Museum in Colmar and the Woodcraft Museum in Labaroche.
Family Activities
1. Petit Prince Park: An amusement park in Ungersheim inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's work.
2. Open-Air Museum of Alsace: An outdoor museum that recreates rural life in Alsace.
3. Mulhouse Zoo: One of the oldest zoos in France, with a wide variety of animals.
These activities offer a rich and varied glimpse into what the Upper Rhine has to offer, whether for gastronomy enthusiasts, heritage lovers, nature lovers, or culture vultures.