óóóóó      Splendors of Europe      óóóóó

Escorted          In-Depth         Very Small Group       Personalized Attention     Fine Dining 

Table of Contents           Contact Information         Travel Agents

              ``                                                                                                           

Tour 4

  The Charms of Alsace  

TOUR SUMMARY

SPLENDORS OF EUROPE offers this luxury escorted tour to Alsace France.  This is a small group luxury tour of Alsace that includes walking tours and excursions which highlight art, history, architecture and gourmet culinary experiences.  This tour has a regional focus and provides wonderful in-depth cultural experiences in Alsace France.  Two professional escorts ensure that everyone in our small group of 12 or less has a friendly and personally rewarding experience.  The tour includes escorted town and museum visits in the charming towns of Strasbourg, Colmar, and Ribeauville.   We also visit castles, vineyards, wine cellars, and enjoy wine tasting.  Travel to the charming Alsace wine region of France with SPLENDORS OF EUROPE and visit the most beautiful towns and villages in Alsace.  You'll have the best vacation trip ever.  Visit the hotel, restaurant, and tour photo galleries at the end of this page.

Strasbourg, Alsace, France

STRASBOURG

Alsace is the attractive north east corner of France that is heavily influenced by Germany.  Rich in history, culture and architecture, the area today is a delightful combination of the best of both countries.  During your memorable visit to Alsace you will visit its most famous towns, Strasbourg and Colmar.  You will visit a castle, a palace, museums, wonderful monuments and small picturesque villages.  You’ll enjoy the charming Alsatian architecture and the scenic wine country.  You’ll visit an authentic wine cellar and taste the famous regional wines.  You will even take a scenic river cruise.  Your palate will be delighted by delicious French and Alsatian gourmet cuisine served in the region’s best restaurants.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

1. All of "Our Special Features and Qualities" listed in the table of contents

2. Airport greeting and transfers to and from Strasbourg International Airport SXB.

3. Ground transportation throughout your tour

4. Two Professional Escorts

5. Seven nights in deluxe character hotels.  See the "Tour 4 Hotel Photo Gallery" at the bottom of this page.

6. All hotel taxes and gratuities

7. Award winning dinning.  See our "Gallery of Restaurants" at the bottom of this page.

8. Seven Breakfasts

9. Seven Delicious lunches

10. Six Gourmet dinners

11. Café refreshments

12. Beverages, mineral water, coffee, and dessert with all dinners

13. All restaurant gratuities

14. Admission with choice of escorted or self discovery visits to approximately 23 sites

15. Interactive discussions with authentic local experts.

9 Day Itinerary

SATURDAY - International flight to Strasbourg International Airport

SUNDAY - Arrive at Strasbourg International Airport.

walking tour of Strasbourg, Alsace, France

Your host/guides greet you at SXB airport near Strasbourg. After a brief taxi ride we check you in at our lovely hotel.

You’ll enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant. Get acquainted with your hosts and fellow travelers.

We enjoy a quiet afternoon stroll in old town. You’ll enjoy the charming medieval architecture, cozy wine stubs, and variety of interesting shops as you walk through Strasbourg. WHS

We head for the impressive Place de la Cathedral. Here we spend time to relax and enjoy the spiritual ambiance. WHS

This evening we enjoy welcome cocktails before we delight in dinner at an intimate nearby restaurant. Each evening your escorts can assist you with information about evening entertainment opportunities. L+D

Strasbourg, photo credit, John Egan

MONDAY - Scenic boat ride and Strasbourg of the Middle Ages

In the morning we enjoy a romantic boat ride around old Strasbourg on the River ILL.

After our cruise we enjoy a visit to the Old Customs House, l’Ancienne Douane before we enjoy lunch on the terrace of a restaurant that bears the same name. river excursion in Strasbourg, Alsace, France

This afternoon we take a walking tour to discover Strasbourg in the Middle Ages. We start with a tour of the Strasbourg Cathedral. The 466 foot tower is the second tallest in Europe. The view from the top is exceptional. WHS

We also visit the Gothic and Romanesque rooms of the Oeuvre-Notre-Dame Museum with its presentation of life in the middle ages and fine exhibits of stained glass, gold objects, paintings and furniture.

We stop to enjoy refreshments at a local café.  The remainder of the afternoon you are free to explore beautiful Strasbourg on your own.

Strasbourg, Photo credit, www.all-free-photos.com    

Dinner this evening is enjoyed at the charming Maison des Tanneurs constructed in 1572. B+L+D

 

TUESDAY - Discover the Traditions and culture of Alsace.

This morning we visit the Alsatian Museum. The collection here presents the traditional Alsatian way of life with its regional collection of folk art. The Museum also displays charming traditional home interiors.

Strasbourg, Alsace, France

Next we walk along the picturesque river to visit the beautiful "Petite France" and the old tanners and miller’s quarter. Here the nice half-timbered and flowered facades reflect themselves in the river ILL. WHS

We enjoy lunch on the terrace at the Regent Petit France overlooking the river.

After lunch we’ll see more of Petite France and the three covered bridges from the 14 century. This afternoon we walk through the lively pedestrian streets to visit more of the old town. Next we visit the local history museum which has an interesting collection of armor, arms, bells, uniforms.

The remainder of the afternoon is free to explore the wonderful shops of Strasbourg.  This evening we enjoy dinner in the center of town at the famous Maison Kammerzell, a beautiful 16th century Alsatian Mansion on the place de la Cathedral.

After dinner we enjoy a stroll through illuminated Strasbourg. B+L+D

WEDNESDAY - 18th Century Strasbourg

This morning we visit the Strasbourg of the 18th century. We start with a visit to the magnificent Palais des Rohans, -the Versailles of Strasbourg- and the fine arts museum.  Night scene in Strasbourg, Alsace, France

The rooms in the palace are magnificent.  The fine arts museum offers a terrific international collection of paintings; Italian (Botticelli, Raphael, Veronese, and Canaletto), Spanish (Greco, Goya), French (Lorrain, Largilliere, Watteau, Boucher, Chamoaigne, Delacroix, and Courbet), Flemish (Van Dyck, Rubens) and others.

After our art museum visit we enjoy lunch at Chez Yvonne a classic Winestub since 1873.

Strasbourg offers many more places to explore. This afternoon, your hosts will assist you to finish the day with a venue of your choosing.  This evening we enjoy a dinner cruise on the river. B+L+D

 

THURSDAY- Discover Colmar luxury escorted tour, Colmar, Alsace, France

This morning we make the scenic 30 min train ride to Colmar and check into our charming hotel.

Lunch is enjoyed in the Petite-Venise at the beautiful restaurant in the Hotel le Maréchal.Walking tour, Colmar, Alsace, France

This afternoon you will discover the old town of Colmar with a local guide who will tell us about the history and major monuments.  Next we visit the Unterlinden museum, an ancient convent famous for displaying the admirable Issenheim altarpiece dating from the 16th century.   

 

This afternoon we explore more of the town and its wonderful shops.

We celebrate our first day in Colmar with a grand dinner enjoyed tonight at the renowned Fer Rouge. B+L+D

 

John Egan Photo Photo

FRIDAY – Excursion through the wine route to medieval Alsatian villages, and Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle.

This morning we take the wine route through scenic French vineyards and beautiful medieval villages.

The first stop is Ribeauvillé surrounded by sloping vineyards and three castles, where we stop and enjoy going back in time as we walk the picturesque streets of this charming medieval village. castle in Alsace France

Next we stop at the charming village of Kaysersberg. The geraniums decorate the window boxes of the half timbered medieval and historic houses.  Here you will take pleasure in have a gourmet lunch near the vineyards.

Then we take the scenic ride to Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle. Looming over the valley, Haut-Koenigsbourg dominates the country side. We visit this historic castle and enjoy the beautiful panorama.

We continue our scenic drive through the vineyards to the village of Riquewihr. Here we enjoy a visit to this beautiful little town and taste the great wine from Alsace in an authentic wine cellar.  Tonight enjoy dinner at your leisure in Colmar. B+L

John Egan Photo

SATURDAY - Colmar

This morning we visit the Bartholdi Museum. Here you’ll see works of this famous sculptor and creator of the Statue of Liberty.fine dining in Colmar, Alsace, France

A fine gourmet lunch is enjoyed at hotel Rapp in the center of old town.

This afternoon we visit the Dominican Church. Here you will see the famous Madonna of the Rosebush (1473).

Next we explore the Toy and Model Train Museum with miniature trains running on 2500 feet of track. After we stroll through old town Colmar. Here we stop at the Terrace of the Patisserie du Musée, for desserts and coffee.

Finish your day in Colmar as you choose with many parks, shops, churches and streets remaining to be explored.

This evening we enjoy cocktails and a gourmet farewell dinner at the elegant l’Echevin situated on the Little Venise. B+L+D

SUNDAY – Transfers to Strasbourg International Airport at your convenience and your return flight home.

B

INCLUDED SITE VISITS AND EXCURSIONS

 1. Strasbourg river cruise

2. Old Customs House

3. Strasbourg Cathedral

4. Museum Oeuvre. (Works of Notre-Dame)

5. Alsatian Museum

6. Petite France

7. Vauban Dam (1682)

8. Ponts Couverts (Three Covered Bridges)

9. Strasbourg History Museum

10. Rohans Palace

11. Museum of Fine Arts

12. Strasbourg Shops

13. Train from Strasbourg to Colmar

14. Colmar guided tour

15. Unterlinden Museum

16. Scenic drive along the wine route

17. Ribeauvillé

18. Kayserberg

19. Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle

20. Riquewihr wine tasting

21. Bartholdi museum

22. Toy and Model Train Museum

23. Dominican Church

óóóóó          Tour 4 Photo Galleries           óóóóó

Tour Photo Gallery           Luxury Hotel Gallery          Restaurant Gallery  

                                                                                                           

óóóóó 2010 Tour 4 Schedule and Prices  óóóóó

Luxury Tour Prices