Alsace biking : vineyards, greenways and Germany

COLMAR

Meet your guide at the hotel in the late afternoon. Take advantage of the rest of your day to discover the city of Colmar.

From COLMAR to RIBEAUVILLE 39km 441m

You leave Colmar, a Town of Art and History, following cycle paths along the Lauch before reaching Eguisheim, nestled in its perfectly circular layout of half-timbered houses and listed among the Most Beautiful Villages in France.

The route then heads toward Turckheim, riding between vineyards and gentle hills, before climbing the valley to Kaysersberg, another Most Beautiful Village in France, dominated by its ruined castle. You continue through the heart of the Alsatian vineyards on small backroads lined with stone walls and neatly ordered vines, then reach Riquewihr, where ramparts and colorful façades stand out against the Vosges foothills. The ride ends in Ribeauvillé, at the foot of three medieval castles overlooking the plain and surrounding vineyards.

• For a few more km 67km 716m

  On this longer version, after your visit of the village of Eguisheim, your ride to the most famous cheese area of the Vosges mountain region: Munster. Rounded summits, thatched farms and glacial lakes make up the varied landscape of the Munster Valley. Then you cycle through these emblematic villages of the Alsace Wine Route. Kaysersberg, imperial city overlooked by the remains of his castle, Ammerschwihr, Riquewihr, ranked among the Most Beautiful Villages of France with its Dolder Towera and finally Ribbeauvillé, with its 3 chateaux overlooking the village and its many half-timbered houses.

From RIBEAUVILLE to OBERNAI 48km 334m

You leave Ribeauvillé at the foot of its medieval castles and follow the Alsatian vineyards, riding between neatly ordered slopes and wine villages set among the vines. Soon, Bergheim, listed among the **Most Beautiful Villages in France**, appears behind its remarkably preserved ramparts. The route continues toward Kintzheim, dominated by its hilltop castle, then on to Châtenois, where the Witches’ Tower stands as a medieval landmark in the heart of the wine plain. Passing through Dambach-la-Ville, known as a **wine town**, you ride between fortified gates and winemakers’ houses before reaching Andlau, a **historic village** shaped by its abbey and old streets. Farther on, Mittelbergheim, another **Most Beautiful Village in France**, reveals its understated elegance against the Vosges foothills. The ride then leads through Barr, a **Town of Art and History**, before a final stretch between vineyards and orchards brings you to Obernai, a lively medieval wine town at the foot of Mont Sainte-Odile.

• For a few more km 61km 870m

  This longer option involves a challenging climb to the Haut-Koenigsbourg castle. It is a rewarding climb of 17km for 500m elevation.Since its construction in the 12th century, the Haut-Koenigsbourg castle has been a constant witness to both European conflicts and rivalry between lords, kings and emperors. Its strategic position, quite easy to defend in former times, now provides visitors with an exceptional panoramic view over the Alsace plain, the Vosges Mountains, the Black Forest and even -on a clear day- the Alps.

From OBERNAI to STRASBOURG 37km 147m

You leave Obernai, a Town of Art and History, riding past the ramparts and vineyards of the Alsatian foothills before reaching Rosheim, where half-timbered houses and the Romanesque church line quiet streets. The route then leads you to Molsheim, also a Town of Art and History, a former episcopal town shaped by the Bugatti industrial heritage. Leaving the town behind, you join the Bruche Canal, which becomes your guiding thread all the way to Strasbourg. The pace slows as the route turns flat and shaded, following the water past locks, towpaths, and small harbors beneath plane trees. Gradually, the atmosphere grows more urban, the banks come alive, and the cathedral spire rises on the horizon. You enter Strasbourg on smooth cycle paths leading to the Grande Île, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where canals, covered bridges, and historic façades frame your arrival.

From STRASBOURG to SELESTAT 55km 90m

You leave **Strasbourg** along the peaceful banks of the Ill, gradually leaving behind the **Grande Île**, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The urban setting quickly gives way to a green corridor where meadows, river branches, and shaded paths set the rhythm. Near Illkirch and Erstein, the scenery opens onto the Alsatian Ried, a lowland landscape shaped by water, forests, and half-timbered farmhouses. The route remains flat and fluid, ideal for steady riding between canals and open fields. As you approach **Sélestat**, a **Town of Art and History**, medieval walls begin to appear. You roll into the historic center, where the **Humanist Library of Sélestat** bears witness to the city’s key role in the intellectual history of the Upper Rhine.

From SELESTAT to BIESHEIM, par le vignoble allemand 62km 401m

Today, enjoy a bike ride in Germany and cross the border to the Kaiserstuhl wine region. The Kaiserstuhl is a low mountain range of ancient volcanic origin. The vineyards now form a very distinct part of the landscape grown on large terraces that follow the contours of several old volcanic cones. After a nice stop at one of the many places for lunch, you ride for a short time on the Rhine Cycle Route before you come back to France.

From BIESHEIM to COLMAR 25km 76m

The route continues through the villages of Appenwihr and Sundhoffen, with their traditional half-timbered houses. The last stop before entering the city is Colmar’s communal forest. On arrival, let yourself be seduced by the charm of Colmar, with its canals, cobbled streets and emblematic Little Venice district.

• For a few more km 60km 603m

  This variant allows you to discover the wine route by bike, passing through Rouffach and then the famous village of Eguisheim before reaching Colmar.

  Note for road cyclists: there is a short section of dirt track along the Ill (km 14 to km 20). The track is very clean and allows you to avoid a road with heavy traffic.

COLMAR

End of stay after breakfast. If you wish, you can request a transfer to Strasbourg (optional).