Overview
An eight day, self-guided adventure walking the Alsace Wine Route, or Route des Vins, one of the prettiest and most ancient in Europe. Starting in the medieval village of Barr, just 30mins from Strasbourg, follow a linear trail along the foothills of the Vosges Mountains, on a journey that takes you through ancient wine-producing towns and villages, the luscious landscapes of the Rhine Plain, all the way to Kaysersberg, another medieval masterpiece. Fill your hiking boots with fine food and wine, stop off at historic castles and bask at beautiful hotels along the way.
- Route des Vins
- Barr
- Château de Bernstein
- Riquewihr
- Kaysersberg
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Barr
Arrive in Barr, one of the region’s most stunning wine villages located at the foot of Mont Sainte-Odile (764m). If time allows, spend the afternoon strolling through the cobbled streets, lined with traditional Alsatian half-timbered houses, dating back to the 16th century. Visit Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, the town square, or relax with a glass of local wine before tomorrow’s day of walking.
- Accommodation: Maison Rouge or similar in Barr
Day 2: Barr – Andlau | 14km
Leaving Barr, follow the route towards the grape-growing and historic town of Andlau, which was founded during the 9th century, with the construction of a monastery. As well as being known for its abundance of local vineyards and wine producers, it also has many nearby castles and ruins. Such as the 12th-century Château du Landsberg and 13th-century Château de Haut-Andlau which you walk past on today’s trail.
- Walking for the day: 14km, 4h, ↑679m ↓674m
- Accommodation: Hôtel le Kastelberg or similar in Andlau
Day 3: Andlau – Dieffenthal | 16km
Continue along the Route des Vins, heading towards the peaceful village of Bernardvillé. Continue along the foothills of the Vosges Mountains, following the trail around Ungersberg (901m). Arrive at Château de Bernstein, an 11th-century castle located at 562m and one of the oldest castles in Alsace. Continue walking towards Dieffenthal, with the chance to explore the famous Sentier des Roches, a rocky path located in a gorge, with extensive views over the Vosges.
- Walking for the day: 16km, 4-5h, ↑667m ↓705m
- Accommodation: Le Verger des Châteaux or similar in Dieffenthal
Day 4: Dieffenthal – Saint-Hippolyte | 18km
From Dieffenthal, follow the route past vineyards and woodland, before arriving at Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg. This entirely restored medieval castle, located at 750m, dominates the Alsace Plain. Continue on towards Saint-Hippolyte, a grape-growing village famous for its Pinot Noir and Rouge de Saint-Hippolyte, with local wine producers offering tastings and tours of their wine cellars.
- Walking for the day: 18km, 5h, ↑655m ↓609m
- Accommodation: Hôtel Munsch or similar in Saint-Hippolyte
Day 5: Saint-Hippolyte – Ribeauvillé | 13km
Leave Saint-Hippolyte and traverse the undulating landscape, before arriving in Bergheim, one of the only Alsatian villages to have preserved almost all of its medieval walls. Continue on to Ribeauvillé, your final stop of the day, and home to Les Trois Châteaux de Ribeauvillé, three castles constructed during the 11th and 13th centuries. Head for a stroll around the village and visit the local landmarks, including Tour des Bouchers (Butcher’s Tower) and the town hall, known for its collection of silver drinking goblets.
- Walking for the day: 13km, 4h, ↑339m ↓328m
- Accommodation: Hôtel de la Tour or similar in Ribeauvillé
Day 6: Ribeauvillé – Riquewihr | 17km
Les Trois Châteaux de Ribeauvillé, located in the hills surrounding Ribeauvillé, are the focal point of today’s walk. From the village, follow the Grande Randonnée (GR5) trail, heading towards each of the castles: Château de Saint-Ulrich, Château du Giersberg and Château du Haut-Ribeaupierre. Arrive in Riquewihr, which is well-deserving of its nickname, la perle du vignoble alsacien (pearl of the Alsace vineyards) and is also officially classified as one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France.
- Walking for the day: 17km, 5h, ↑914m ↓874m
- Accommodation: Hôtel La Couronne or similar Riquewihr
Day 7: Riquewihr – Kaysersberg | 12km
Leaving Riquewihr, follow today’s route towards a small church, Chapelle Saint-Alexis, before continuing on to the town of Kaysersberg, home to Église Sainte-Croix, of Romanesque and Gothic influence. Climb the hundred steps up to the ruins of Château de Kaysersberg, taking in the views of the town below. There is the option to extend today’s walk by heading to Kientzheim, where you can visit the Musée du Vignoble et des Vins d’Alsace. From there, continue on to Château de la Confrérie Saint-Etienne, where there is an opportunity to taste local wines and learn more about the work of local wine producers over the centuries. Return to Kaysersberg for your final evening.
- Walking for the day: 12km, 4h, ↑516m ↓584m (optional extension to Kientzheim: 6km, ↑168m ↓168m – 18km total)
- Accommodation: Hôtel Les Remparts or similar in Kaysersberg
Day 8: Departure
Departure after breakfast, or extend your stay with an extra night in Kaysersberg.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view default hotels
- Maison Rouge (Barr)
- Hôtel le Kastelberg (Andlau)
- Le Verger des Châteaux (Dieffenthal)
- Hôtel Munsch (Saint-Hippolyte)
- Hôtel de la Tour (Ribeauvillé)
- Hôtel La Couronne (Riquewihr)
- Hôtel Les Remparts (Kaysersberg)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel or guesthouse being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available en route, lunches and snacks can either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. Dinner is available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated moderate and is appropriate for walkers with a good level of fitness. Daily walking distances range between 12-18km, with a total walking distance of 90km. Daily maximum elevation gains range between 168-914m. The routes typically follow marked trails and woodland paths (read more about difficulty grades).
We strongly advise you to only follow marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed route notes and maps and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from the end of March until the beginning of October. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, meaning you can start your trip on any date during the season.
In the Alsace region, from March to October you can generally expect a transition from cool spring temperatures to warmer summer temperatures ranging between 18-25C, providing pleasant conditions for walking. Summers in France are hot, dry and sunny. Late spring and early autumn are less hot but typically warm enough to spend evenings eating outside. For more information, please see our blog on the Best time to go to France.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Strasbourg Airport (SXB).
By train or bus
- If you are able to travel to France without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail with railway stations in Barr and Colmar (30mins by bus from Kaysersberg). For more details, see the national rail operator SNCF Connect, see Fluo Grand Est for buses or use the Omio planner above
- From Strasbourg Airport, there are direct train services to Barr (45mins). For more details, see SNCF Connect or use the Omio planner above
- For your departure from Kaysersberg, take a bus (30mins) or taxi to Colmar railway station, and then a train to Strasbourg Airport (50mins, changing at Strasbourg)
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights accommodation
- 7 breakfasts
- Luggage transfers between accommodations (one piece per person, up to 20kg)
- Detailed travel documents, including hotel list, route book and detailed maps (one set per room)
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Flights and any connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Tourist tax and entrance fees (payable locally)
- Any items not specifically listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Extra nights available upon request
