| Of the areas in France, the east is undeniably border country rich in
culture and traditions. Estranged to a degree from other parts of France by
the Vosges mountains and bordered from Germany by the Rhine, Alsace has been
shaped by more than one nation with a history of occupation and conflict.
To really appreciate Alsace you need to know a little about its history
as some things are not always how they first appear.
A bateau mouche in Strasbourg
The prime example is language - the sing song lingua franca of their day
to day parlance may sound like German but in fact it’s a high German dialect
with various versions in use. Luckily Alsatians speak French for most daily
transactions. But street signs in Strasbourg, since 1991, are bilingual in
French and German.
Alsace became part of France in the 17th century and after a relatively
quiet period things changed. Since 1871 Alsace - along with most of its
neighbour Lorraine - has seen its nationality changed four times. Germany
aggressively annexed the area on two occasions with the French assertively
reclaiming it in 1918 and 1944.
The resulting combination of teutonic and gallic influences is a boon to
both: the region’s Germanic specialities benefit from French refinement and
the wines have grape varieties from both countries.
Bas-Rhin
- Cosmopolitan Strasbourg, home to the Council of Europe, bustles with
students and politicians
- A magnet for Christmas shoppers Strasbourg is dominated by the stark,
pink cathedral
- WWII defences of the Maginot line are largely intact and make for a
fascinating visit
Haut-Rhin
- Follow the wine routes past timber framed houses for the best Riesling
- Storks are being encouraged to nest in the area again
- Colmar’s beautifully preserved 16th century townhouses and August wine
festival
Novotel Colmar   
Novotel Colmar welcomes you for holidays, weekend escapes, meetings or business trips near the historic centre of the wine capital of Alsace.
The 3-star hotel offers 66 air conditioned rooms which are suitable for families of 4. Enjoy the Novotel Cafe restaurant with panoramic terrace overlooking the Vosges Mountains, an outdoor swimming pool, garden and free secure parking.
You will be just 5 minutes by car from the historic town centre and Unterlinden Museum.
More Hotels in Colmar |
Morning Tour to Ribeauville and Kaysersberg The little village of Ribeauville, in the region of Alsace, is picture perfect. The ancient walls, the streets, the old houses and their wood beams will leave you captivated. Spend the second half of your tour in Kaysersberg. It's unusual silhouette and numerous ancient constructions make it the prettiest city on the Wine Road.
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