Route&Camp

Alsace, France

Alsace Wine Route by motorhome, campervan or caravan: 3, 7 or 15-day route

Half-timbered villages full of flowers, vineyards at the foot of the Vosges, castles on the hills and the canals of Colmar and Strasbourg.

Colourful half-timbered houses along a canal in Colmar, with a stone bridge decorated with red and yellow flower boxes

How many days do you have?

Alsace Wine Route in 7 days

Distance≈ 110 km
Stages7
DifficultyEasy
Best timeMay to October and December

From Strasbourg south along the Wine Route: Obernai, Andlau and Dambach-la-Ville, the castle of Haut-Koenigsbourg, Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr and Kaysersberg, ending in Colmar and Eguisheim.

Where is it?

FRANCESPAINITALYGERMANYAtlantic OceanMediterranean SeaAlsace Wine RouteParisLyon

About this route

Alsace lies in the far east of France, between the Vosges mountains and the Rhine, on the border with Germany. Its famous Wine Route runs for about 170 km through vineyards and colourful villages of half-timbered houses, with flower-filled balconies, storks' nests on the roofs and wine cellars on every corner. Above the vineyards, ruined castles crown the hills, and Haut-Koenigsbourg stands fully restored. Strasbourg and Colmar have old towns of canals and timber-framed houses, and in December the region hosts some of the best Christmas markets in Europe. The 3-day version covers Colmar, Eguisheim and the most beautiful villages of the Wine Route, the 7-day one starts in Strasbourg and follows the route south, and the 15-day one adds Sélestat, the Munster valley, Guebwiller, Thann and Mulhouse.

Short distances and good roads through the vineyards. The village centres are narrow and often pedestrian, and the roads up to Haut-Koenigsbourg and into the Vosges are winding.

Updated

Weather and temperatures

Averages for Colmar
  • SpringMar–May 6° / 17° Some rain
  • SummerJun–Aug 14° / 26° Some rain
  • AutumnSep–Nov 7° / 16° Some rain
  • WinterDec–Feb −1° / 7° Little rain

Colmar is one of the driest towns in France, sheltered by the Vosges mountains, so the Wine Route gets more sunshine than the rest of north-east France. Summers are warm and sunny, sometimes with thunderstorms; autumn is mild and golden during the grape harvest. Winters are cold, often around freezing at night, with occasional snow, especially in the Vosges. December is cold but magical, with Christmas markets in every town.

Typical lows and highs (average night and afternoon temperatures). They change from year to year, so check the forecast before you go.

Route map

Loading map…

Campsites, areas and parking come from OpenStreetMap. They can be incomplete or out of date: check before you go and always follow local signs.

Take this route with you

Alsace Wine Route in 7 days

Google MapsWhole route with every stop WazeNavigate to the start: Strasbourg WhatsAppShare this route with your travel companions

The TXT file needs an internet connection to collect the campsites and motorhome areas. Google Maps opens the stops in order (long routes are split into parts, because Google Maps allows 10 points per route). Waze only navigates to one place at a time, so each day also has its own Waze button. Routes are a guide, not a fixed plan: in most cases you can also drive them in a different direction and skip stops.

No vehicle? Rent one for this route

Day by day

Routes are a guide, not a fixed plan: in most cases you can also drive them in a different direction and skip stops.

Alsace Wine Route in 7 days

  1. Day1 StrasbourgArrival day
    Where to sleep tonight (2)Campsites and areas within 10 km of Strasbourg
    Data from OpenStreetMap: check before you go.

    • Strasbourg

      The capital of Alsace and seat of the European Parliament, with a huge pink sandstone cathedral and the island of the Grande Île, a World Heritage site. In the Petite France quarter, half-timbered houses lean over the canals of the Ill.

      What to see (5)
      • Cathedral A Gothic cathedral of pink sandstone with an astronomical clock and a platform with views.
      • Petite France The old quarter of tanners and millers, with canals and half-timbered houses.
      • Boat trip on the Ill A cruise around the Grande Île and to the European quarter.
      • European Parliament The modern European district on the edge of the city.
      • Christmas market One of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe, in December.

      With a motorhome or caravan: The centre is closed to most traffic and is a low-emission zone (Crit'Air sticker needed). Use a park-and-ride on the edge and take the tram.

    Waze
  2. Day2 Obernai and Mont Sainte-Odile≈ 30 km · ≈ 40 min driving
    Where to sleep tonight (5)Campsites and areas within 10 km of Obernai and Mont Sainte-Odile
    Data from OpenStreetMap: check before you go.

    • Obernai and Mont Sainte-Odile

      A lively little town on the Wine Route, with a market square, old ramparts and a belfry. Above it, the convent of Mont Sainte-Odile sits on a mountain top, surrounded by a mysterious prehistoric wall, with views over the whole Rhine plain.

      What to see (4)
      • Place du Marché The main square with the old corn exchange and a Renaissance well.
      • Ramparts A walk along the old town walls.
      • Mont Sainte-Odile The convent on the mountain top, with views over the plain.
      • Mur Païen A mysterious prehistoric stone wall in the forest around the convent.
    Google Maps Waze
  3. Day3 Andlau and Dambach-la-Ville≈ 25 km · ≈ 35 min driving
    Where to sleep tonight (5)Campsites and areas within 10 km of Dambach-la-Ville
    Data from OpenStreetMap: check before you go.

    • Andlau and Mittelbergheim

      Two quiet wine villages at the foot of the Vosges. Andlau has a Romanesque abbey church with carved friezes; Mittelbergheim, one of the most beautiful villages in France, has Renaissance houses and vineyards on every side.

      What to see (4)
      • Abbey church A Romanesque church with a carved frieze of strange creatures.
      • Mittelbergheim One of the most beautiful villages in France, among vineyards.
      • Wine cellars Family estates offering tastings of Riesling and Sylvaner.
      • Castle ruins The ruins of Spesbourg and Haut-Andlau in the forest above.

    • Dambach-la-Ville

      A wine village still surrounded by its medieval walls and three gates, with timber-framed houses and many family wine cellars. A path through the vineyards leads up to the chapel of Saint-Sébastien.

      What to see (4)
      • Medieval walls Three town gates and the old ramparts.
      • Saint-Sébastien chapel A chapel in the vineyards with a carved Baroque altar.
      • Village square Half-timbered houses around the town hall.
      • Vineyard trail A walking path through the vines with views over the plain.
    Google Maps Waze
  4. Day4 Haut-Koenigsbourg and Ribeauvillé≈ 25 km · ≈ 35 min driving
    Where to sleep tonight (5)Campsites and areas within 10 km of Ribeauvillé
    Data from OpenStreetMap: check before you go.

    • Haut-Koenigsbourg

      A medieval castle on a mountain spur at 750 m, rebuilt in the early 20th century, with towers, drawbridges and furnished rooms, and views over the vineyards and the Rhine plain to the Black Forest.

      What to see (4)
      • Castle rooms Furnished halls, an armoury and the emperor's room.
      • Ramparts Walls and towers with views over the Rhine plain.
      • Great bastion The western bastion facing the Vosges.
      • Forest walks Paths through the forest around the castle.

      With a motorhome or caravan: The road up is winding and the car parks along it fill up in summer. Large vehicles should park lower down; check if a shuttle runs from Sélestat in summer.

    • Ribeauvillé

      A wine town with a long main street of painted houses, fountains and a butchers' tower. Three castle ruins stand on the hill above, reached by a forest path.

      What to see (4)
      • Grand'Rue The main street with painted houses and fountains.
      • Butchers' Tower An old gate tower in the middle of the town.
      • Three castles Saint-Ulrich, Girsberg and Haut-Ribeaupierre, on the hill above.
      • Wine cooperative Tastings of Alsace wines from the local cooperative.
    Google Maps Waze
  5. Day5 Riquewihr and Kaysersberg≈ 10 km · ≈ 15 min driving
    Where to sleep tonight (5)Campsites and areas within 10 km of Kaysersberg
    Data from OpenStreetMap: check before you go.

    • Riquewihr and Hunawihr

      Riquewihr is a perfectly preserved walled village of the 16th century, with cobbled lanes, a tall gate tower and wine cellars. Next door, tiny Hunawihr has a fortified church among the vines and a park where storks are bred.

      What to see (4)
      • Dolder The tall gate tower of the village, with a small museum.
      • Main street Cobbled street lined with 16th-century houses and wine shops.
      • Hunawihr church A fortified church in the middle of the vineyards.
      • Stork park A centre that helped bring storks back to Alsace.

      With a motorhome or caravan: Riquewihr is closed to traffic. Use the motorhome car park at the entrance of the village.

    • Kaysersberg

      A village of half-timbered houses along a river, with a fortified bridge and a castle tower above the vineyards. Albert Schweitzer was born here, and its Christmas market is one of the most charming in Alsace.

      What to see (4)
      • Fortified bridge A 16th-century bridge over the Weiss river.
      • Castle tower The round keep above the village, with views over the vines.
      • Albert Schweitzer's house The birthplace of the Nobel Peace Prize winner.
      • Christmas market One of the most charming in Alsace.
    Google Maps Waze
  6. Day6 Colmar≈ 15 km · ≈ 20 min driving
    Where to sleep tonight (5)Campsites and areas within 10 km of Colmar
    Data from OpenStreetMap: check before you go.

    • Colmar

      The capital of Alsatian wine, with a fairy-tale old town of colourful half-timbered houses, the canals of Petite Venise and the Unterlinden Museum, home of the famous Isenheim Altarpiece.

      What to see (5)
      • Petite Venise The canal quarter with colourful houses and boat trips.
      • Unterlinden Museum The Isenheim Altarpiece and art from the Middle Ages to today.
      • Maison des Têtes A Renaissance house decorated with more than 100 carved heads.
      • Covered market A 19th-century market hall by the canal.
      • Bartholdi Museum The birthplace of the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty.

      With a motorhome or caravan: The centre is mostly pedestrian. Use the motorhome area or a car park outside the old town and walk or take the bus.

    Google Maps Waze
  7. Day7 Eguisheim≈ 10 km · ≈ 15 min driving

    • Eguisheim

      A round village built in circles around its castle, with lanes of flower-filled half-timbered houses and storks on the rooftops. It is often voted one of the most beautiful villages in France.

      What to see (4)
      • Circular lanes Streets that turn in circles around the castle.
      • Castle and chapel The castle in the centre of the village, with a neo-Romanesque chapel.
      • Storks Nests on the rooftops and the church tower.
      • Vineyard trail A walk through the Grand Cru vineyards with views of the three towers.

      With a motorhome or caravan: The village centre is pedestrian. There are car parks and a motorhome area at the entrance.

    Google Maps Waze

Distances and driving times are approximate, measured between stops. Use the Directions links for the exact road route.

Tips for motorhomes, campervans and caravans

Overnight stays · Wine tasting and driving · Christmas markets · Crit'Air sticker · Local food5

  • Overnight stays

    In France, camping outside campsites (awning out, chairs, levelling blocks) is not allowed. Most villages on the Wine Route have a motorhome area, and some wine estates welcome motorhomes for a night. Always follow local signs.

  • Wine tasting and driving

    Tastings are often free in family cellars, but the drink-driving limit in France is 0.5 g/l. Plan tastings near your overnight stop, or walk or cycle between villages on the vineyard paths.

  • Christmas markets

    From late November to late December, Strasbourg, Colmar, Kaysersberg, Riquewihr and Eguisheim have famous Christmas markets. They are very busy: book campsites and use park-and-ride or motorhome areas outside the centres.

  • Crit'Air sticker

    Strasbourg and other French cities have low-emission zones. Order the Crit'Air sticker online from the official French website well before your trip.

  • Local food

    Try tarte flambée, choucroute, baeckeoffe, Munster cheese and kougelhopf, with Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris or Crémant d'Alsace. Look for a winstub, the traditional Alsatian wine tavern.

Frequently asked questions

5

How many days do you need for the Alsace Wine Route by motorhome, campervan or caravan?

Three days are enough for Colmar, Eguisheim, Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé and the castle of Haut-Koenigsbourg. With seven days you can start in Strasbourg and follow the Wine Route south through Obernai, Andlau and Dambach-la-Ville. Fifteen days let you add Sélestat, the Munster valley in the Vosges, Guebwiller, Thann and the museums of Mulhouse at an easy pace.

Where can you sleep with a motorhome, campervan or caravan on the Alsace Wine Route?

In campsites, often on the edge of the wine villages, and with a motorhome or campervan also in motorhome areas (aires de camping-car), which most villages on the Wine Route have, and on some wine estates that welcome motorhomes. Caravans are usually only accepted in campsites. Camping outside campsites is not allowed. The route map shows the campsites, motorhome areas and parking places near every stop.

When is the best time to visit the Alsace Wine Route?

May to October, with flowers on the balconies from late spring and the grape harvest and wine festivals in September and October. December is the season of the famous Christmas markets in Strasbourg, Colmar, Kaysersberg and Riquewihr: very atmospheric, but cold and crowded, so book campsites and motorhome areas ahead. January to March is the quietest and coldest time.

Can you drive the Alsace Wine Route in reverse or skip stops?

Yes. The route is a guide, not a fixed plan: you can start in Mulhouse or Colmar and drive north to Strasbourg, begin at whichever stop is closest to you, or skip the stops that interest you less. Distances between stops stay the same in both directions.

Are the roads suitable for large motorhomes and caravans?

Yes, the Wine Route itself is easy, with short distances. The old centres of the villages are narrow and often closed to traffic, so park in the car parks or motorhome areas at the entrance. The road up to Haut-Koenigsbourg and the passes in the Vosges are winding. Strasbourg has a low-emission zone that requires a French Crit'Air sticker.

More routes in France