Alsace

DAY 1: Strasbourg

We rendezvous in Strasbourg for the short journey to our hotel in the heart of Obernai, one of the loveliest villages in Alsace. Time to stroll around the village before an Introductory Talk and Welcome Dinner – our first taste of the renowned Alsatian cuisine.

DAY 2: Boersch

Following a charming valley we leave Obernai to go to Boersch, a typical Alsacian fortress community. On the way we visit an handicraft marquetry studio. Heading through vineyards and pastures we arrive in Rosheim for lunch. In the afternoon, we visit the 12th century church before walking back through forests and vineyards to admire the view of the Alsace plain above the city of Obernai before returning to our hotel for dinner.

DAY 3: Mont Ste-Odile

This morning we visit the mountain-top sanctuary of Mont Ste-Odile, a spiritual shrine much loved by the Alsatian people. The access to the monastery is through the only gateway, above which is written: “Here, in the days of yore, Holy Prioress Odile was living and forever she reigns over Alsace like a mother ". We can admire the panoramic views of the Rhine Valley beneath us. Crossing the majestic Vosgienne forest we descend to Barr, another Alsatian "kitch" village for our lunch. Our afternoon trail varies between woody hills and vineyards, and takes us to Bernardville for a wine tasting. We transfer by bus to our next hotel in Ribeauvillé and have dinner in a traditional "winstub" in town.

DAY 4: Haut Koenigsberg

We start the day with a visit to the great castle of Haut Koenigsberg, one of Europe’s most important medieval fortresses, restored in the 19th century by Kaiser Wilhelm II. We enjoy the far-reaching views to Germany’s Back Forest and then walk down through the forest to our lunch in a chalet in a mountain resort village. Continuing along the same path in the afternoon, we discover the ruins of three castles of the Ribeaupierre family. Leaving forest and castles, the undulating vineyard slopes lead us back to our hotel.

DAY 5: Riquewihr

We walk down from the hotel into Ribeauville, one of the most beautiful villages in France, along the celebrated Alsace Route de Vins, through vineyards of Reisling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Gewürztraminer grapes. In Riquewihr, another village acclaimed for its beauty, we have lunch before walking on to our next hotel in Kaysersberg. On the way we pass the WWII memorial remembering the soldiers from many different nations who gave their lives in the bloody battle of La Poche de Colmar. Before dinner there is time to enjoy the hotel spa or stoll along the delightful village streets.

DAY 6: Vosges Mountains

We take to the Vosges Mountains on shaded forest paths and walk beside the region’s two most prominent lakes – the White and the Black. We will visit the Museum and Memorial at "Le Linge", scene one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War. The battlefield is situated at the top of a rocky hillock, dotted with a few trees and lined with trenches dug out of the sandstone. The bunkers and barbed wire which crisscrossed the area have been retained. A very moving memorial site, the battlefield contains numerous black-and-white crosses marking the final resting place of French and German troops. After lunch in a typical local auberge and a tasting of the famous Munster cheese. We wind our way down in the company of cooling mountain streams and across the meadows to our hotel and our Farewell Dinner.

DAY 7: Strasbourg

The Wayfarers provide a courtesy bus transfer to the TGV rail station in Strasbourg where we say Au Revoir.