Canal in Colmar - photo via Flickr:Fr Antunes Vineyards! Photo via Flickr:wfbakker2

Breisgau & Alsace Wine Road

France, Germany Bike Tour

From the Black Forest to the Rhine….

Breisgau is a region in southwestern Germany between the Rhine River and the Black Forest that is known for its fruit orchards and wine. Directly west of Breisgau is Alsace, a region in eastern France also famous for its wine.

Whereas Strasbourg is the largest city in Alsace, Freiburg is the largest city in Breisgau. Freiburg’s sunny climate, scenic location, colorful streets and marketplace have made it a favorite among regional tourists. Its largest square, the Münsterplatz, is home to the famous red sandstone Gothic Münster Cathedral built from 1200-1530. Also of note is the Renaissance Historisches Kaufhaus (pictured above). Day 2 of the tour offers a route to the vineyards of the Tuniberg to Breisach or if you prefer, a route to sunny Kaiserstuhl, both ending in the medieval town of Endingen. Then it’s past the wine village of Sasbach further along the Rhine to Rust with a large amusement park. Strasbourg is known for its great medieval design, its many striking black-and-white half-timbered buildings and the astronomical clock housed in the soaring Gothic Cathedral. In Molsheim, the Alsace Wine Road starts and leads to numerous wine towns, including Obernai (pictured at right), St. Hippolyte (with a castle), Ribeauville, Riquewihr and Colmar, known as “Little Venice”.

Where You’ll Stay

Very good 3 star hotels. All rooms with private facilities.

What’s Included

  • 7 night accommodations
  • Breakfasts
  • 21/24-speed hybrid bicycle
  • Luggage transportation
  • Route descriptions & maps (Descriptions are translated into English for only the first two days. For the rest of the tour, “Bikeline” is used.
  • Service hotline

What’s Not Included

  • Train ticket Frankfurt to Freiburg, ± €60

Breisgau & Alsace Wine Road Map

Book This Trip

TourBike
TypeSelf Guided
SkillEasy
Length8 days
From€702
Print Tour

Tour Dates

  • Every Sunday from April 8 to September 16, 2012.

Skill Level

Easy self-guided hotel tour

Easy with some rolling hills; self-guided hotel tour. Distances per day range from 19 to 40 miles.

Day-To-Day Itinerary

Breisgau & Alsace Wine Road Map
  1. Arrival in Freiburg.
  2. Freiburg – Endingen/Malterdingen, 22 mi.
  3. Endingen/Malterdingen – Rust/Mahlberg, 19/25 mi.
  4. Rust/Mahlberg – Kehl/Strasbourg, 31 mi.
  5. Kehl/Strasbourg – Molsheim/Obernai, 28/39 mi.
  6. Molsheim/Obernai – St. Hippolyte, 25/32 mi.
  7. St. Hippolyte – Colmar/Eguishelm, 15/21 mi.
  8. Colmar/Eguishelm - Freiburg, 34/40 mi. Departure.

DAY 1: Arrival in Freiburg
Individual arrival in Freiburg. The sunny city at the foot of the Black Forest has a lot to offer: the old part of town with picturesque lanes and the famous Freiburger brooks, cultural monuments like the Abbey and numerous wine and Vesper lounges for epicureans. Overnight in Freiburg.

DAY 2: Freiburg - Endingen/Malterdingen, 22 mi. (35 km)
In the morning the cycling begins. You can choose between two routes. One route leads through the vineyards of the Tuniberg to Breisach along the Rhine shore. The alternate route leads to the foot of the vineyards of the sunny Kaiserstuhl. Your destination is the medieval town of Endingen. Overnight in Endingen or Malterdingen.

DAY 3: Endingen/Malterdingen - Rust/Mahlberg, 19-25 mi. (30-40 km)
Passing the wine village Sasbach, you’ll come to the banks of the Rhine. You’ll cycle through the green Rhine meadows, sometimes on the embankment of the Rhine, towards Rust. The European park is located in Rust, which is an amusement park with many attractions. Overnight in Rust or Mahlberg.

DAY 4: Rust/Mahlberg - Kehl/Strassbourg, 31 mi. (50 km)
Today you’ll cycle again through the alluvial land of the Rhine. On the right side the scenery of the northern Black Forest will accompany you. The beautiful Alsatian metropolis of Straßbourg with its attractive old part of town is the highlight of the day. Overnight in Straßbourg or Kehl, the frontier town on the German side of the river. From Kehl you can easily go with public transports to Straßbourg.

DAY 5: Kehl/Strassbourg - Molsheim/Obernai, 28/39 mi. (45/62 km)
You can take your time in the morning for a visit to Straßbourg’s many great attractions. The cycle tour leads you on the euro-cycle track to Molsheim, the hometown of the famous car dynasty Bugatti. Here your route starts along the Alsatian Wine Road. Destination is the wine town Obernai. Overnight in Molsheim or Obernai.

DAY 6: Molsheim/Obernai - St. Hippolyte, 25/32 mi. mi. (40/52 km)
You continue on the “Route du Vin” in direction to the South. You cycle through green vineyards and past a few Alsatian villages with multicolored half-timbered houses. Passing Dambach-la-Ville, you’ll reach St. Hippolyte, which lies at the foot of the famous, majestic castle. Overnight in St. Hippolyte.

DAY 7: St. Hippolyte - Colmar/Eguisheim, 15/21 mi. (24/33km)
On the last stretch of the Alsatian Wine Road, the romantic towns of Ribeauville and Riquewihr invite you for a stroll through the medieval lanes. Finally you’ll come to Colmar. Discover the picturesque town that is often called “Little Venice” and the beautiful half-timbered houses in the Gerber-road or the world-famous Issenheimer Altar in the Unterlinden Museum. Overnight in Colmar or in the neighboring Eguisheim.

DAY 8: Colmar/Eguisheim - Freiburg, 34/40 mi. (54/64 km). Departure.
Today you cycle through the Rhine lowlands passing Breisach with its powerful cathedral and the Tuniberg to go back to Freiburg. After returning the bicycles and retrieving your luggage, you depart.

Book This Trip

Questions? Call us! 877-965-2064 or e-mail us

Facebook