The Alsace region is in eastern France; bordering Germany and sharing the Rhine River as part of that border. The lush Alsace valley is contained by France’s Vosges Mountains on the west and Germany’s Black Forest on the east and is one of the best wine growing regions in the world. The Alsace region has changed from French possession to German and back again a number of times over the years. Today, as part of France, this region has a very distinct German touch as well. This is exhibited in a number of ways, including the food and the language. The Alsace region produces some fine wines and is dotted with a number of quaint villages. Whatever your pleasure, you’ll find a mix of spectacular scenery, quaint towns, good wines and great food.
Our tour follows the wine route from Colmar to Keysersburg, Riquewihr, Ribeauville, Andlau, Barr, Obernai and Molsheim; winding up in Strasbourg after 100 km in Four Days. We had time for degustation, or wine tasting, as well at two opportunities to watch the passing Tour de France, during the year of our trip (their route varies from year to year).
We picked the Zurich Flughafen in Switzerland as our entry point. We actually combined two rides; Lake Constance and the Alsace. (See other eurocycle programs.) It’s very bicycle-friendly, ten minutes from Zurich and an hour and a half by rail to Basel, an ideal starting point for an Alsace tour. It also makes it easy to connect to other tours.
Rail service from the Airport is frequent, there are two trains per hour to Basel. And one non-stop train every two hours that goes around Zurich and through Brugg and Baden, whisking you to Basel in only seventy minutes.  Our Alsace tour starts in Basel where the Rhine forms a boundary between Switzerland, Germany and France. Basel is a University town and a rail hub. It is easy to get around, especially with the aid of convenient tram passes. Basel has a number of very interesting museums and artwork, old town portals and a great cathedral. This makes it a good overnight stop.
The 1st Stage begins in Switzerland at Basel, crosses the French border at Huningue, goes along the Huningue Canal and ends for the night in Ottmarsheim, a comfortable, leisurely 30 km ride.
The 2nd Stage starts in Ottmarsheim, heads north, then meanders along the Rhone-Rhine canal to Neuf-Brisach, over to Vogelsheim and Biesheim, turning west and finishing in Colmar. . . a 57 km ride. We stopped in Neuf-Brisach to pick up a postcard showing the intricate grid of this ancient city. It is best appreciated from an aerial view.  Colmar is a must see stopover.  A major attraction is the Musee d’Unterlinden, as well as the canals and intricate buildings.
The 3rd Stage begins in Colmar and heads west toward the Vosges Mountains through with a stop in the timecapsule town of Kaysersburg; then on to  Riquewihr, where we stopped again to sightsee.  Then off again through Hunawihr and ending the day in Ribeauville, a 26 kilometer ride. We were greeted in town by more wine tasting and stork sightings.  They nest on the rooftops.
The 4th Stage begins in Ribeauville and joins the Route des Vins in Bergheim. Then we proceed north through Kintzheim, Chatenois, Scherwiller, and Dieffenthal. Through the hillside towns Dambach-la-Ville, Blienschwiller, Nothalten, Itterswiller and Andlau; ending in Barr. This was a 31 km ride.  We stayed on the square and a highlight was a walking tour of the vineyards on the hillside, with a wine tasting at the end.
The 5th Stage works its way out of Barr with a lunch stop in scenic Obernai, then breezing downhill and  ending in Molsheim. We made a quick tour of the town square and were off to cheer the Tour de France. Today’s ride was 21 Km.
The 6th Stage is mostly bicycle trails, starting in  Molsheim and going north, joining the Canal trail in Ergersheim and following it east, reaching the Gare in Strasbourg, for a 27 Km ride.  Again, we had another chance to see the Tour de France.  Strasbourg is very bicycle friendly and offers much to see.  It's well worth a stop to see the cathedral as well as wandering on the rue des Moulins and the Quai de la Petite France.
The Seventh Stage is an early morning ride through Strasbourg and across the Ill toward the German Border where you cross the Rhine into Kehl and the German Rail Bahnhoff. 

If you'd like to know more details about this ride, check out our DVD.