Christmas and new Year holidays in Alsace !

Early afternoon, your English speaking guide will meet you at your hotel & you will depart for an afternoon walking tour of the historical center of Strasbourg. You will discover the charming neighborhood ‘Petite France’ as well as the historical center with the impressive cathedral. We will include a stop at Mireille Oster’s famous gingerbread shop.
You will of course discover the Christmas market - it was in Strasbourg in 1570 that the very first edition of the oldest Christmas market in Europe took place, then called the "Christkindelsmärik" (market of the Infant Jesus). Since this time, Strasbourg has continued the tradition of a traditional, authentic, warm and generous Alsatian Christmas and these are all the reasons why "Strasbourg, the Capital of Christmas" continues to enjoy repeated success.
Back to your hotel late afternoon.

Dinner Recommendation:
We recommend a relaxed dinner at a local Winstub – a traditional Alsatian bistro serving regional cuisine.

This morning your driver-guide will meet you at your hotel & you will depart on a full day tour of the Alsace region with a drive along the route des vins. You will discover the charming ‘fairytale’ villages that the region is known for with the local Christmas markets along with the area’s wines.

You will start the day with a visit of the medievel town of Obernai located 25kms from Strasbourg at the foot of the Mont Sainte Odile & on the doorstep of the farms & cabbage fields of the Alsatian Plain.
Obernai is one of the rare towns in Alsace to have kept its traditional charm & character with the fortified houses & its narrow lanes. You will be enchanted by the atmosphere that reigns in the town with the Christmas market, lights & decorations along with the gourmet experiences.

You will then drive to the small wine museum in Mittlebergheim, listed among the Most Beautiful Villages in France. You wi ll enjoy a tasting of carefully selected Grands Crus Alsatian wines (possibility to visit a winery instead of the museum if you prefer).
As time permits, you will make a stop late morning in Boersch at the wood marquetry Spindler – the artist himself will open the doors of his family’s private museum.
Food & wine lunch at a local Winstub.

After lunch you will depart for Riquewhir – also listed one of the ‘Most Beautiful Villages in France.’
Riquewihr, has managed for centuries to combine the quality of its architecture together with the quality of its amazingly well preserved heritage, is absolutely unmissable when exploring Alsace. At Christmas time, the town streams with light and proposes its traditional Christmas market in a fairy setting, uniting the spirit of Christmas and everything that makes the charm of Alsace: streets are adorned with twinkling decorations, façades and monuments are illuminated, stalls of the Christmas market are livening up... this happy effervescence will remind you of childhood full of souvenirs and emotions...

End the day with a tour of Colmar, the Alsatian wine capital – you will enjoy strolling the charming streets & discovering the historical & architectural heritage. Like all towns in Alsace, you will also have the opportunity to discover the town’s Christmas market.
Back to your hotel in Strasbourg at the end of the day.

Dinner Recommendation:
We recommend a dinner at 1741 – a 1* restaurant in the heart of central Strasbourg.

Today you will enjoy another full day of touring in Alsace.
To start the day we will take you to the town of Wingen sur Moder very well known for the long-standing glass making tradition. You will visit the Lalique museum. Built on a former glass-making site in business during the 18^th and 19^th centuries, the museum shows the multiple facets of René Lalique’s work, ranging from jewelry to architectural items including perfume bottles and Art Deco. Vases, radiator caps and statuettes are reminiscent of the fact that his main sources of inspiration were women, wildlife and flora. Lalique crystal also has a central place and a tribute is paid to glassmakers perpetrating the know-how and putting their craftsmanship and their knowledge at the service of creation.
You will enjoy lunch at Villa René Lalique, a newly opened restaurant where 3* chef Jean Georges Klein offers a fabulous cuisine in a sumptuous décor.
After lunch you will return to Strasbourg where you will have some free time to enjoy the city.
Option: Flammekueche workshop – learn how to make your own Flammekueche (the Alsatian extra thin pizza served on a wooden tray).

This morning your driver will meet you & transfer you to Strasbourg train station where you will take the high speed train back to Paris (not included in the pricing).

*rate depends on hotel availability at time of booking