The Ried, meaning marsh, at the heart of the Alsace Plain, is a narrow strip that runs alongside the Ill and the Rhine. A listed nature reserve, it consists of wet meadows and forests, and has many rivers running through it. The 2,000 hectares of the Ill*Wald protected reserve boast a wealth of fauna and flora. The lush vegetation is home to many animal species, from the smallest to the largest. You can see deer, beavers and kingfishers. An interpretation trail guides walkers as they explore the area's exceptional biodiversity.

You can travel the scenic road along the Rhine, as well as enjoying activities on the river. The shallow and clear waters of the Grand Ried are ideal for boat rides, especially on a flat-bottomed boat with one of Alsace's last remaining boatmen, canoe rides down the river or just a swim.

When it comes to culture, the House of Nature of the Ried and Central Alsace, in Muttersholtz (voted French Capital of Biodiversity in 2017), offers fun ways to explore the ecosystem: heritage storytelling, picking edible plants or even walking barefoot on the sensory path.

The discreet village of Ebersmunster, between Colmar and Strasbourg, might go unnoticed if it didn't house a treasure of France's religious heritage: its abbey church, dedicated to St. Maurice, transformed in the German Baroque style at the turn of the 18th century. This masterpiece is today considered one of the most beautiful churches in Eastern France!

The abbey church is adorned with three onion dome bell towers whose roofs are covered in glazed green tiles that can be seen from afar. The façade features a statue of St. Maurice, and the inside is superbly decorated. You can admire the paintings on the ceilings and vaults, dedicated to St. Maurice and St. Benedict, in particular the latter's meeting with the King of the Goths. The organ, built in 1730-1731 by the famous André Silbermann, is renowned.

The building is full of other little surprises: the magnificent high altar, made by an artist from Sélestat in 1728 and surmounted by an impressive crown with a baldachin; the beautiful carved wooden choir stalls; the superb nave and its pulpit carried by Samson.

Located between Colmar and Stasbourg, Sélestat is a central point for visiting the region, but its main attraction is its Humanist Library, one of only two existing in Europe. In the form wheat hall, in houses many works, including 154 medieval manuscripts and 1,611 printed works from the 15th and 16th centuries. Amongst these many treasures are the "Merovingian Lectionary" dating from the 7th century, an illuminated manuscript from Italy, the oldest book preserved in Alsace, and "Praise of Folly" by Erasmus. You can also see a presentation of the library that belonged to Beatus Rhenanus, a 16th-century humanist writer, which comprises a remarkable collection of old publications and manuscripts.

Sélestat's old town has some beautiful period houses, including on Rue des Veaux, Rue des Oies and Rue Dorlan, or along the Quai des Tanneurs. On Rue de l'Église you will find the old Ebersmunster residence, which was home to Benedictine abbots, with its beautiful gate and ivy-covered spiral staircase. On Place du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, the Witches' Tower, where "witches" were detained before being executed, stands next to the Strasbourg gate as well as the last gate in the old city wall built in the time of Louis XIV. The New Tower, where you can admire frescoes, is one of the four gates in the second wall, built in the late 13th century.

There are also religious buildings to discover. The Gothic Church of St. George, with a simple nave illuminated by beautiful stained glass windows, combines Romanesque and Flamboyant Gothic. The 12th-century Church of St. Faith is a beautiful Romanesque building in pink sandstone and granite, adorned with three towers and a richly decorated portal. The Recollect Church, meanwhile, is all remains of the Franciscan convent that was built in the 13th century.

Nestling in the foothills of the Vosges mountains, Obernai is an unmissable stop on the Alsace Wine Route. The birthplace of St. Odile, about thirty kilometres from Strasbourg, it offers some beautiful architectural heritage for visitors to admire.

With its harmonious ensemble of medieval and Renaissance houses, its historic centre surrounded by ramparts is full of gems. Its side streets are a pleasure to wander around, discovering its historic treasures.

After the central market square, surrounded by old buildings such as the 13th-century belfry and the city hall, you can continue to the wheat hall, the Renaissance well with six buckets dating from 1579, and also the St. Odile fountain in tribute to the patron saint of Alsace. You can also admire the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, built in the Neo-Gothic style from pink, grey and yellow sandstone, as well as the synagogue, a listed historic monument.

In the heights of Obernai, the National Memorial to the Forcibly Enlisted offers a superb panoramic view of the city, the Alsace Plain and Mont Sainte-Odile.

Every year, the magical atmosphere of Obernai Christmas market, very popular with visitors, enlivens the streets with its unmissable illuminations and decorations, as well as concerts and storytelling walks.

The little town of Rosheim, at the foot of Mont Saint-Odile near Obernai, is renowned for its beautiful Romanesque buildings. The Church of Saints Peter and Paul, all in yellow sandstone, was built in the 12th century and is a must-see on the Alsace Romanesque Route. The Church of St. Stephen, built at the end of the 18th century, is a fine example of the region's Neo-Classical architecture. Its plans were inspired by Ancient Rome, with its four Doric columns and its colossal façade housing a statue of St. Odile.

It's also worth taking a detour via Rosheim to admire the Romanesque House on Rue du Général de Gaulle. Also known as the Pagan House, it's one of the oldest stone houses in Alsace. Built in 1154, this pink sandstone edifice is a remarkable example of medieval civil architecture. The Romanesque town has a few more gems: its four monumental gates which were once part of the old ramparts, one of which features a Clock Tower, the Renaissance well with six buckets and the medieval garden adorned with domestic and wild plants. This calm and peaceful spot, far from the crowds, is a lovely place to stop for a rest.

Le Hohwald, in the authentic Pays de Barr area, is a pleasant little mountain resort surrounded by beautiful pine forests. Ranging in altitude from 600 to 1,100 metres, the municipality is an ideal place for hiking, with around 120 kilometres of marked paths suitable for all abilities. Children will enjoy the sledging and other fun attractions (playground, mini-golf, zipline, giant chessboard...). Visitors of all ages will love Le Hohwald's impressive waterfall, accessible all year round!

Spanning 189 km², Pays de Barr offers the superb landscapes of Central Alsace, with a palette of diverse scenery alternating between plains, vineyards, forests and mountains. The remains of four fortified castles, Bernstein, Haut-Andlau, Spesbourg and Landsberg, accentuate the charm of the place. Epicureans will enjoy sampling one of the area's eight grand cru wines or savouring the local cheeses and gingerbread. The region is also the land of high-end leather and tanneries. At the foot of the Andlau vineyard, the "Les Ateliers de la Seigneurie" heritage interpretation centre showcases the area's treasures in a beautiful Renaissance building.

Molsheim, near Strasbourg, is the birthplace of the Bugatti car brand and is a must-visit due to its rich heritage. On the edge of the old town, the beautiful Jesuit Park lies next to Marshal Kellermann's residence, built in the 17th century, and the Jesuit Church, dating from the same period. This is one of Alsace's biggest churches, after Strasbourg Cathedral, and is a reminder of the town's important religious past.

Surrounded by lovely half-timbered houses, Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville is dominated by the Metzig, a magnificent 16th-century Renaissance building that was once a butcher's shop and is now a listed historic monument. In the middle of the square stands the elegant Lions Fountain made of Vosges sandstone and dating from 1609.

Molsheim Charterhouse, the former monastery of the Carthusian Order built in 1700 and listed since 1998, is now home to the Museum of Archaeology, Art and History, which tells the story of the town and the Bruche Valley, as well as the Bugatti Foundation, which has an exhibition of cars and unusual objects. Among the many architectural gems, you can also admire the Blacksmiths' Gate (Porte des Forgerons), adorned with a clock and a Madonna and Child, through which you access the historic town centre.

Molsheim is also a winemaking town, famous for its Bruderthal grand cru, and a starting point for exploring the region, especially the nearby Bruche Valley.

Set within an exceptional woodland environment, the convent of Mont Saint-Odile is a major pilgrimage site dedicated to the patron saint of Alsace, and one of the area's unmissable destinations. Perched at an altitude of 763 metres, near Obernai, this religious site overlooking the Alsace Plain welcomes many tourists and pilgrims each year. It pays tribute to Odile of Alsace, a Merovingian noblewoman who was the founder and abbess of the Hohenburg monastery, built in the 7th century on top of the mountain. When visiting the sanctuary, you can see the Saint's tomb as well as several chapels: the Chapel of Tears, where Odile is said to have mourned the death of her father, and the 12th-century Chapel of the Angels, which strikingly overhangs a steep incline. On the convent terrace with its two orientation tables, you can enjoy a superb view over the surrounding forest, the Alsace Plain, and the Black Forest on a clear day!

Accessible via a footpath, the famous miraculous spring downhill from the convent is thought to heal eye problems. St. Odile is said to have brought it forth from the ground with her staff in order to help a blind woman in distress.

Another sight to see is the pagan wall, with a forest trail running alongside it offering a pleasant walk for families. This wall of eleven kilometres, surrounding the Mont Saint-Odile plateau, is formed of some 300,000 blocks of sandstone. Its width varies between 1.60 and 1.80 metres, and it stands up to 3 metres tall in places. The origins of this rampart remain a mystery, which has fuelled a number of tales and legends...

Not far from the majestic Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle, amid the Alsace hills, La Montagne des Singes monkey park covers 24 hectares of forest in an exceptional setting. In this picturesque place in Kintzheim, over 200 Barbary macaques, also known as "Magots", live in freedom and visitors can walk among them in total safety.

These monkeys, which usually live in the Moroccan or Algerian mountains, are perfectly adapted to the rigours of the Alsace winter. Children and adults will be amazed to see these intrepid, endearing, curious and food-loving animals so close. They will not hesitate to approach visitors, who can hand-feed them some of the popcorn provided on the way in!

Children will love to share in the joy of this unusual and original attraction, coming into direct contact with the macaques, watching them eat, groom each other, frolic, communicate by sounds and mimicry, and performing acrobatics. The guides' commentaries will help you decipher their behaviour, and you can watch regular feeding sessions. A family scavenger hunt, with a prize for the winners, will delight young Sherlock Holmes wannabes.

Fans of modern art? In Strasbourg, take a detour via the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, on the left bank of the Ill, a short walk from the typical neighbourhood of Petite France.

This beautiful building, organised around a big glass nave with a view of the old town, comprises 3 main areas: 6,000 works from institutions, donations and private collections, which cover the period from 1870 to the present day, along with 15,000 drawings and prints and 4,000 photos, gathered together in the Graphic Arts Cabinet and the Photographic Collection.

All the big names in modern painting, drawing and photography are there: from Monet to Sisley, Chagall to Utrillo, Bonnard to Magritte, Arp, Paul Klee, Gustave Doré… not forgetting the significant donation of photos by Charles Winter, the centrepiece of the Photographic Collection.

There are guided tours, workshops, readings of texts and family trails for individual visitors. The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art also hosts 9 annual exhibitions.

All of France's regions have a rich folklore, but Alsace's is particularly abundant: housing, home decoration, culinary arts, gastronomy, villages in bloom and more make a big contribution to its reputation and attract millions of visitors every year, in ever growing numbers.

Much of the region's skills can be found in the Alsatian Museum, Strasbourg, which tells the story of rural life in the region, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Established in 1907 in a building that provides a typical example of Strasbourg architecture, it has been regularly extended in order to accommodate its growing collections and increasing visitor numbers.

From costumes to furniture, ceramics, everyday objects, craftsmen's workshops and reconstructions of typical interiors, like the "Stube" (communal room where family and servants ate lunch together) and its alcove, visitors move around as they would in a real inhabited house, fragrant with the scent of wood.

The museum also tells the story of winegrowing and dairy farming, the wealth of a region with many charms. You will also be offered a little glass of schnapps, the local brandy… to be enjoyed responsibly!

Seven kilometres from the Hohwald climatic resort, the Neuntelstein rock is an ideal place for climbers looking to scale the heights. The steep sides of this granite rock culminate at an altitude of 971 metres, some thirty metres higher than the mountains to the north of the Andlau Valley.

From the top of this natural promontory, you can enjoy a superb view of the Alsace Plain, the Vosges mountains and the surrounding forests, with Mont Saint-Odile in the foreground. In fine weather, you can even see as far as the Black Forest and the Bernese Alps.

You can reach the top by taking a scenic forest trail. After walking the Chemin des Bornes path, which has many clearings along the way, you come to the forest. The uphill walk is easy and accessible to all, but caution is advised for families with young children, especially at the summit of the rock.

Nearby, close to Rothlach, you will find a picnic area with a table, benches and a covered shelter.

No-one travelling the Wine Route can pass by Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle without stopping for a visit. This impressive fortress, dominating the Alsace Plain at over 750 metres in altitude, stands proudly in the municipality of Orschwiller and is a high point of any stay in the Alsace area.

The imposing building, erected in the 12th century, has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. Besieged, pillaged and abandoned after 1633, it was restored at the beginning of the 20th century by an architect specialising in medieval fortifications, Bodo Ebhardt. His talent enabled the building to retain its identity as a medieval fortress with its double enclosure, 62-metre-high keep, bastions and main courtyard.

Children and adults alike will marvel at the inn, the fountain, the mill and the forge in the lower courtyard, through which you access the castle grounds. The drawbridge then leads the visitor to the inner courtyard, where the hexagonal staircase leads to the richly furnished apartments, including the empress's antechamber, the Lorraine chamber and the Kaiser's room. The southern living quarters house the trophy room and the armoury, which displays a collection of around 100 bladed weapons from the late Middle Ages.

Two other drawbridges lead to the Grand Bastion, where the cannons are displayed. From the top of the two towers, you can enjoy an exceptional view of the Alsace Plain, the Vosges, the Black Forest, and even the Alps on a clear day!

Visiting the 900-year-old Haut-Koenigsbourg, with its long and tumultuous history, is like taking an epic trip back in time. You will discover a remarkable model of a 15th-century mountain fortress, while being immersed in the turbulent atmosphere of the time.

A visit to Strasbourg, a certified City of Art and History, is a must for anyone exploring Alsace. Its old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is internationally famous for its exceptional architectural, historic and cultural heritage. The traces of its medieval past and Renaissance period are deeply embedded in its genes.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg, which stands proudly in the city centre, is its culmination and its symbol. Built from the 12th to 15th centuries on the foundations of an old Rhenish basilica, this Gothic masterpiece reveals its sumptuous treasures inside and out. Its magnificent Gothic façade in pink Vosges sandstone, fabulous statuary and spire with a height of 142 metres impress visitors immediately. Inside, it contains many gems, including a rose window with a diameter of nearly 14 metres, and an astronomical clock in the Renaissance style which displays a parade of the Apostles at half-past noon every day. On summer nights, the cathedral is bathed in magical illuminations as part of the sound and light show. At the top of the cathedral tower, 66 metres above ground, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city after climbing the 330 steps.

The cathedral square is lined by superb old buildings, including the 13th-century one housing the Cerf pharmacy, or the Kammerzell House, which has a timber frame carved in the Renaissance style and is now home to a renowned Alsatian restaurant.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Grande Île is an island in the River Ill that forms the heart of the city centre. Walking along the pedestrian streets, each one more picturesque than the one before it, visitors cannot fail to be enthused by the perfection of the built heritage. With its canals, riverbanks, cobbled streets and flower-adorned half-timbered houses, Petite France is one of the most romantic neighbourhoods on the Grande Île. It was once the district of tanners, millers and fishermen. Built in 1572 at the water's edge, the Tanners' House, which is now a restaurant, perfectly exemplifies the harmony of the location.

On the Vauban Dam, a panoramic terrace offers a scenic view of the Covered Bridges' towers, the river, Petite France and the cathedral. Formerly the German imperial quarter, the Neustadt is another part of Strasbourg which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is a nice place for a walk. Place de la République, a town square with the air of a park, is one of its highlights. The Orangerie Park and its lake also offer a pleasant place to relax in a leafy environment.

Strasbourg is also the city of museums. It has no less than ten, including the Rohan Palace, which houses three museums devoted to decorative arts, fine arts and archaeology; the Oeuvre Notre-Dame Museum, at the foot of the cathedral, which presents seven centuries of local art; the Alsatian Museum, which celebrates traditions and folk art in Alsace; the Historical Museum, a place of emotion and discovery where you can learn about the history of the city, and the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. The Historic Cellar of the Strasbourg Hospices is also well worth a visit. It contains a barrel filled with the world's oldest wine, dating back to… 1472!

The city also hosts many events. Apart from the world-famous Strasbourg Christmas market, the city puts on the Musica festival of contemporary music in early autumn, as well as the Sacrées Journées in June, celebrating the sacred music of the world.

A number of European institutions are also based in Strasbourg. The European quarter is home to the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and the European Court of Human Rights.

This small town of Ribeauvillé on the Wine Trail is very welcoming with its high street lined with numerous half-timbered houses.

The symbol of Alsace, the white stork is part of local people's cultural heritage in this part of France. Stork nests are regularly found on the roofs of houses, church bell towers and other towers in the towns and villages of Alsace.

This majestic bird with a long, pointed beak and black and white plumage is a long-distance migrant which heads for milder southern climes at the end of autumn. Its return to Alsace for nesting in February or March heralds the arrival of spring. The stork particularly appreciates this region's prolific natural environment, with its wet meadows and pastures providing an abundant food supply, including amphibians and small aquatic animals.

This beautiful wading bird, thought to bring good luck to the house where it makes its nest, is a protected species. In Hunawihr, in Haut-Rhin, the stork and otter reintroduction centre, now known as NaturOparC, is a large animal park covering 5 hectares which works to preserve endangered local species, including the white stork. It's a must-see...

Capital of the Alsace wines, Colmar has preserved its rich architectural heritage, as well as its picturesque character. The Unterlinden museum, dedicated to Rhenish art, is an essential place to visit in the town. Showing collections of medieval and Renaissance paintings and sculptures, this former Dominican convent also has the famous Isenheim Altarpiece by Matthias Grünewald on display.

The old districts, with their old half-timbered houses and facades decorated with old forged iron shop signs, are a real delight. One of the most popular places in Colmar is the Petite Venise district (Little Venice), that is very romantic. The beautiful half-timbered houses and colourful walls on the Poissonnerie quayside and the small flower-covered bridges spanning the Lauch river add to the charm of the place. A boat tour on the canal is also a lovely way to discover the pretty banks of the Petite Venise.

The Tanneurs (Tanners) district is very picturesque, with its tall houses and attics formerly used for drying skins. The Marchands (Traders) street is known for its beautiful residences and especially for the Pfister's house dating from 1537, decorated with an corner oriel window and a wooden gallery. It is in this street that is located Auguste Bartholdi's birth house, who is the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty in New York. This ancient residence is today home to a museum exhibiting the work of the artist.

The visit of the old town continues with the Saint-Martin collegiate church, an ancient cathedral of the 13th and 14th century; the Dominicans church of Rhenish Gothic style; the arcades house ("maison des Arcades") and the former customs ("Ancienne Douane"), Koïfhus, with its pretty, busy square featuring a fountain.

The wine fair in Colmar takes place in August and is a must. This festival features tastings, gastronomy, exhibitions and animations. The atmosphere is great! Colmar's International festival in July is a major classical music event. In winter, during the Christmas break, the old town of Colmar is very pretty with its illuminations, its decorations, and its friendly Christmas markets.

When visiting Colmar, be sure not to miss the Unterlinden Museum; this Fine Arts Museum is one of the most popular in France and its exhibits include the famous Isenheim altarpiece by Matthias Grünewald, a set of several panels painted in the early 16th century, the centre of which is devoted to St. Anthony.

The collections at the museum, which was renovated in late 2015 and now has twice as much floor space as before, are divided between the old convent for old art and art objects, and the contemporary building for modern art collections and temporary exhibitions. An underground gallery connects the two, and offers visitors a panorama of art from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The museum's renovation has taken place following a town planning-inspired approach. The square, Place Unterlinden, has thus regained its historic significance as the former "Ackerhof", which in the Middle Ages consisted of the farm and stables facing the convent.

Le Champ du Feu, the highest point in Bas-Rhin, is located around fifty kilometres from Strasbourg and overlooks the fabulous landscape of the Bruche Valley. Part of the massif, which reaches an altitude of 1,099 metres, is certified "Natura 2000", a European programme defining areas where the natural environment is to be preserved. The vegetation on this high plateau, mainly consisting of moors and meadows, is indeed as remarkable as it is fragile.

It's also the only Alpine ski resort in Bas-Rhin, with 50 hectares where visitors can enjoy sledging and tubing, as well as snowshoe hikes and dog sled rides. Cross-country skiers have not been forgotten: with its 55 kilometres of alternating and skate skiing runs, Le Champ du Feu is one of the biggest Nordic skiing areas in Alsace.

In summer, you can enjoy magnificent unspoilt scenery by taking a walk on the marked paths. To see it all from above, there's a 23-metre-tall observation tower from which you can admire a stunning view of the Vosges and the Alsace Plain!

In spring and autumn, Astronomy Night attracts many enthusiasts and stargazers.

Surrounded by vineyards, this fortified town is a jewel. The village of Riquewihr is full of with beautiful colourful half-timbered residences and facades decorated with old shop signs. Some houses are decorated with pretty oriel windows. Omnipresent flowers and creepers add to the charm of the village.

This village on the Wine Trail listed among the most beautiful of France is built with streets arranged in concentric circles all around its castle. It's pleasant to wander around the narrow paved streets full of beautiful old half-timbered houses with geranium-bedecked wooden windows and balconies. The central square is also magnificent with its fountain, the Eguisheim castle and the colourful Saint-Léon-IX chapel. In the surroundings of Eguisheim, The the Eguisheim Keeps, the Hohlandsbourg castle and the Pflixbourg keeps.

In August, the village comes alive with its stork festival and wine growers festival.

This village is an essential place to visit while in the vineyards of Alsace for its superb architectural heritage: narrow paved streets, old timber-framed houses, Rhenish Renaissance town hall, ruin of a 13th-century castle overlooking the village and a 16th-century fortified bridge offering a beautiful view of the river.

The Christmas market in Kaysersberg is well-known for its authentic character.

This Trois-Épis health resort of the Orbey valley, region of forests of fir trees, constitutes an excellent departure point for hiking.

This famous road of the Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park dominates mountains, alpine pastures (hautes chaumes), lakes, round-topped mountains (ballons) and forests. What a magnificent view! It is possible to sample typical dishes in the numerous farmhouse inns lining the "Crest Road", such as the famous, hearty marcaire meal of rustic mountain food. This meal traditionally consists of several courses: a meat pie, then smoked pork with potatoes, then Munster cheese and lastly a fruit tart.

Formed 200 million years ago, the Rock of Dabo is a block of sandstone rock embedded with pebbles, located 664 metres above sea level in the Vosges Mountains, between the municipalities of Sarrebourg, Phalsbourg and Saverne.

This was a Celtic place of worship in the Gallo-Roman era, but the site was occupied as far back as the Stone Age, as shown by the traces detected by archaeologists.

Standing 30 metres tall, it offers a superb 360° panoramic view over the Vosges Mountains once you have climbed up its 62 steps. At the top are a small chapel and two orientation tables to help you locate the nearby sites.

Destroyed several times, the current Romanesque chapel dates back to 1892 and has a tower that acts as a belvedere. A place of contemplation, the chapel dedicated to Pope St. Leo IX features a large fresco on wood at gable level, statues of saints and medallions painted on canvas adorning its ceiling.

The site is closed to the public after 11 November and during the winter, and the same applies in snowy and icy weather. It reopens in the spring.