Classic Alsace

Day 1 (1)* • Arrive in Ober nai –Picturesque small town with delightful main square Option to pre-extend for a circular walk through the wooded hills of the Vosges to the monastery of Mont St Odile, with panoramic views across the Rhine Valley (6 3 or 15 5 miles, 3 or 8 hrs)

HHHH Le Colombier (std) HHHH A La Cour d’Alsace (sup)

Day 2 • Barr to Itterswiller

(2) Barr to Scherwiller

After a short train ride to Barr, a centre of wine-making, quiet lanes lead through vineyards via the picturesque village of Mittelbergheim with its Renaissance houses; then continue up into the hills to two dramatically situated ruined châteaux. Continue via the flower-filled village of Andlau, to Itterswiller, set amongst vineyards in a small valley (5 2 or 8 5 miles, 2 5 or 4 hrs)

HHH Hôtel Ar nold (std & sup 8-day only)

Day 3 • Itterswiller to Scherwiller

Paths through colourful villages, vineyards and across forested hills of the Vosges lead to the picturesque, walled village of Dambach-la-Ville, before reaching the village of Scherwiller (6 3 or 10 3 miles, 3 5 or 5 5 hrs)

HHH Auberge Ramstein (std & sup rooms)

Day 4 (3) • Scherwiller to St Hippolyte

Paths through woods and vineyards lead along the edge of the hills, or via the Castle of Koenigsbourg, to the delightful village of St Hippolyte (5 6 or 10 2 miles, 3 or 5 hrs)

HHH Hostellerie Munsch (std) HHHH Hôtel Le Parc (sup)

Day 5 (4) • St Hippolyte to Riquewihr

Paths through forested hills lead to Ribeauvillé, famous for its Traminer and Riesling wines Continue to the picturesque village of Riquewihr, with its perfectly preserved medieval houses (9.4 or 12.8 miles, 5 or 6.5 hrs).

HH La Couronne (std) HHH Le Schoenenbourg (sup)

Day 6 • Riquewihr to Lapoutroie

Quiet lanes lead up through woods to a ridge, before descending to Lapoutroie. A longer walk continues around the edge of a wide ‘bowl’ – the Orbey Valley, noted for its scenery, then descends to the village of Le Bonhomme before continuing to Lapoutroie (12.3 or 18 1 miles, 6 5 or 9 5 hrs)

HHH Le Faudé (std & sup)

Day 7 • Lapoutroie to Kaysersberg

A range of options – all very scenic! – lead up, via mountain pastures, woods and low hills, before descending via vineyards to the delightful town of Kaysersberg (6 8, 10 or 18 8 miles, 3 5, 5 or 9 hrs)

HHH Hôtel les Remparts (std) HHHHH Le Chambard (sup)

Day 8 (5) • Departure day

Or, extend for plenty of further walking options around Kaysersberg

Long route

*Days in brackets refer to 5-day itinerary

Route open: April-Oct

Airport to first hotel: u Strasbourg (15 miles)

Train: 20 mins - ~€5

Taxi: 25 mins - ~€50 u Basel-Mulhouse (66 miles)

Train/bus: 2.5 hrs - ~€25

Taxi: 1 hr - ~€230

Train from London u St Pancras to Ober nai

6 5 hrs - from £120

Route Manager: ATG-trained, lives locally and speaks fluent English, French, Spanish and conversational Japanese.

Route Book: 153 pages – detailed walking directions, maps, comprehensive local and background information

Walking: Moderate to challenging (Grade 2+ – 4) See p 8

Terrain: Tracks through vineyards, forests, high hills and meadows Quiet lanes through picturesque villages and pilgrimage routes