the tour TO ALSACE AND THE UPPER RHINE VALLEY: timeline AND HIGHLIGHTS
The idea
behind the tour.
Our goal is both simple and ambitious.
We want to introduce a small group of like-minded participants to every aspect that makes Alsace and the Upper Rhine Valley truly unique — and uniquely enjoyable. Limiting the size of the group will allow us to share each discovery in an informal, relaxed way. This will also foster friendly, rewarding and personal interactions during the tour — a prerequisite for a truly bespoke experience. It will also give us the required agility and flexibility to prioritize enjoyment over logistical constraints.
A careful balance between culture, discovery, food and entertainment is at the core of the concept. We have, in addition, emphasized diversity. There is so much to see and enjoy in Alsace and the Upper Rhine Valley! So while there is indeed an overarching theme, the variations will make the difference.
Our meals and tastings will span a wide spectrum, from simple and wholesome to highly sophisticated, with four things in common: authenticity, variety, quality and pleasure.
We will stay at two outstanding hotels:
- The four-star Hôtel Léonor is one of Strasbourg’s best and offers an unbeatable location — a 2 minute walk to the main Christmas Market, with the heart of the Old Town just 5 more minutes away. Born of the former King’s Governor’s mansion — an imposing, yet elegant building from the early 18th century — the hotel has been designed to combine a contemporary ambience with elegant period touches. It offers beautiful rooms and excellent amenities, including a trendy lounge and bar.
- The four-star
Hotel Ritter
in Durbach combines the charm of a traditional Black Forest inn with very contemporary, yet invitingly intimate luxury. The hotel’s amenities include a beautiful indoor swimming pool and a fully-fledged spa with several saunas and steam rooms alongside a comprehensive variety of spa treatments.
Thematic highlights.
THE SPIRIT OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON
In Alsace and the Upper Rhine Valley, Christmas is a very serious affair. It is all hands on deck to get every street, every shop and every venue decorated—to say nothing of the magical Christmas Markets. We will visit no less than six of them!
ARCHITECTURAL TREASURES
From the Middle Ages to this day, extraordinarily talented architects, builders, sculptors and craftsmen have created landmarks on both sides of the Rhine — be it cathedrals, castles, elegant mansions or bold bridges.
DELICIOUS FOODS IN ALL VARIATIONS
This is a region famous for both its traditional specialties and its cutting-edge chefs. We will sample it all — starting with Choucroute and ending with dazzling culinary feats at an exquisite ** Michelin Star restaurant.
EIGHT CENTURIES OF ART AND CULTURE
In many places, art is all around, and the many treasures of the Strasbourg Cathedral are just a striking—but certainly not the only—example. As part of the tour, we will visit quite a few more remarkable monuments, and an exceptionally interesting art museum.
WHITE WINES THAT ARE SECOND TO NONE
In Alsace, white varietals have been grown for centuries, producing some of the most distinguished white wines on the planet. Our tastings will introduce you to many variants — a fascinating exploration.
A CASTLE VISIT THAT YOU WILL NOT FORGET
Located high up on top of a steep hill, Haut-Koenigsbourg is the largest medieval castle in France. It has been restored with an extravagant attention to details. Forget Disneyland: this is, quite simply, the real thing.
THE BEST PASTRIES THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN
Like so many things in the Upper Rhine Valley, pastries combine the influences of French and Germany into an incredible variety of delicious creations. We will give you opportunities to make your own assessment…
PICTURE-PERFECT TOWNS AND VILLAGES
Many houses and villages look like they are straight out of a fairy tale, for a good reason. This is where many fairy tales were written and illustrated. In some places, 500 year old houses are too many to count. We will not try — just enjoy.
day-by-day program.
DAY 1 • Strasbourg – December 3RD, 2025
Check-in at Hôtel Léonor ****. With its perfect location in the heart of the Old Town, this outstanding hotel will be our launching pad for the next 3 days.
Welcome dinner at Chez Yvonne: in one of the most iconic Wynstub, one of the most iconic specialties will be waiting for us—Choucroute garnie.
DAY 2 • Strasbourg – December 4TH, 2025
Cityscape: extensive morning stroll through the ‘Petite France’
Culture: Strasbourg Cathedral, the highest building in the world for almost four centuries, and the St-Pierre-le-Jeune early gothic church.
Traditions: exploration of the ‘Christkindelmärik’, the oldest Christmas market in France.
Food: lunch at ‘Chère Amie’, arguably the hippest brasserie in town, five o’clock at the famous Pâtisserie Christian and ‘Flammekueche’ dinner, to enjoy this quintessentially Alsatian take on flatbread.
DAY 3 • Route des vins – December 5TH, 2025
Cityscapes: a walk around Barr, a charming medieval town, and a stroll through the heart of Sélestat.
Traditions: the Christmas Market in Kaysersberg, possibly the most beautiful and atmospheric in Alsace.
Wines: a tasting at Maison Albert Seltz, one of the most famous in Alsace for a variety of reasons…
Food: a gourmet take on local specialties at ‘Le Bon Pichet’ in Sélestat and a matelote—the typical stew of sweetwater fish—in Illhaeusern.
DAY 4 • Escapade to freiburg – December 6TH, 2025
Cityscapes: Freiburg has it all, from stunning monuments and a charming of Old Town to one of the most beautiful farmers’ markets anywhere. And in Staufen, a picturesque small town with a rich history, a concert of alpenhorn awaits.
Traditions: no Freiburg tour would be complete without a stopover at the iconic Hausbrauerei Feierling, a monument to the art of brewing.
Food: Kaffee-Kuchen at the famous Café Decker (the cakes and pastries are to die for) and dinner in a *Michelin Star ‘Gasthaus’ from 1764.
DAY 5 • a taste of switzerland – December 7TH, 2025
Cityscapes: Basel epitomizes Switzerland in more than one respect—with grand historic buildings, an impeccably maintained city center and an inescapable high-quality feel.
Culture: the city has some of the best art museums in Central Europe, and the whimsical and irreverent Tinguely Museum has proved a favorite with our fascinated tour guests.
Food: a fondue lunch—what else—at a real farm located high above the Rhine Valley will be followed by regional specialties at a typical Black Forest ‘Gasthof’.
DAY 6 • northern Alsace – December 8TH, 2025
Cityscapes: Baden-Baden, just across the border, combines the timeless elegance of an exclusive spa town with an elegantly laid out Christmas Market
Traditions:
for centuries, Soufflenheim’s potters have crafted oven-safe pots, dishes and plates. They are an intrinsic part of the local culinary repertoire. A workshop visit will show a few of the potters’ manufacturing secrets
Wines: a tasting in Marlenheim, a popular stop on the Wine Route—for good reasons.
Food: a gourmet lunch in Haguenau’s Le Jardin and a couscous dinner in Strasbourg, to discover another fascinating facet of France’s food culture.
DAY 7 • History & haute cuisine – December 9TH, 2025
Cityscapes: Colmar is at the center of the day. With its improbably picturesque streets, a collection of five Christmas Markets and a beautiful network of canals, the city is irresistibly attractive.
Culture: Haut-Koenigsbourg, the largest medieval castle in France, feels like visiting the stronghold of a (very, very) rich warlord of the
13th century.
Food: Olga and Philippe consider JY’s, an exquisite **Michelin Star restaurant to be by far the best in Alsace, and it would be top notch anywhere in the world. Jean-Yves Schillinger’s brigade will prepare for us a highly inventive and incredibly plated six course ‘Menu Dégustation’ with refined wine pairings.
DAY 8 • FAREWELL TO ALSACE AND THE UPPER RHINE VALLEY – DECEMBER 10TH, 2025
After a last breakfast taken in common at Ritter Durbach, we will part ways. Depending on your plans, you will be able to catch a train to Paris, a train or a bus to Frankfurt or Zurich, or extends your stay in Europe according to your own program.