French Alsace Christmas Markets

Your tour commences this evening in wonderful Frankfurt: a city of contrasts – from modern skyscrapers to beautifully maintained old buildings. If you have time make sure you visit Christmas markets on the Römerberg, which has traditionally been the centrepiece of the Advent season in Frankfurt.

Dinner tonight is included in your hotel, but first, enjoy a welcome drink. This is an ideal opportunity to meet your fellow travellers.

Since the ancient university town of Heidelberg is only a 90-minute drive away we enjoy a leisurely start. Set in the wooded Neckar Valley, with its twin towered bridge and red sandstone castle, we spend the late morning and lunchtime here. Moving on we cross over the Rhine River into France where we reach the seat of the European Parliament - magnificent Strasbourg – where we stay the next two nights. Strasbourg hosts a dozen or so fabulous Christmas markets, and your hotel is located within easy walking distance of several.

After checking into your hotel join your Tour Manager for a stroll to the giant Christmas Markets on Place Broglie – the historic site of Strasbourg's first ‘Christkindelsmärik'. These outstanding markets boast one of the highest Christmas trees in Europe and, dating back to 1570, they are recognized as one of the oldest of all Christmas Markets. Dinner tonight is included.

This morning a local guide will join us for a walking tour which will bring to life this historic medieval town. In the heart of the city, we will discover the beautifully decorated Place de la Cathédrale. Strasbourg's mighty Cathedral is recognized as one of the most outstanding Gothic buildings ever created. Started in 1015 and finally completed in 1439, the spire is a massive 142 metres high, and for over 400 years it was actually the tallest building in the known world! The red sandstone appears to change colour during the day, and it is covered with hundreds of statues and sculptures.

Our walking tour takes us inside the Cathedral and the 800-year-old-stained glass windows are breathtakingly beautiful. We also enjoy a cruise along the UNESCO Heritage listed canals of ‘La Petite France', and at one point we will slowly pass beneath the most photographed building in the city - the antique, half-timbered Maison des Tanneurs.

Your entire afternoon and evening is ‘My Time' – free to indulge in some shopping, and maybe a sip of mulled wine, along with ginger biscuits and ‘Bredele' (small Alsatian biscuits). Make sure you explore the Cathedral Square which is filled with rows of pretty Christmas Markets stalls, and surrounded by wonderful half-timbered houses, narrow cobblestoned streets filled with restaurants, bars and beautifully decorated shops. Delightful!

After a leisurely start, we head south and our destination is fabulous Colmar, where we will stay a further three nights in this stunning Alsace region.

First stop of the day will be high above the vine covered hills of the Alsace Wine Road at the Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg. Perched 757 metres above the valley, the views from the ramparts and staterooms across the Alsace are stunning. Dating back 900 years, re-built and re-modelled over the centuries, and totally restored by Wilhelm II at the beginning of the 20th century, it looks and feels like a true Germanic knight's fortress and the interior is a medieval masterpiece.

Our Colmar hotel is superbly located just 500 metres from the famous bridge in ‘Little Venice' and the historic old town. Perfect for exploring the surrounding villages, towns and sites over the next two days. Dinner tonight is included in a local restaurant in ‘Little Venice'. 

Colmar is world-famous for the beauty of its classic ‘Little Venice' canals, colourful houses and outstanding Christmas markets. To truly appreciate the beauty of the Alsace region you also need to get out amongst the rolling vineyards and explore the wonderful villages and towns that line the famous ‘Route Alsace du Vin' (the Alsace Wine Road). 

Today we follow that route and visit two glorious towns that appear to have stepped back in time. Your morning will be spent ambling along the cobblestoned streets of Ribeauvillé, which are lined with festively decorated shops, character restaurants and colourful half-timbered houses adorned with Christmas displays.

Lunchtime will be in the equally striking town of Riquewihr just as the historic Christmas Markets start truly humming. Both towns are utterly beautiful, and finding a centuries-old Wine Maker's Inn for lunch will be a highlight.

On our return drive to Colmar, we will stop in the small hill town of Zellenberg, in the heart of the Alsatian ‘Grand Crus' vineyards. Here we will visit and enjoy a wine tasting in House Becker. The historic Jean Becker winery has been cultivating its renowned wine for over 400 years, and leading the way, for nearly 30 years they have been cultivating and producing wines organically.  

Your evening is free back amongst the beautiful pedestrian, medieval streets of Colmar which absolutely burst with Christmas cheer, folklore displays, decorated trees and fabulous squares filled with music and festive markets.

Your morning is at leisure in Colmar – ‘My Time' to explore and shop. Every gorgeous town on the Alsace Wine Road is different with their own style and ambience and so we simply must add one more special village to our list to complete our Alsace ‘story'.

Around midday we will visit nearby Éguisheim, which some say is the most beautiful town of all, where you will have the pleasure of relaxing and exploring this smaller, medieval gem of a town. Time to find your own quaint café or restaurant for lunch or simply ‘graze' amongst their pretty Christmas Market stalls.

The remainder of your afternoon and evening will be free - ‘My Time' – in lovely Colmar. 

At Mulhouse we have included entrance to the fabulous Cité de l'Automobile. Even if you don't like cars, you will absolutely love this visit! With more than 500 vehicles spanning well over a century, this is the largest and most important automobile collection in the world. Also famous for its massive Bugatti collection you will find cars of all ages, shapes and sizes, from the tiniest of all to massive ‘gangster' cars with sweeping footplates. Some are designs and brands that are lost in time, and some are so beautiful, graceful, historic and ludicrously expensive. Stunning!  

This afternoon we arrive in Zürich where we stay our final night. Make sure you take a stroll down the world famous Bahnhofstrasse – a pedestrian and tram-friendly shopping avenue that connects the main Station to Zürich's lakeside. Lined with shops and boutiques it is known for its beautiful Festive decorations. Make sure you also visit the nearby Hauptbahnhof - Main Railway Station – opposite the hotel, which boasts one of the largest indoor Christmas Markets in Europe.

Tonight we have included a Farewell Dinner in the Kings Cave Restaurant, located in the cellars under our hotel.

Your Christmas Markets tour comes to an end after breakfast and it is time to say farewell.