Bas-Rhin
Visit Bas-Rhin, France
The Bas-Rhin region of Alsace features the attractive city of Strasbourg, numerous picture-postcard villages, and several dramatically located hilltop castles - a region to to discover!
General information
Bas-Rhin sights and places to visit
The Bas-Rhin department is the northern part of Alsace, on the north-eastern border between France and Germany. Strasbourg is the capital of this heavily forested region.
The climate here is almost 'continental' with hot summers and dry, cold winters.
There is much to enjoy, with an interesting mix of vineyards and rolling countryside, historical monuments and villages of half-timbered houses painted in the bright colours unique to Alsace.
Strasbourg and the north
The lovely city of Strasbourg will itself most certainly be among the highlights of your visit to Bas-Rhin.
North of Strasbourg there are some fascinating ruined castles, especially among the hills just west of the delightful town of Wissembourg in the north - example at Fleckenstein. Lembach makes quite a good base for exploring this are.
Haguenau is also in this region and while it is not usually an important town for tourists it does have museums of interest, such as the Museum of Alsace. Afterwards perhaps head west for a stroll around the picturesque historic centre of Bouxwiller.
Another town worth visiting is at Saverne, and be sure to see the churches at Marmoutier and Neuwiller-les-Saverne. One 'most beautiful village of France' in this part of Alsace is Hunspach and another at Mittelbergheim.
Selestat and southern Bas-Rhin
The popular hilltop pilgrimage destination at Mont-Sainte-Odile is a few kilometres from Chateau Andlau and many people find it a very moving experience to visit.
You should also discover Obernai and its quiet neighbour Barr while other towns of interest in the region include Kintzheim (well known for the aviary in the castle), Rosheim, Molsheim and Wasselonne.
Also in Bas-Rhin be sure to stop to see the abbey at Ebersmunster and, by contrast, the little chapel at Epfig
As a complete contrast, Le Struthof was the only WWII concentration camp built in France (it formed part of occupied territory during the war) and is also in this part of Alsace.
Bas-Rhin markets
Market towns & days in Bas-Rhin
all markets in morning unless otherwise stated
Barr: SaturdayBenfeld: Monday
Bischheim: Friday
Bischwiller: Saturday
Brumath: Wednesday
Drulingen: Saturday
Erstein: Thursday
Haguenau: Tuesday & Friday
Illkirch-Graffenstaden: Saturday
Molsheim: Monday
Niederbronn-les-Bains: Friday
Obernai: Thursday
Ostwald: Friday
Reichshoffen: Thursday
Rothau: Saturday
Saverne: Thursday
Schiltigheim: Thursday
Schirmeck: Wednesday
Selestat: Tuesday & Saturday
Soufflenheim: Wednesday
Strasbourg: Wednesday all day & Tuesday & Thursday & Sunday & Saturday & Monday all day & Friday all day
Ville: Wednesday
Wasselonne: Monday
Highlights
Selected tourist destinations in the Bas-Rhin
The following sites have received official "tourist classifications"...
Zoo or wildlife park
Cigoland
4* Towns in Bloom
Bischheim
Diebolsheim
Drusenheim
Itterswiller
Marckolsheim
Towns of Art and History
Secteur Sauvegardé (protected historical town centre)
Listed 'Remarkable Gardens'
Domaine du Windeck
Jardin botanique de l'université de Strasbourg
Jardin botanique du col de Saverne
Jardin de l'Escalier
Jardin de la ferme bleue
Jardin du chateau de Kolbsheim
Le jardin de Marguerite
Parc du château de Kintzheim
Regional Natural Parcs
Vosges-du-Nord
towns classified as Recommended Detours
Villages classified as "most beautiful villages"
UNESCO world heritage sites
Bas-Rhin information
- General information
- Suggested places to visit
- Markets in Bas-Rhin
- Bas-Rhin map
- Tourist highlights
- Discover the Alsace Wine Route and the villages south of Strasbourg
- See all Bas-Rhin communes