The Alsace wine route is one of the most popular and attractive ways to explore the traditional villages of the Alsace region, and to learn more about the wines that are produced.
The route covers more than 170 km as it traces a line from north to south broadly following the eastern edge of the Vosges mountains, and crosses the southern half of the Bas-Rhin department and the northern half of the Haut-Rhin department.
Along the route there are many opportunities to visit vineyards, admire attractive scenery, and to admire beautiful unspoiled villages of half-timbered, flower-bedecked houses.
There are also about 50 wines classified 'grand cru' that are produced along the route, so you will never lack an opportunity to try fine wines.
Alsace wine route - towns and villages
The route runs from Marlenheim (near Strasbourg) to Thann (near Mulhouse). Some of the highlights of a visit include:
Alsace
Barr (Bas-Rhin)
Less visited than many, Barr is something of an undiscovered gem among the popular Alsace villages
See Barr guide
Bergheim (Haut-Rhin)
The original fortified walls still surround the very picturesque village of Bergheim
See Bergheim guide
Colmar (Haut-Rhin)
The medieval centre of Colmar, with brightly painted half-timbered houses along the canalside, is extremely attractive
See Colmar guide
Eguisheim (Haut-Rhin)
Of the many beautiful traditional villages in Alsace, Eguisheim is one of our favourites
See Eguisheim guide
Guebwiller (Haut-Rhin)
In Guebwilller it is the part of the town along the canal and also the churches that are the highlight for visitors
See Guebwiller guide
Hunawihr (Haut-Rhin)
In the heart of the Alsace wine region you should visit Hunawihr, now listed among the 'most beautiful villages in France'
See Hunawihr guide
Kaysersberg (Haut-Rhin)
The historic centre of Kaysersberg is very attractive, and the half-timbered houses along the river make it unmissable!
See Kaysersberg guide
Kientzheim (Bas-Rhin)
As well as the village itself there are several popular attractions close to Kientzheim including a castle, a stork park and a monkey sanctuary
See Kientzheim guide
Mittelbergheim (Bas-Rhin)
Mittelbergheim is one of several Alsave villages classed among the most beautiful in France, and a local base for wine production and tasting
See Mittelbergheim guide
Molsheim (Bas-Rhin)
Although Molsheim is now quite a large town it is the small historic centre that will be of interest to visitors
See Molsheim guide
Obernai (Bas-Rhin)
Obernai is perhaps the town in Alsace that has best preserved its original 15th century aspect
See Obernai guide
Ribeauville (Haut-Rhin)
The traditional coloured houses and the castle poised high above the town make Ribeauvillé a pleasant place to explore
See Ribeauville guide
Riquewihr (Haut-Rhin)
Riquewihr is very lovely and has less to undermine its medieval charm than almost any of the Alsace villages
See Riquewihr guide
Rosheim (Bas-Rhin)
The roman style church is one highlight in Rosheim, and the oldest bakery in Alsace is another!
See Rosheim guide
Soultz-Haut-Rhin (Haut-Rhin)
In Soultz-Haut-Rhin an unusual characteristic is that many of the old houses are in stone rather than half-timbered as is common in the region
See Soultz-Haut-Rhin guide
Turckheim (Haut-Rhin)
There is lots of interest to see here in Turckheim, one of the prettiest of the Alsace towns
See Turckheim guideComplete list of the towns and villages along the route
The list below follows the places along the wine route from north to south:
Marlenheim - Wangen - Westhoffen - Traenheim - Bergbieten - Dangolsheim -Soultz-les-Bains - Avolsheim - Molsheim - Rosheim - Boersch - Ottrott - Obernai - Bernardswiller - Heiligenstein - Barr - Mittelbergheim - Andlau - Itterswiller - Nothalten - Blienschwiller - Dambach-la-Ville - Scherwiller - Châtenois - Kintzheim - Orschwiller - Saint-Hippolyte - Rodern - Rorschwihr - Bergheim - Ribeauvillé - Hunawihr - Zellenberg - Riquewihr - Beblenheim - Mittelwihr - Bennwihr - Sigolsheim - Kientzheim - Kaysersberg - Ammerschwihr - Ingersheim - Niedermorschwihr - Turckheim - Colmar - Wintzenheim - Wettolsheim - Eguisheim - Husseren-les-Châteaux - Voegtlinshoffen - Obermorschwihr - Hattstatt - Gueberschwihr - Pfaffenheim - Rouffach - Westhalten - Soultzmatt - Orschwihr - Bergholtz-Zell - Bergholtz - Guebwiller - Soultz - Wuenheim - Cernay - Vieux-Thann - Thann
Following the Alsace Wine Route - practicalities
The route is clearly marked and easy to follow...but it is also rather popular and during the summer some of the more popular villages can become a bit overrun with tourists.
Try exploring some of the places a little off the route if you get stuck behind too many tour coaches - there are lots of very pretty villages just off the route which become much less congested and there is great pleasure in discovering your own little quiet part of France!
Map of principal villages along the Alsace Wine Route
See also the map of the wine regions of France