debbol

What is the best route to drive from Paris to the Alsace region? All maps show that you need to drive south to Dijon then back North to Strasbourg. We are looking for the most time efficient route.

StCirq

<<All maps show that you need to drive south to Dijon then back North to Strasbourg.>>

Hmmm, which maps are you looking at? I have dozens of maps of France and not a single one shows that. That wouldn't make any sense at all.

Try this:

http://fr.mappy.com/#d[]=Paris,+75001,+75002,+...,+75116,+Ile-de-France,+France&d[]=Strasbourg,+67000,+67100,+67200,+Alsace,+France&e ndPos[y]=48.582933&endPos[x]=7.743749&ipo=1&lm=r&p=itinerary

kerouac

Hmmm.... I've never seen a map that insisted on that route. To go to Strasbourg I go on the A4 autoroute.

Check www.viamichelin.com for itineraries.

kerouac

Another option is to take the TGV to Strasbourg and pick up a car there when you are ready to leave the city. You wouldn't want to drive in the city itself because all of the "good stuff" has been made inacessible to automobile traffic.

klondiketoo

I agree with kerouac.

According to viamichelin, there are 3 route options that take between 4 1/2 and 5 1/2 hours to drive. This does NOT include toilet/driver breaks, stops for lunch or getting held up by road construction or traffic jams getting out of Paris. We've driven once to Paris--Never again. Took us 6 hours and (though some may argue the contrary)the autoroute scenery was even more boring than usual. Since you are in a hurry, you won't be able to stop in Reims or Metz to see the Cathedrals or anything else of interest. It will cost you 86 euros in gas and toll fees, plus the expense of your car rental for that day.

The alternative: For 44 or so euros total, you can buy two TGV prem tickets 90 days in advance, sit in the comfort of a modern train with the the availability of a snack bar etc. and be in Strasbourg in 2-2 1/2 hours. While much of the track is down in a gully-like location (sound/safety barrier?), there are some pretty views of countryside occasionally. With this option, you arrive 2/3 faster at more than half the cost--and you're not weary and frazzled. You're ready to begin your day sightseeing or rent your car and head out to destination elsewhere in Alsace.

klondiketoo

<Took us 6 hours>

I should clarify, we were driving from just over the German border NEAR Strasbourg, not Strasbourg itself...but still, it was a long, boring, expensive drive that we will never do again if we just need to get from point A to point B. YEA TGV!!!

ira

Hi debb,

I would take the train to Strasbourg and pick up the car there.

kerouac

I am planning a trip to Strasbourg next spring because I really love that city. I will take the train from Paris, but I might rent a car to drive back to Paris since I have a number of important places to stop on the way back (the fabulous vista from Mont Sainte Odile, the Senones Monday market in the Vosges to buy the best country bacon in the world, Place Stanislas in Nancy, a stop in the Baccarat crystal showrooms... oh I could spend a week driving back if I had so much time...).

Ever since one of my closest friends living in Strasbourg got divorced, I have not been able to return as often, even though I know I am welcome at the huge apartment of his ex-wife (and their 3 sons), and even the ex mother-in-law who helped to create the Strasbourg museum of modern art... but I prefer to have a completely free schedule when I go there, so I never inform anybody.

Michael

There are interesting places besides Nancy and Reims to see between the Alsace and Paris, but if speed is the issue, I would opt for the TGV.

The relevant pictures go up to Ronchamp:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...29919999/show/

beaux

We have gone from Paris to Colmar and back a couple of times taking both a northern route A4 (through Reims and Metz) and a southern route A6/A36 (through Auxerre, Besancon)

It took around at least 6 hours each route. The one through Burgundy was a prettier and more interesting drive for me.


The train to Strasbourg suggestion sounds like a pretty relaxing idea.

Nottingham

TGV route to Strasbourg from CDG....???? Is there one??? Sounds VERY relaxing vs driving.
Trying to make the most of our time to get to the Alsace region....then renting the car & making
our way down to Colmar area and around into Burgundy...Beaune area.

RonZ

There is a direct TGV weekdays at about 12:30 PM, plenty of others with various connections taking about an hour longer. Schedules here:

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

Driving out of CDG I'd suggest an overnight stop at the Chateau de Fere.