This is for the end of our summer trip (mid August). We've got 7 days to get from Zermatt to Paris by car.

(Beginning of trip has us in Dijon region, so these 7 days we'd prefer to go just a bit more northerly before returning to Paris.)

If we picked two areas to stay (to avoid hip-hopping too much), which of these would you recommend - or any others you might suggest:

Kayserberg
Mulhouse
Freiburg
Kientzheim
Colmar
Reims
Compiegne

Thank you in advance for your wise input.

You mean Kaysersberg (with an s) in the Alsace?

The funnest part of this entire itinerary will be how to get from Zermatt to the northside of the alps. The normal way is to load the car onto a train to get through the Lötschberg tunnel (Goppenstein-Kandersteg) into the Berner Oberland. That's cool, but you see nothing while in the tunnel.

There is another great way, and in August there is no worry about pass closures: Driving over the top of all of Europe.

Do this: On http://maps.google.com/ click on Directions, then input Zermatt, Switzerland and Kaysersberg, France.

Then look at the alternate options to the right of Sion and Brig, going higher up, and explore those.

1) Oberwald - Grimselpass - Meiringen is one (and then you have the choice of going west along the lakes to Thun and Bern, or turning right and going north to Luzern).

2) Andermatt - Wassen - Erstfeld - Flüelen - Luzern is the other one.

Both are awesome drives.

I think you should spend a day or two in either of those regions, somewhere near lake Thun, or near or in Lucerne, before heading for the Alsace.

There is nothing wrong with your list, but there are many more (and maybe some more worthwhile) targets along that stretch that you should read up on before you close the deal:

Not just cities like Mulhouse and Colmar but lots of small towns in the Alsace - see
www.tourisme-alsace.com/index.php?lg=en

From Freiburg im Breisgau swing east through the Black Forest: www.blackforest-tourism.com/

Nancy (just for the royal square Place Stanislas alone, and much more - see www.ot-nancy.fr/uk/centre_historique/index.php)

Metz (http://tourisme.mairie-metz.fr/index.html)

Luxembourg (www.ont.lu)

Dieuze (sleepy cute town in the middle of the Lorraine region east of Nancy, great countryside driving)

Trier - not to be missed - goes back to the Roman days, an astounding place! Go to www.trier.de/tourismus/english/about.htm, click on Sights and select Monuments

Thank you, DL, for your kind and comprehensive reply.

We are definitely considering going over the passes, most likely the Gimselpass. Before arriving in Zermatt, we'll be in the Grindelwald region for sometime. We have not decided whether to take the passes to Zermatt or from Zermatt. (And yes, I know you don't actually drive all the way to Zermatt, only to Tasch.) Do you have an opinion as to which way would be better?

Yes, I was meaning Kaysersberg. And I had somehow left off Nancy and Metz from my original list, but they're in the mix as well. So many choices!

We love exploring the Alsace region. Truly, any place there is a delight.

Trier was not on my radar. Love the idea of the Roman influence. I'll check that out.

Thanks so much.

Hi sw,

If you stay a couple of nights in Kientzheim, you can take the bus for a daytrip to Colmar.

We very much liked our stays at http://pagesperso-orange.fr/schwendi/

Two very, very good restos in the area are
http://www.frankenbourg.com/
http://www.le-maximilien.com/

What a love hotel, ira!

Great menus at those restaurants, too. I'd love to try their perch. Sounds delicious.

Thanks! Just what I'm looking for.