strasbourg to colmar
 

i want to travel from strasbourg to colmar by bus or train and want to know if doing this affords a view of vineyards and villages of the route du vin? obviously it would be better to stop in the small towns but i wondered if i could get a good scenic overview this way.

Hi, I did the same thing last summer but we rented a car. The trip is mostly boring highways, with not too much to see from the road. You must make a point of going to the village of Ribeauville (not sure of spelling) <BR>the village is just beautiful, it looks like something out of a movie. The shop keepers in town were kind and polite. <BR>I bought a lot of souviners there and they were much less then in Strasbourg. <BR>There are also some wineries in town that have visitor centers where you can taste some local wines and buy some to take home if you would like. <BR>Have Fun!

Colmar is our favorite city in our favorite country -- we are currently planning our 4th visit. Go by train. You can take buses to the wine villages, Ribeauville, Riquewihr, Egusheim, etc., right from the train station, the latter being our favorite. But there is so much to see in Colmar itself. You can take a local bus from the train station to the city center, or just wander. Once you get to the city center, go into the info center and get a map, as you are guaranteed to get lost. No two streets are parallel. As the previous poster said, it's all like a movie set. I always felt Hansel & Gretel, somehow. Could you consider doing an overnight there -- one day for the town and another for the villages? We will be on the Rhine on a 2-week package this fall, and will go over to Colmar for an overnight -- can't get enough of that place.

Thanks everyone for your heartening replies. I had gained the impression that I wouldn't be able to get to the ittle towns by bus which was why I was so keen on getting a bit of an overview from the train. Is there a view of vineyards from the train by the way? I plan to spend several days in the area if some of those towns are accessible and will overnight in Colmar anyway rather than doing just a day trip. As it will be early September, will the grapes have been harvested yet? Will there be any vendage festivals or aren't they until October? Will the foliage have begun to turn in the vineyards? <BR>Thanks...enjoy your vicarious and real travels.

As stated above Colmar is a perfect town! Be sure to visit the Unterlinden Museum to see the incredible Issenheim Altar. We spent a week in the area two years ago and it wasn't anywhere near enough! Colmar was our favorite city, but we also stayed in Turkheim at the Deux Clefs Hotel. Turkheim still has a night watchman! Other beautiful towns are Ribeauville and Riquewihr. Strasbourg is lovely as well--note the unusual colors in the rose window in the cathedral. Have a flambe--the Alsatian version of pizza--for lunch. We were there in the second week of October and the grape leaves had already turned bright yellow but the flowers that grow from all the window boxes were still in full bloom. Look up and see the storks' nests! I only wish you could rent a car while there so you could just wander along the wine route. Have a great trip--I envy you. Can't wait to return.

Hi belle, there is a bus from strasbourg which goes to some of the villages. I can't remember which but they are certainly the more popular ones. It's easy to book, just go to the information office in strasbourg and ask them. It's not very expensive, and returns to strasbourg in the evening. <BR> <BR>I did use the train to go from strasbourg to colmar, but don't recall seeing any spectacular views. The bus is much better, as it goes through the small villages and vineyards on the hills.

Try for Hotel Saint Martin in Colmar. http://www.hotel-saint-colmar.com and e-mail: colmar@hotel-saint-colmar Be sure to see the Bertholdi museum, if you possibly can. He of the Statue of Liberty fame. His paintings, sculptures and of course one entire floor devoted to the design, construction, transportation and erection of the Statue, are in his former home. One of my favorite museums.

Belle...Early September is the perfect time to go. We were there over the 2nd weekend in Sept & attended a wine festival in Ribeauville (mentioned above as one of the most beautiful villages). Colmar is also a great place to visit. <BR>