Most of our trip is planned....but wanted to ask the experts about things to stop and see between Strasbourg and Paris...we will be leaving Strasbourg on a Mon. and meeting people in Paris for the weekend....also, we heard the cathedral in Strasbourg is magnificent, possibly more awesome than Notre Dame, can this be true?

Why don't you get a good travel book and read about the many wine routes along the way. The Alsace region is one. No the Strasbourg Cathedral can't hold a candle to it. My opinion.

In Strasbourg be sure to see the Great Clock, one of the masterpieces of Renaissance construction. On your way to Paris, some recommended stops would include Nancy, Auxerre, Vezelay, Fontainbleau. The Michelin Green Guide <BR>can be of great help to you.

As I recall, Colmar is quite near Strasbourg. My husband had the idea to make a detour there some years ago because it has a wonderful piece of art: the Isenheim altarpiece by Grunewald. It's in a perfect setting, the Unterlinden Museum. See the Web site at http://www.musee-unterlinden.com/fra...able_ferme.cfm. It's absolutely beautiful, with otherworldly colors and wonderful little beasties--I think anyone interested in fine art would enjoy it, regardless of religious tradition. <BR> <BR>Our day in Colmar stands out in my memory as one of the best of a 6-week tour through Europe. It was an unexpected pleasure. A lovely town. Try to get there.

Thanks for the help....I always think recommendations from real people are the best, Hadn't heard about Colmar, so will be interested to check it out...keep the suggestions coming, would rather have lots of options than not enough..

We had missed Colmar twice before, so this year made a special point of going there from Paris for a night (by train) before going on to Annecy. I was sick as a dog (about those raw chicken livers I got my last night in Paris, but that's another story), but I still enjoyed Colmar. It's extremely picturesque and quaint. Can't speak about the food there, the sight of anything on a plate that day made me sick, although I had been looking forward to their wonderful Alsacian specialties. And yes, I happen to think that the cathedral in Strasbourg is one of the most spectacular I've ever seen, particularly from the outside. The clock referred to above is actually in the cathedral at the back from the side as I recall?

My opinion on the cathedrals. You will like the one in Strasbourg, as well as the city itself. I would say it is more "awesome" in that it is very large and tall. It really dominates its surroundings, as you will see. For a good view, go up on one of the balconies near the far end of the Petite France area. There is also something intriguing about its single non-centered tower. However, the Notre-Dame in Paris is much more beautiful in my opinion, and it is hard to beat it for history.

Last May, I spent a few days after Paris driving the "wine route" with Colmar as a base. Even driving through a torrential rainstorm, the drive from Strasbourg to Colmar only took an hour. And, all of the wine villages are within 5-30 minutes from Colmar. <BR> <BR>We barely spent any time in Colmar, as the wine villages -- Riquewihr, Eguisheim, Ribeauville -- were so charming. Here is a site for Alsace that is very informative on the villages, goings-on, accommodations, etc.: http://www.visit-alsace.com/home_ang.html The cartoons are a little silly, but the information is good. <BR> <BR>On the drive from Paris to Colmar, we stopped in Reims to see the cathedral, which has amazing architecture, a set of three windows designed by Chagall, and a bit of Joan of Arc history. With our limited time frame, we had to bypass many places that are still on my wish list -- Verdun, Vezelay and its Basilique Ste-Madeleine, Strasbourg, the champagne caves at Epernay, and more. I thought that the Eyewitness and Fodor's France guides were helpful for mapping out an itinerary ... we just didn't have time to do the area justice but we enjoyed what time we did have in Alsace.

<BR> Colmar is not exactly on the way to Paris (it's south of Strasbourg) but it's indeed a must-see. Not long away, there's the haut-koenigsbourg castle, which is pretty famous (can't recommend it, though, I never visited it...but if you go to Colmar..) <BR> <BR> You could make a short stop in Nancy, at least to see the "place Stanislas".In reims, for the cathedral, or in Troyes (for the old houses in the downtown). Close to Paris, Provins is worth the visit (several medieval buildings and walls, and also gigantic medieval underground passageways, tunnels, etc...A part of them can be visited, but not at all times. And I never managed to do that). <BR> <BR>And I prefer Notre-Dame. I found that Strasbourg cathedral was more impressive and beautiful than Notre-Dame from the outside, but less interesting from inside.I remember there was some kind of show in it, in the evening. It seems to me I liked it...and however I can't remember what it was...

How about a quick detour to either Nancy or Metz? I have to agree though that the Alsacian villages of Egusheim, Ribeauville, Kaysersberg and Colmar are beatiful. I believe them only to be one hour or less from Strasbourg. Metz is just off the autoroute so may be more convenient if you are pressed for time. <BR>Ellen

<BR>Your question seemed to be about whats between Strasbourg and Paris---is that what you want know? <BR>If it is the answer is very little other than what some of the above posters told you---Reims, Verdun (so so) Nancy (good for about an hour around the Place Stanislaus) <BR>Thats why the guide books have so little on that area--because there is so little <BR>Let me add my words of praise of Colmar to the others above. Its my favorite city in FRance---second only to Paris--and with super food too! Is fifty miles south of Strasbourg Dont miss it <BR> <BR>AH

Last year I spent a week traveling in <BR>Alsace, Champagne and Lorraine. I would <BR>encourage you to see Nancy if you are <BR>interested in art. Besides Paris, it was <BR>the center of the art nouveau movement <BR>in France. The Musee des Beaux-Arts has <BR>a great collection of art nouveau glass <BR>and a good painting collection. The Musee de l'Ecole de Nancy has a wonderful collection of art nouveau <BR>furniture and other outstanding pieces. <BR>I would also recommend spending time in Reims and Epernay--all the major champagne houses are located there and many of the top ones (Veuve Cliquot, Mumms, Moet, Taittinger offer tours and tastings. A short distance northwest of Reims is Laon, a nicely preserved medieval city whose cathedral was one <BR>of the first in the Gothic style built in France. Foodwise, if you are in Lorraine eat tarte flambe...If in Reims seek out L'Table d'Anna. It had the best <BR>food I encountered in France. (Including eight days in Paris). <BR>

As others have already stated, Colmar (and in fact, most of thw Route du Vin is not really on the way to Paris. I certainly CAN recommend Chateau de Haut-Koeningsbourg, though this is like a visit to a German "attraction", more than a French one. <BR> <BR>I am a little bit surprised that no one has mentioned Baccarat, home of the famous crystal of the same name, with a chance to see it made, a museum, and of course, shopping, shopping, shopping. <BR>

Poor Metz. This interesting city is not included in many tourist itineraries. From Starsbourg, it is readily accessible by autoroute. There you will find the Cathederal St. Etienne, with its contemporary Marc Chegall windows. As an ancient center of classical civilization, a visit to the gallo-roman museum is a must. The town is prosperous, with many good restaurants and hotels. A day there is worth it. There are still many remnants of the Franco-Prussian days with its heavy appearing train station. Give this place a try!

You guys are great! We leave tomorrow and I have faithfully cut and pasted all suggestions to a Europetips word file that will go with us....very handy...it just keeps growing!Just watched "the Messenger" about Jeanne d'Arc, was it filmed in Reims? And how is that city pronounced?

driving, <BR>Reims is, I believe, pronounced "rem" with the glottal french rrrr at the beginning. I do not think it is pronounced "reems", as I have heard some people call it. Have a wonderful time!

I believe that the correct pronunciation of Reims is "rance" - - but without much "n" sound - - somewhere between "rants" (or better yet "ranss") and "rass" (no "t" sound - - that's for sure). <BR> <BR>It breaks the usual pronunciation rules to pronounce the "s" like this, but I believe that this is how locals say it. <BR> <BR>