Hidden Gems of Alsace and The Black Forest
Mar 12th, 2022 | 03:32 AM
#1
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Joined: Mar 2022
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Hidden Gems of Alsace and The Black Forest
Hi Everyone!
We (me and my husband) are planning a road trip to Alsace and Black Forest Region with our 2 years old daughter. We are planning to land at Stuttgart, then rent a car and make a round trip around Alsace and the black forest, and depart from Stuttgart. We made an itinerary as you see below, it is open to your suggestions.
I would like to ask you about Hidden gems of Alsace and the Black Forest. I mean thanks to Google and former forum discussions we all know well the small towns like Ribeauville, Kaysberg, Riquehwihr, etc., or Freiburg, Gutach Open Air Museum, Lake Titisee, Triberg. Actually, I am looking for more insider/local tips. And some interesting points that are not mentioned in every travel blog (like Ronchamp Chapel, it is 1-hour car ride away to Colmar, but worth visiting while we were already there)
The second question is about accommodation. We are planning to stay;
-first 4 nights at Obernai (It seems like it is a practical base point to explore both Strasbourg and Route des Vins)
DAY 1- 29 April Friday (Staying at Obernai)
Landing Stuttgard at 11 a.m.
Going to Karlsruhe zoo for our 2 years old 😊
Arriving at Obernai
DAY 2- 30 April / Saturday (Staying at Obernai)
Day Trip to Colmar, if we have time we can visit Montagne de Signes
DAY 3- 1 May / Sunday (Staying at Obernai)
Ribeauville, Riquewihr , Eguisheim
if we have still time we can visit Ronchamp Chapel (Notre Dame du Haut)
*** Does sunday is a bad idea to visit these towns?
DAY 4- 2 May/ Monday (Staying at Obernai)
Day Trip to Strasbourg
DAY 5- 3 May/ Tuesday (Staying at a farm near Freiburg)
Going to Freiburg and visit the old town center, maybe visiting one of the small towns near Freiburg on the way
DAY 6- 4 May/ Wednesday (Staying at a farm near Freiburg)
Day Trip to Basel (Maybe we skip this, and enjoy the farm throughout the day)
DAY 7- 5 May/ Thursday (Staying at a farm near Freiburg)
Lake Titisee (is it too touristy or worth to visit?) , Hinterzarten or Feldsee, Feldberg waterfalls
DAY 8- 6 May/ Friday (Staying near Baden-Baden or at a german town)
Sight visit to Triberg, cuckoo clock shop then
Open Air Museum Vogtsbauernhof, Gutach
DAY 9- 7 May / Saturday (Staying near Baden-Baden or at a german town)
Visiting Baden-Baden (and maybe mummelsee lake on the way)
Day 10 - 8 May/ Sunday (Departure Day)
Our flight is at 3.50 pm, so we have a couple of hours before hitting on the road to the airport. Maybe a 1-2 hour visit to Gengenbach or any other town
We (me and my husband) are planning a road trip to Alsace and Black Forest Region with our 2 years old daughter. We are planning to land at Stuttgart, then rent a car and make a round trip around Alsace and the black forest, and depart from Stuttgart. We made an itinerary as you see below, it is open to your suggestions.
I would like to ask you about Hidden gems of Alsace and the Black Forest. I mean thanks to Google and former forum discussions we all know well the small towns like Ribeauville, Kaysberg, Riquehwihr, etc., or Freiburg, Gutach Open Air Museum, Lake Titisee, Triberg. Actually, I am looking for more insider/local tips. And some interesting points that are not mentioned in every travel blog (like Ronchamp Chapel, it is 1-hour car ride away to Colmar, but worth visiting while we were already there)
The second question is about accommodation. We are planning to stay;
-first 4 nights at Obernai (It seems like it is a practical base point to explore both Strasbourg and Route des Vins)
- 3 nights at one of the working farms near Freiburg. We want our 2 years old to experience farm life and farm animals. I need advice about farms.
DAY 1- 29 April Friday (Staying at Obernai)
Landing Stuttgard at 11 a.m.
Going to Karlsruhe zoo for our 2 years old 😊
Arriving at Obernai
DAY 2- 30 April / Saturday (Staying at Obernai)
Day Trip to Colmar, if we have time we can visit Montagne de Signes
DAY 3- 1 May / Sunday (Staying at Obernai)
Ribeauville, Riquewihr , Eguisheim
if we have still time we can visit Ronchamp Chapel (Notre Dame du Haut)
*** Does sunday is a bad idea to visit these towns?
DAY 4- 2 May/ Monday (Staying at Obernai)
Day Trip to Strasbourg
DAY 5- 3 May/ Tuesday (Staying at a farm near Freiburg)
Going to Freiburg and visit the old town center, maybe visiting one of the small towns near Freiburg on the way
DAY 6- 4 May/ Wednesday (Staying at a farm near Freiburg)
Day Trip to Basel (Maybe we skip this, and enjoy the farm throughout the day)
DAY 7- 5 May/ Thursday (Staying at a farm near Freiburg)
Lake Titisee (is it too touristy or worth to visit?) , Hinterzarten or Feldsee, Feldberg waterfalls
DAY 8- 6 May/ Friday (Staying near Baden-Baden or at a german town)
Sight visit to Triberg, cuckoo clock shop then
Open Air Museum Vogtsbauernhof, Gutach
DAY 9- 7 May / Saturday (Staying near Baden-Baden or at a german town)
Visiting Baden-Baden (and maybe mummelsee lake on the way)
Day 10 - 8 May/ Sunday (Departure Day)
Our flight is at 3.50 pm, so we have a couple of hours before hitting on the road to the airport. Maybe a 1-2 hour visit to Gengenbach or any other town
Mar 12th, 2022 | 04:17 AM
#2
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 30,539
Likes: 4
Day 3 is pretty busy and most 2 year olds will become tired.
The Chapel is especially dull for small people.
I'd only visit two of your towns proposed and eguisheim would be one I would include as a bit more approachable
https://www.haut-koenigsbourg.fr/en/ might be a good visit. Go there early in the day as parking works on a first come first served road that leads up to the castle. On a busy day and you have a long walk. But the views are great. You can snack here or go onto the Ballon d'alsace which is a big field with views on the Alps and some flammkucken bars, a fair drive but very much a special area on the route des crêtes
The Chapel is especially dull for small people.
I'd only visit two of your towns proposed and eguisheim would be one I would include as a bit more approachable
https://www.haut-koenigsbourg.fr/en/ might be a good visit. Go there early in the day as parking works on a first come first served road that leads up to the castle. On a busy day and you have a long walk. But the views are great. You can snack here or go onto the Ballon d'alsace which is a big field with views on the Alps and some flammkucken bars, a fair drive but very much a special area on the route des crêtes
Mar 12th, 2022 | 04:46 AM
#3
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2022
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Thank you bilboburgler for your recommendations!
Because I am an architect, the Chapel was my favorite point of this trip (it is one of the important works of Le Corbusier, and there is also a building designed by Renzo Piano)
I'll take into consideration Haut Koenigsbourg and Ballon d'alsace.
Maybe, we can visit the Chapel on DAY5 before heading to Freiburg, and a short visit to Freiburg...
Because I am an architect, the Chapel was my favorite point of this trip (it is one of the important works of Le Corbusier, and there is also a building designed by Renzo Piano)
I'll take into consideration Haut Koenigsbourg and Ballon d'alsace.
Maybe, we can visit the Chapel on DAY5 before heading to Freiburg, and a short visit to Freiburg...
Mar 12th, 2022 | 07:03 AM
#4
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 30,539
Likes: 4
Yes I like the chapel too, but it is a bit southerly from Alsace and you need to travel south to head up to it. I'm an engineer so the structure is interesting to me, but for a 2 year old it is just a lawn with a building on it.
Freiburg might work out better
Colmar day, just an opinion but the old centre is pretty small and while it is pretty really only a 3 hour visit.
Maybe Obernai is too far north?? The wine route is pretty slow often with slow moving coaches and tractors on it, while the motorway to the east of Colmar is v fast and the way to get around. I tend to plan my visit on that motorway (well really just a duel carriageway), take care most junctions are 4 way (on off north and south) but a few around Colmar are not.
Freiburg might work out better
Colmar day, just an opinion but the old centre is pretty small and while it is pretty really only a 3 hour visit.
Maybe Obernai is too far north?? The wine route is pretty slow often with slow moving coaches and tractors on it, while the motorway to the east of Colmar is v fast and the way to get around. I tend to plan my visit on that motorway (well really just a duel carriageway), take care most junctions are 4 way (on off north and south) but a few around Colmar are not.
Last edited by bilboburgler; Mar 12th, 2022 at 07:07 AM.
Mar 12th, 2022 | 07:30 AM
#5
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 19,633
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A bit of a hidden gem is the Lalique museum in Wingen Sur Moder. https://www.musee-lalique.com/en
Not sure it is somewhere for a two year old though
.
Titisee is very touristy, but for a reason. I wouldn't spend too much time there. I assume you mean Todtnauer for the waterfall? Or the Triberg? The paths for the Triberg falls aren't suitable for buggies or pushchairs.
Not sure it is somewhere for a two year old though
.Titisee is very touristy, but for a reason. I wouldn't spend too much time there. I assume you mean Todtnauer for the waterfall? Or the Triberg? The paths for the Triberg falls aren't suitable for buggies or pushchairs.
Mar 12th, 2022 | 10:21 AM
#7
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Yes I like the chapel too, but it is a bit southerly from Alsace and you need to travel south to head up to it. I'm an engineer so the structure is interesting to me, but for a 2 year old it is just a lawn with a building on it.
Freiburg might work out better
Colmar day, just an opinion but the old centre is pretty small and while it is pretty really only a 3 hour visit.
Maybe Obernai is too far north?? The wine route is pretty slow often with slow moving coaches and tractors on it, while the motorway to the east of Colmar is v fast and the way to get around. I tend to plan my visit on that motorway (well really just a duel carriageway), take care most junctions are 4 way (on off north and south) but a few around Colmar are not.
Freiburg might work out better
Colmar day, just an opinion but the old centre is pretty small and while it is pretty really only a 3 hour visit.
Maybe Obernai is too far north?? The wine route is pretty slow often with slow moving coaches and tractors on it, while the motorway to the east of Colmar is v fast and the way to get around. I tend to plan my visit on that motorway (well really just a duel carriageway), take care most junctions are 4 way (on off north and south) but a few around Colmar are not.
All suggestions welcome.
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Mar 12th, 2022 | 10:25 AM
#8
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Thank you for the heads up on the Wine Route...we were planning to day trip the wine route, but all that traffic Oh mon dieu! We only have one day to drive, so does the Colmar route include charming villages & wineries (without the tour buses). Is it far out of the way from Strasbourg (vs the wine route)?
All suggestions welcome.
All suggestions welcome.
Mar 12th, 2022 | 10:34 AM
#9
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Day 3 is pretty busy and most 2 year olds will become tired.
The Chapel is especially dull for small people.
I'd only visit two of your towns proposed and eguisheim would be one I would include as a bit more approachable
https://www.haut-koenigsbourg.fr/en/ might be a good visit. Go there early in the day as parking works on a first come first served road that leads up to the castle. On a busy day and you have a long walk. But the views are great. You can snack here or go onto the Ballon d'alsace which is a big field with views on the Alps and some flammkucken bars, a fair drive but very much a special area on the route des crêtes
The Chapel is especially dull for small people.
I'd only visit two of your towns proposed and eguisheim would be one I would include as a bit more approachable
https://www.haut-koenigsbourg.fr/en/ might be a good visit. Go there early in the day as parking works on a first come first served road that leads up to the castle. On a busy day and you have a long walk. But the views are great. You can snack here or go onto the Ballon d'alsace which is a big field with views on the Alps and some flammkucken bars, a fair drive but very much a special area on the route des crêtes
Bottom line: could the Colmar & routes des crêtes be a better choice than the wine route (especially given just a one day-trip)?
Thank you!
Last edited by pepperment; Mar 12th, 2022 at 10:35 AM. Reason: typo
Mar 12th, 2022 | 01:57 PM
#10
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 30,539
Likes: 4
The route de crêtes is s tatty road along the spine of the Vosges mountains, in part there are ski de fond places or long distance walking routes so very slow. D45 I think is the fast road ( Google it on maps). There are no cute wine towns on this fast road, you need to be on the side of the Vosges slopes where the angle of the land maximizes the sun on the grapes but below where the trees grow hence the route du vin. But it can be slow. So pick your towns carefully and use your time carefully. After all most vignerons stop work for lunch.
Mure is down on the d45 and doesn't close for lunch pre-covid. But the wine is very expensive.
Mure is down on the d45 and doesn't close for lunch pre-covid. But the wine is very expensive.
Mar 12th, 2022 | 04:07 PM
#11
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,935
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Mar 13th, 2022 | 03:12 AM
#12
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Joined: Mar 2022
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Yes I like the chapel too, but it is a bit southerly from Alsace and you need to travel south to head up to it. I'm an engineer so the structure is interesting to me, but for a 2 year old it is just a lawn with a building on it.
Freiburg might work out better
Colmar day, just an opinion but the old centre is pretty small and while it is pretty really only a 3 hour visit.
Maybe Obernai is too far north?? The wine route is pretty slow often with slow moving coaches and tractors on it, while the motorway to the east of Colmar is v fast and the way to get around. I tend to plan my visit on that motorway (well really just a duel carriageway), take care most junctions are 4 way (on off north and south) but a few around Colmar are not.
Freiburg might work out better
Colmar day, just an opinion but the old centre is pretty small and while it is pretty really only a 3 hour visit.
Maybe Obernai is too far north?? The wine route is pretty slow often with slow moving coaches and tractors on it, while the motorway to the east of Colmar is v fast and the way to get around. I tend to plan my visit on that motorway (well really just a duel carriageway), take care most junctions are 4 way (on off north and south) but a few around Colmar are not.
A bit of a hidden gem is the Lalique museum in Wingen Sur Moder.
Not sure it is somewhere for a two year old though.
Titisee is very touristy, but for a reason. I wouldn't spend too much time there. I assume you mean Todtnauer for the waterfall? Or the Triberg? The paths for the Triberg falls aren't suitable for buggies or pushchairs.
Not sure it is somewhere for a two year old though
.Titisee is very touristy, but for a reason. I wouldn't spend too much time there. I assume you mean Todtnauer for the waterfall? Or the Triberg? The paths for the Triberg falls aren't suitable for buggies or pushchairs.
I just added it to the list, thanks for the suggestion!
Mar 13th, 2022 | 08:13 AM
#13
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 24,032
Likes: 6
Don't miss the Mont Sainte Odile near Obernai. It is a convent on a hilltop with a fabulous panoramic view (all the way to the Black Forest). And if you don't mind something more somber, you can visit the Struthof-Natzweiler Nazi death camp not far from there, but also in a very lovely setting (to die for). It was the only death camp on French soil.
Mar 13th, 2022 | 10:40 AM
#14
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 19,633
Likes: 0
Don’t miss the Alsatian Pizza
https://www.seriouseats.com/how-to-m...-style-classic
https://www.seriouseats.com/how-to-m...-style-classic
Massive portions!
Mar 14th, 2022 | 05:19 AM
#16
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 30,539
Likes: 4
Alsace is one of those crazy places where they make wine by single variety and for once it works. There are some 7 basic grapes plus a few also runs and a single blend allowed. Mainly white there is also one red (the afor said pinot noir). Wines from Alsace and often seen as better than say those bits of Germany just across the Rhine, they are not especially but they are different. I can recomend tastings in Alsace if you want, I can do the same for Pfalz and Mosel but not other parts of Germany as I don't know enough.
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