Alsace: France’s Most Underrated Region

Alsace, France’s smallest region and one of its most charming, is one of the best-kept secrets in Europe. The area is known for its food—particularly sauerkraut and cheese—and its wine.

However, if you ask many people what their top destinations in France are they’ll surely say Paris, or maybe its Southern Coast. However, the region of Alsace has something for everyone, especially wine lovers.

It also boasts some of the prettiest towns in France and offers a great opportunity to immerse yourself in French culture while exploring a place that feels worlds away from Paris. Here’s everything you need to know about this underrated part of France.

When you begin to plan your French getaway from travel documents, to French language classes, you’ll want to include visiting Alsace in your itinerary.

Keep reading to find out what makes this region of France so special.

If you’re a wine lover, Alsace is easily your best bet.

Alsace is a cultural region in northeastern France. It’s famous for its wines, which include Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Riesling. The best time to visit is during fall or summer, when the weather is pleasant, and you can enjoy the beautiful landscape of vineyards and hillsides full of grapevines.

If you’re a wine lover, then Alsace is easily your best bet. The region produces some of the most famous French wines around including Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer as well as Rieslings and Gewürtztraminers. If you're not familiar with these varieties, they all tend towards white with fruity aromas (e.g., apricots).

If you're looking for the best tasting and highest quality wines to try in France or Europe altogether, then this destination should be high on your list.

You’ll find some of the prettiest towns in France here.

You’ll find some of the prettiest and unique medieval towns in France all over the Alsace region. Some of the nicest smallest towns include Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, and Ribeauville.

The Route des Vins d'Alsace is a good way to see the countryside; it's also one of France's most famous routes for wine tasting. You can easily spend a day visiting vineyards and sampling different wines, but don't forget that there are plenty more things to do in Alsace as well!

The Route des Vins d’Alsace is one of France’s most famous routes for wine tasting. You can easily spend a day visiting vineyards and sampling different wines, but don't forget that there are plenty more things to do in Alsace as well.

Spend a Day or Two in Colmar

If you're looking for a romantic city to explore, Colmar is the one. This charming town has a rich history and beautiful old town, with its cathedral and cobblestone streets. Little Venice, an area that can only be viewed by boat, is particularly lovely. The perfect backdrop for your photos! If art museums are more your thing, visit Musée Unterlinden.

The museum houses a collection of medieval art, including the famous Isenheim Altarpiece by the famous painter Matthias Grünewald. Like other cities and towns in the region it is lovely during the Christmas season. It is also worth visiting during the Easter season as plenty of homes and building add lovely decorations.

Spend Time in Strasbourg

Strasbourg is the capital of Grande Est, which is located in the Northern Alsace region. The city is a great place to visit for a day or two. Located on the River Rhine, Strasbourg has a long history spanning back to its founding in the Roman era.

It's home to one of France's largest cathedrals, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, which towers over the city center. You can also find some great shopping along Rue des Juifs (formerly known as Judengasse), where you’ll find lots of bars and restaurants in addition to shops selling everything from clothes to antiques.

The best time to go? During the Christmas season. During the holidays, you can spend your evenings enjoying holiday lights and enjoy the Christmas market at Place Kléber while listening to live carols sung by local choirs (December 9 through January 6).

If you want to see something even more unique, take a trip to the Maginot Line, which is close to Strasbourg. This line of fortifications was built during World War II and is now open to tourists.

There are more off-the-beaten-path places in Europe, however, Alsace is not spoken about enough. Alsace is the perfect place to visit if you want to explore France at its most authentic. Not only do visitors have access to some of the best food and wine in the country, but they also get to enjoy some of the prettiest towns around. Whether you plan on visiting Strasbourg or Colmar during your trip, there are plenty of reasons why Alsace should be included on your itinerary.

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