Tucked away in the northeast corner of France, Alsace offers a long list of attractions. Headed by its capital, Strasbourg, and its many stunning villages, this region comes with fine wining and dining, spectacular monuments and beautiful scenery, much of which is visible from the Rhine and the Marne-Rhine canal. As a result, a trip on this great waterway opens up a world of river cruise excursions in Alsace. Read on to discover the best.
Best river cruise excursions in Alsace to see the sights
As well as the delights you’ll see on board your river cruise or hotel barge, Alsace offers plenty of extraordinary things to explore. One of the best ways to do so is on an excursion. We’d recommend joining one that takes in at least a couple of the following attractions:
Medieval Colmar
Alsace boasts one picture-perfect village after another. Their half-timber houses with flower-laden balconies are a delight to see, especially in spring and summer. Colmar, the capital of Alsace wine, ranks among the prettiest in the region and it has several waterways, so you can continue your river boating theme on your visit. Not for nothing is it known as Petite Venice.
Stunning Strasbourg
The region’s capital comes packed with treasures, so be sure to join an excursion offering a guided tour of the city. Highlights on the way will include:
- Strasbourg Notre Dame Cathedral – a Gothic masterpiece and one of the greatest cathedrals in France. Don’t miss the magnificent stained glass or the gold-leaf-covered organ. And be sure to time your visit with first or last light to see the cathedral sandstone glow pink or orange.
- Astronomical clock – a Renaissance marvel whose 1842 mechanical addition has made it one of the loveliest timekeepers in Europe. Be there for 12.30pm when the intricately carved figures representing the stages of life and the 12 disciples march in time to the clock.
Canal engineering
Like most waterways in France, the Marne-Rhine Canal is not short of engineering feats. Its 314km contain no less than 154 locks, although you can bypass 17 of these on the Arzviller Inclined Plane Lift. This engineering marvel transports boats up over 44m in just a few minutes. Guided tours of the lift are available and form part of some river cruise excursions in Alsace.
Art Nouveau Nancy
Another of the great cities in France forms part of the must-sees on a river cruise in Alsace. Nancy is the country’s capital of Art Nouveau, and its 18th-century architecture has UNESCO World Heritage status. The trio of squares, Alliance, Carrière and Stanislas, is said to be one of the most beautiful in the world.
Gorgeous glass
And our last recommendation for essential sights on a river cruise excursion takes us to Winden-sur-Moder. This town is home to one of the world’s finest glass museums and showcases the exquisite works created by René Lalique. Admire the jewellery he made for Cartier alongside dozens of glass objects.
Download your free guide to Alsace
Best river cruise excursions in Alsace to enjoy le bon vin
No trip to this part of France would be complete without at least one excursion to discover the region’s wines. Alsace has 13 terroirs, world famous for their white wines, created from various grapes, including the Riesling and Gewürztraminer.
The good news is that all hotel barges and river cruises include Alsace wine on their menus. But to get a better idea, we’d recommend joining an excursion to a wine-producing area or specific vineyard to sample the vin for yourself.
Wine festivities
Time your visit for the early autumn and the excursion may include watching the grape harvest. In some parts of Alsace, the vineyard slopes are so steep that the grape pickers are roped together, making the harvest a unique sight.
If your excursion takes in the Alsace Wine Route (see below) from April to October, look out for the many wine-related events and festivities.
Alsace Wine Route
If possible, sign up for a river cruise excursion that takes in part of this unique wine route. It’s one of the oldest in France and takes you 160km around the vineyards of Alsace, passing through 100 villages.
Read the definitive guide to Alsace wines
Best river cruise excursions in Alsace to take in a château (or two)
No, this isn’t the Loire, home to the most famous châteaux in the world, but, believe us, Alsace also does some seriously beautiful castles and palaces. While cruising in the region, look out for a château excursion and be prepared to discover some fine architecture.
Our Alsace chateaux recommendations include:
Palais Rohan
Some excursions will include a visit to this glorious château in a guided tour of Strasbourg. Palais Rohan boasts some of the finest 18th-century architecture in France, sumptuous apartments, Napoleon’s bedroom and an exquisite library. It also houses three excellent museums, the Archaeology Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Decorative Arts, all well worth a visit.
Château de Lichtenberg
This ancient castle combines the very old with the very new, making it a constant visual surprise. Climb up the tower for stunning views of the surrounding countryside and then take in an exhibition, watch a play or abseil down a wall. Château de Lichtenberg prides itself on its family-friendly activities, making it an excellent river cruise excursion in Alsace for children.
Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg
This château at Orschwiller ranks as one of the most-visited monuments in France. In addition, it’s a must if you’re a lover of Disney-type castles. The original fortress dates back to medieval times but owes its fairytale turrets and Renaissance pomp to Kaiser Wilhelm II. He rebuilt it in the 1900s to celebrate the return of Alsace to Germany. Don’t miss the panoramic views of the Alps from the windows.
Best river cruise excursions in Alsace to enjoy a festival
Festivities form an important part of the yearly calendar in Alsace, and your river cruise or hotel barge holiday may well coincide with one of the biggies. They include:
Mulhouse Carnival
Some of the most colourful celebrations in the country take place in Mulhouse during the weekend after Shrove Tuesday. Expect parades with floats, music and dancing as the whole town joins in the festivities. Don’t miss the sights in Mulhouse itself, one of the prettiest towns in Alsace.
Barr Harvest Festival
The Fête des Vendanges, a kind of Oktober Fest but with wine, takes place in early October and celebrates the new season’s grapes. Flowers take centre stage and bedeck the entire villages and all the floats in the cortège fleuri.
Best river cruise excursions in Alsace for Christmas shopping
And last but not least, we’d recommend a Christmas market excursion if you happen to be cruising through Alsace along the Rhine in December. This part of France draws on its German heritage and its rich tradition of Christmas markets. As a result, you’ll see some of the best in the country.
Don’t miss the Christmas markets at:
- Strasbourg, one of the oldest markets in Europe and a truly festive winter wonderland.
- Colmar, with six markets including local arts and crafts.
Discover the best Christmas market cruises
Can’t wait to try these river cruise excursions?
All our hotel barge and river cruises in Alsace offer excursions to allow you to discover the very best of this picturesque corner of France. For more information and detailed itineraries, contact our team now.
Further reading: Discover the best things to do and see in Alsace