What might put Alsace on your travel wishlist? Would it be the picture-book scenery or its reputation for fine beers? Or perhaps the hard-fought territorial history of this part of France that has contributed so heavily to the region’s rich cultural heritage. But it’s the waterways that we haul the conversation back to time and again because they lend themselves idyllically to exploring all of this. In amongst this gathering of things to do in Alsace you’ll find a complete guide to hotel barging in the region.
An introduction to the waterways in Alsace
Come meander the Marne-Rhine canal, host to luxury hotel barging in Alsace as well as self-drive cruising. The canal connects the Rhine river in Strasbourg to Paris, or more specifically Vitry-le-François.
Most excitingly though it steers you to some of the region’s finest towns and cities and many a fascinating find ashore. The city of Nancy will lure you to linger longer than your first visit may allow. Its UNESCO status Place Stanislaus is the just the beginning of the city’s architectural and artistic delights. This is the French capital of Art Nouveau after all.
Elsewhere along the Marne-Rhine canal understated moorings reveal landed gems like Chagall’s The Tree of Life stained glass window in Sarrebourg. While the grandiose Palais de Rohan greets you at Saverne in utterly jaw-dropping style.
However, you’ll find private boat owners mostly congregated on the 122km long Canal des Vosges weaving through the Moselle valley towards the river Saone. And of course the great Rhine river is home to mighty river cruising by larger ships.
Things to do in Alsace
Did you know? Alsace facts, things to see, do and taste…
- There are 154 locks on the 314km length of the Marne Rhine Canal
- 17 of these are now bypassed by the engineering masterpiece that is the Arzviller Incline Plane Lift, which lifts hotel barges 146 feet up, or down, the canal
- 50 per cent of French beer is produced in Alsace
- Alsace produces the most bottles of single grape wine anywhere in France
- Cremant d’Alsace is the region’s renowned sparkling wine
- Until the 19th-century, Strasbourg’s Cathedral de Notre Dame was the tallest Christian building in the world
- Colmar and Strasbourg both have heavenly food markets brimming with the finest local delicacies
- Aside from the vines, the countryside is also beautified by the weighted branches of delicious Mirabelle plums
- Wissembourg’s annual Pentecost Fete has been celebrating Alsace folklore since 1865
- Colmar International Festival is a music lovers haven each July
- Lorraine Mondial Air Balloon Festival takes place every other year in late July
- The Elassisich dialect may still be heard being spoken in some of Alsace’s villages
- Strasbourg is home to Europe’s oldest Christmas market
What to see when hotel barging in Alsace
Beauty abounds throughout the Alsace region, to which the landscape generously contributes. The Vosges mountains grace the region’s western edge and Jura’s mountains to the south, providing stunning scenes in summer and winter. The notable Germanic influence of the region’s neighbouring country is also observed in its architecture, combining steeply pitched roofs and grand buildings. City breaks before or after your cruise can be fulfilled easily with stays in Nancy, Metz or Strasbourg. You’ll find the châteaux and castles of Alsace brimful with historic tales and curiosity. Art and architecture play a more prominent role than one might expect, and then there’s the flammekueche and the wine…
While you’re on your cruise, look out for:
Fine castles in Alsace
You’ll discover a mix of fine châteaux and strategic castles when seeking things to do in Alsace. Many perch high atop rocky outcrops and beautiful hills from which the views, once vital for protection, are stunning.
Our highlights are:
- Palais Rohan – capturing the essence of French-style châteaux, you’ll find Napoleon’s bedroom amongst the many rooms on a visit to Strasbourg
- Château des Rohan – known as the Versailles of Alsace its striking facade greets you as you moor in Saverne
Read more about the best châteaux Alsace.
Historic towns and cities
Historic towns and cities top the list of things to do in Alsace. Most hotel barge cruises take in at least one famous town or city so you can be sure to get a taste of the best of the region when you’re hotel barging in Alsace. You might find on your itinerary:
- Colmar – close to the Rhine river this quintessential Alsace town blooms with colourful geraniums dripping from brightly painted half-timbered houses. Take in the Customs House with its tile-patterned roof, the Pfister house of entrepreneurial milliner Scherer, and the fairytale vibes of the fisherman’s district.
- Metz – is the capital of Lorraine and has a history stretching back 3,000 years that can be unravelled with time spent in its various districts. Learn about Bronze Age relics in the central Colline Sainte-Croix district, absorb the medieval influence of Outre-Seille, the bridges and classical architecture of the Iles quarter and the Esplanade where once a 16th-century citadel stood.
- Nancy – it’s here that the Dukes of Lorraine built their Medici-modelled palace in the Old Town that’s awash with narrow streets and ornate buildings. Charles III’s modern new town will lure you to one of the country’s best covered markets and of course the UNESCO protected Place Stanislaw connects the two.
- Saverne – greeted at your mooring by Napoleon III’s almost overbearing Château de Rohan you’ll see at first glance how pivotal Saverne has been in Alsation history. The riverside rose garden is another reason to linger before exploring the town’s gothic Church of the Recollets and central Place de la Licorne. Whether you believe in the therapeutic powers of the water here that legend says was imbued by a unicorn, is entirely up to you…
Did you know? Hotel barging life in Alsace flows at a leisurely pace. Another great way to enjoy all the sights and sounds is to cycle or walk along the towpath, keeping pace with your barge alongside.
What to eat in Alsace
Alsace has the truly unique influence of its past woven into its cuisine. There’s a mountain rusticness and a nourishing richness to the menu that’s best enjoyed hungry!
Flammekueche is perhaps the most well-known dish, translating easily to the tarte flambee more recognisable in Alpine resorts. Although colloquially referred to as France’s take on pizza (only better, of course), it’s typically treated as a snack, much like tarte l’oignon, another local favourite. Also popping up regularly on menus you’ll find Coq au Riesling, which perhaps unsurprisingly brings a perfectly regional twist to a very recognisable French dish.
Choucroute is Alsace’s answer to Germany’s sauerkraut often presented as a deeply flavoursome stew. The long, slow cooking method is a familiar technique in Alsace cuisine where Baeckeoffe and farmer’s pie Tourte hustle for attention.
Local cuisine graces lunch and dinner menus on your hotel barging cruise in Alsace, with local suppliers prioritised for the freshest of regional ingredients.
Want the recipe? Dine aboard our Alsace barges with their exceptional professional chefs.
What to drink in Alsace
Alsace wine is possibly the most misunderstood and underrated in the world. In fact, Alsatian wine is one of the very best reasons to visit the region and to explore the wending Alsace Wine Route.
Wine snobs and Riesling cynics often leave the region surprised, enlightened and delighted with the varied and exceptional wines produced here. Viticulture is at the heart of Alsace life and Grand Crus thrive in its unique climate.
These are not the crisp, mellow whites of Macon. They are the bold and fruity product of an historic industry and let’s put one myth to bed straightaway: not all Alsace wine is sweet.
Find out more in our Guide to Alsace Wines
Explore the varieties for yourself along the Alsace Wine Route
Plan an Alsace hotel barge cruise
Now you know what you’ll be seeing, enjoying and tasting on your Alsace hotel barge trip, it’s time to plan yours. We’ve got a selection of barges offering a range of itineraries in the region.
Choose your preferred, personal style with our guidance as and when you need it – we’d love you to experience the very best of this stunning part of France. Take a look
To indulge a little more in Alsace, you may enjoy our free Alsace download, available here.
Looking for inspiration on the waterways? Check out the best places to go hotel barging in France.
- Where to go hotel barging in France
- Where to go hotel barging in Burgundy
- Where to go hotel barging in Aquitaine
- Where to go hotel barging in Provence
- Things to do on the Canal du Midi
- You may enjoy our free Alsace guide download
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