Strasbourg and the Vosges, Alsace, France

SUMMARY

Date: Monday June 7th to Monday June 14th  8 days /7 nights 

Guide: Your local guide Lucille, with Ginny, WalkingWomen 

Walking Grade: Goat 2 – it is the lower end of Goat 2 as you will have 2 days in Strasbourg doing city walks followed by 4 good hikes in the Northern Vosges which is known for its quiet,intermediate level walks. Ascent will not be more than 550m. Terrain is good and you walk along forest trails, sandstone rock formations and amongst castle ruins. 

Highlights:

• Strasbourg and its European feel with the European Parliament and the Council of Europe
• Interesting mix of cultures in Alsace – the German/French influence. Great food!
• The World Biosphere Reserve – the Northern Vosges with its fresh green forest and wildflowers
• Storybook landscapes as we wander through varied scenery with few people and peaceful trails
• The little Alsatian villages and the hamlet of Obersteinbach where we stay

Base: We stay in Strasbourg for 2 nights and then move to Obersteinbach for 5 nights.

Strasbourg: Hotel Suisse

We have 2 hotels in the Vosges – both small, traditional and family run.. First to book will stay in Hotel Au No 6 and once filled we will use Hotel Anton.

Hotel Au No 6 – a 6 room small hotel owned by two women, Deb and Mailis

Hotel Anton – 200 metres away from Hotel Au N6 with its own bar and restaurant.

Arrivals: Arrive Monday 7th June in Strasbourg by 16.00 – at the train station or 17.00 at our hotel.

We highly recommend train travel as it is a lovely journey via London or Paris directly to Strasbourg. We will arrange meet ups in London and Paris to travel together.

Departures: After breakfast 10.30am on Monday 14th June – transport will be organised back to Strasbourg. Book onward travel for after 13.00 on Monday.

Price: £1999 per person all inclusive of: ( if you bring a partner,friend,family to share a room the price is £1699 per person – we will adjust your invoice once you have paid your deposit)

• Ensuite accommodation
• All breakfasts and evening meals – at the hotel and in local restaurants
• Picnic lunches or lunches in local cafes/restaurants on 4 walking days
• Local english speaking guiding
• WalkingWomen personalised support throughout
• Pick up and return transport from and to Strasbourg
• Local transport required throughout the week
• A comprehensive itinerary to show you the best of the area with an expert guide

Not included:

• Travel to Strasbourg, France
• Additional food or drinks not included.

DETAILS

We are excited to bring you this new trip to the heart of Europe. easily accessible by train from the UK or from across Europe with an arrival at the great historic Strasbourg Train station. We will have two days in Strasbourg to visit the European Parliament and hear about these European institutions aswell as explore the city by river and on foot. It is a lovely Alsatian city.

We then move on to the lesser known Northern Vosges National Park just over 1 hour away. We stay in the village of Obersteinbach – a perfect base to hike around the area. there are 2600km of marked trails and we will be hiking the best of them.

ITINERARY

The itinerary could change depending on the weather. As always we say Trust Your Guide they will always be working to give you the best experience.

ARRIVAL – we will be connecting women who would like to travel together by train from London. There will be a meet up point at St Pancras International to get the Eurostar.

You will be met at  Strasbourg Train station around 16.00. Or you can meet us directly at Hotel Suisse at 17.00 to settle in. Our hotel is right next to the Cathedral in central Strasbourg so easy to find.

18.00 Welcome drink, introductions and an orientation short walk before our evening meal together .

Tuesday: Walking tour of Strasbourg to include the European Institutions and a river trip.

Evening Meal together in Strasbourg

Wednesday: Free time to meander around the cathedral and the old town

Afternoon:  we transfer to the Vosges and settle in to our new hotels.

Evening Meal together

Our walks in the Vosges : the order will depend on the weather. You will be briefed each evening 

A sandstone walk – hidden treasures of the Northern Vosges                                                               10km /6.2 miles with 300m descent/ascent
Discover the geological history of these gentle curved mountains with countless rock spurs, from
which you have an amazing vista of the surrounding heights. Throughout the walk, your guide enriches the experience by sharing historical stories and local legends, bringing the stones and landscapes to life.

Castles and Forests – one of the most impressive sites of the region.                                                                          11.5km /7.25 miles with 400m descent/ascent
We set off to conquer a fortified castle perched in the heart of the northern Vosges. The castle is nestled on a spectacular rocky outcrop that dominates the surrounding forest.
Be amazed by the architecture of the rock-cut castle by climbing the steep graven staircase to the
top of the rock, and enjoy a unique vantage point above the canopy.

Old Traditions – a walk to discover art in the area                                                                                                             7km/ 4.5 miles with 150m ascent and descent 
Visit a beautiful little town settled in the mountains, where a tradition has become an art, known all
over Europe and beyond. This immersive walk into the local life of the inhabitants will show you
why this art has grown in a place surrounded by mountains and forests.

Meadows, Forests and Rivers – a wildlife wonder                                                                                                                                           13km/8 miles with 600m ascent and descent 
From the very first steps, you will be imersed in a preserved natural setting, between sun-drenched meadows, dense forests and rivers that flow at the bottom of the valley . Your guide passionately shares her knowledge of the trees, flowers and mushrooms we encounter and you will learn to recognise them and understand their ancestral use.