Tourism and Activities in Sélestat
The Alsace Wine Route winds its way along an enchanting route of almost 170 km through hillsides and picture-postcard landscapes. Between mysterious castles, remarkable buildings and charming wine-growing villages, let yourself be surprised by an exceptional heritage!
Let yourself be charmed by the typical charm of the many villages along the famous Alsace Wine Route. From village to village, succumb to the charm of their narrow streets, the beauty of their half-timbered houses and the coquetry of their windows, all in the heart of an exceptional setting!
The Alsace Wine Route has been shaped by its history, its heritage and its customs. Find an anthology of places to understand, feel and experience the heritage, customs and traditions of winegrowing in all its forms.
Whether as a family, a couple or with friends, make the most of a stay in our house in any season to explore all the treasures of Alsace.
Total nature
3,000 hectares of forest await you for wonderful walks through the unspoilt flora and fauna. Explore this exceptional ecosystem, enjoy the many refreshing areas of water, and be on the lookout for wild fallow deer that can only be found in a few French forests.
L’Illwald forest can be discovered in all seasons offering you the chance to enjoy an ever-changing scenery.
Heritage and Culture
In the heart of Alsace, between Colmar and Strasbourg, Sélestat remains little known and little visited. However, it is home to some beautiful monuments and, above all, one of the only two humanist libraries in Europe, which should not be missed under any circumstances. What's more, Sélestat is well situated for visiting the villages of the region.
Must-see towns and villages: Strasbourg, Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr, Colmar, Kaysersberg, Eguisheim
Off the beaten track: Obernai, Rosheim, Boersch, Sélestat, Bergheim, Kientzheim, Neuf-Brisach
Castles: Haut-Koenigsbourg castle (Orschwiller), Ortenbourg and Ramstein castles (Scherwiller), Bernstein castle (Dambach-la-Ville), Haut-Andlau castle (Andlau), Ottrott castles, three castles in Ribeauvillé, three castles in Eguisheim, Hohlandsbourg castle (Wintzenheim).
Museums: Bibliothèque Humaniste (Sélestat), Maison du Pain d'Alsace (Sélestat), Mémorial d'Alsace-Moselle (Schirmeck), Mémorial du Linge 1915 (Orbey), Musée Nationale de l'Automobile (Mulhouse), Cité du Train (Mulhouse), Fondation Beyeler (Riehen, Switzerland), Vitra Design Museum (Weil am Rhein, Germany).
Christmas markets: For centuries, Advent in Alsace has been synonymous with Christmas markets. Throughout December, in the festive atmosphere of Christmas preparations, towns and villages organise their traditional markets, with the must-try items such as gingerbread accompanied by mulled wine, bredele and mannele. The first written mention of the Christmas tree was found in Sélestat in 1521.
Wine and Gastronomy
In Alsace, gourmets enjoy a unique and varied terroir shaped by nature. From the unmissable IGP Alsace sauerkraut to Alsace fruit and vegetables such as asparagus, strawberries and plums, each season offers its own ephemeral pleasure. Cheeses, Munster, of course, but also Tomme du Ried and goat's milk cheeses, fresh or dried, soft or hard, all smell of Alsatian pastures. Honey, fir for its character and menthol note; floral or acacia for its comforting sweetness and citrus notes; liquid or creamy; in short, it comes in all shapes and sizes, reflecting the diversity of Alsatian flora.
Thanks to its excellent geographical location, Alsatian vineyards produce wines with world-renowned aromas. Exuberant nature, a privileged climate and terroirs of exceptional geological diversity offer a palette of incomparable wines. To preserve this richness, the Appellations d'Origine Contrôlées (AOC) impose strict and rigorous rules. This quest for authenticity is also reflected in the commitment of Alsatian winegrowers to respecting nature: it was in 1925 that the first Alsatian estate launched biodynamic viticulture!
Take advantage of this exceptional region and its wines at our Auberge, which serves traditional and modern Alsatian cuisine based on quality seasonal produce chosen with care and using short distribution channels.
Winegrowers:
Domaine Jean Sipp
60 rue de la Fraternité, 68150 Ribeauvillé - Tel.: 03 89 73 60 02
Domaine Bott Frères
13 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 68150 Ribeauvillé - Tel.: 03 89 73 22 50
Domaine Sylvie Spielmann
2 route de Thannenkirch, 68750 Bergheim - Tel.: 03 89 73 35 95
Domaine Gustave Lorentz
91 rue des Vignerons, 68750 Bergheim - Tel.: 03 89 73 22 22
Domaine Fernand Engel
1 route du Vin, 68590 Rorschwihr - Tel: 03 89 73 77 27
Leisure activities
For families:
Volerie des Aigles (Kintzheim): Wildlife park in the ruins of Kintzheim castle dedicated to the conservation of birds of prey, with free-flight shows
Montagne des Singes (Kintzheim): Wildlife park dedicated to the conservation of over 200 Barbary macaques roaming freely in a 24-hectare forest
NaturOparC (Hunawihr): Wildlife park dedicated to the conservation of the White Stork, the European Otter and the Great Hamster
Europa-Park (Rust, Germany): Theme park with over 100 attractions and shows
Rulantica(Rust, Germany): Water park based on Scandinavian theme
Parc du Petit Prince (Ungersheim): Theme park inspired by the work of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Tellure(Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines): Mining park in a former silver mine, with caving course and underground via ferrata
SensoRied (Muttersholtz): Barefoot trail in the Ried
For sport lovers:
Parc Alsace Aventure (Breitenbach): Tree climbing and zip wire park
Alsace Canoës(Sélestat): Canoe trips supervised by instructors or canoes for hire
Steph Trott' Alsace (Mackenheim): Guided tours on all-terrain electric kick scooters
Les Balades Alsaciennes (Châtenois): Electric bikes hire or half-day or full-day guided tours
For couples:
Bateliers du Grand Ried (Rhinau): Flat-bottomed boat trips with the Grand Ried boatmen
Vita Classica Theme (Bad Krozingen, Germany): Thermal complex offering spacious thermal baths, saunas, massages and treatments
Capots Aristo (Sélestat): Classic car tours with or without a driver
Hot-air balloon flights: On request
For further information, contact us.