Rivers and Vineyards of Alsace

This varied cycling holiday takes you along the wine route that runs north to south between the Vosges mountains and the Alsace plain, bordered on the east by the Rhine, with a foray across the river into Germany for two nights.Pedalling along traffic-free country lanes, through vineyards and orchards, you take in some of Alsace��_s most beautiful villages. There��_s Eguisheim, where wine making began, medieval Rouffach whose beautifully preserved center is listed as a historical site, and half-timbered Turckheim where a night watchman still walks the streets. In Germany, vineyard cycling trails are replaced by quiet riverside tracks as you enjoy vistas along the mighty Rhine and discover the medieval walls of Breisach am Rhein, home to one of Germany��_s finest Gothic cathedrals.Almost every village has its cave and there are wine tasting opportunities every day. Seven types of grape grow in Alsace and some villages have their own vintages that aren��_t produced anywhere else, like Kaefferkopf from the stork-nesting village of Ammerschwihr. Others, like Ribeauvill��_, produce several rand crus. Your two nights in Germany provide even more variety. The ��_Tuscany of Germany��_ , wines from the Silvaner,M��_ller Thurgau and Grauburgunder grapes are produced here. Rest days are particularly exciting - Colmar, Strasbourg and Freiburg can all be reached within an hour by train...