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Alsace Region: Overview |
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Although Alsace is thoroughly French, from 1870 until the end of the first
world war it was part of Germany. This period has left its stamp on the region
in art, architecture, food, wine and language.
Alsace has many picturesque and spotlessly clean villages, with buildings
made from the local dark-pink sandstone. The diversity of its cuisine, the
lightness of its wine and the combination of major cities with wooded mountains
offer many opportunities.
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Special
Attractions |
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Strasbourg is the main city of Alsace and home of the European
Parliament. A historic city, its many attractions include the Cathedral, the Old
Town which surrounds the Cathedral, and the very picturesque medieval Petite
France.
Colmar is a lovely Renaissance town, which features fascinating
architecture in the Old Town. It is also the home of the extraordinary
Unterlinden Musuem, which is housed in a restored 13th century
nunnery.
The Wine Road is a signposted route, mostly along minor roads at the
foot of the Vosges, from Marlenheim to Thann. Perhaps the most scenic part is
the section just north of Colmar (villages Turckheim, Kaysersberg, Ribeauvillé,
Riquewihr). In addition to wine and wine tasting, this route offers the
attractions of numerous fortresses, attractive villages and the backdrop of
wooded mountains.
The forests and lakes of the Vosges mountains provide a peaceful and
beautiful location for hiking and biking, with fine viewpoints. They also
provide the dark-pink sandstone which is attractively used in architecture
throughout much of Alsace.
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Food,
Wine and Recipes |
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The cuisine of Alsace includes the traditions of both Germany and France. For
the former, it is famous for its choucroute (sauerkraut) which it exports
to other parts of France while for the latter it has some of France's best
pâté de foie gras. Chorcroute garni is sauerkraut combined with pork and/or
sausages.
The wines are Germanic in style, taste (mainly dry whites that are light and
fruity) and appearance (white wine being bottled in the tall green bottles used
by German wine producers). Alsace is the only region in France which places the
name of the grape variety on the wine bottle. It is widely accepted in France
that only Alsace wine should be served with Alsace traditional food.
To see our recipes from this area, click on any of the following:
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