Alsace, a French region bordering Germany, is not only famous for its delicious white wines, but is also the most bike-friendly region in France. Therefore, biking the famous Alsace Wine Route is one of the most fascinating experiences you can have during a cycling trip in France.

The Alsace Wine Route, which winds through picturesque villages and hills covered with vineyards, is particularly well suited for cycling. You can leave the city noise and daily stress behind at home: cycling in the silence of the French countryside, following your own rhythm, will rejuvenate you.

Can't wait to get started? Jump on your bike and join us on an exploration of this beautiful region and its wines!

Alsace Wine Route: the cycling path

The cycle path, 131 and a half kilometres long, runs parallel to the Alsace Wine Route and corresponds, between Basel and Strasbourg, to the French section of the Via Romea Francigena, or Eurovelo 5. This well-marked route offers cycling tourists a unique experience, allowing them to cycle through postcard-like landscapes and enjoy many local wine tasting opportunities, spread along the entire route.

The bike tours on the Alsace Wine Route are suitable for cyclists of all levels, although some may prefer to use e-bikes: the total difference in altitude over the entire route is around 1300 metres. The entire route can still be covered in a few days: plan at least 5 travel days if you want to experience a genuine slow travel experience that allows you to take advantage of the many reasons for stopping that you'll encounter along the way, such as the small flower-filled villages with typical half-timbered houses, medieval castles or Romanesque churches, but above all don't miss the chance to stop at the wineries and chat with the local winegrowers, tasting their magnificent Alsatian wines.

Starting from Strasbourg, gateway to Alsace, you will go from cycling on city cycling paths to one along the Canal de la Bruche. Along twenty kilometres, this green route allows you to reach Molsheim in complete tranquillity, immersed in a truly bucolic setting.

From the village of Molsheim, an episcopal town rich in history, now famous as the City of Bugatti, you continue to the medieval Obernai, nestled at the foot of the Vosges and Mount Sainte Odile, and animated by a unique charm: it is no coincidence that it is the most visited place in the Bas-Rhin after Strasbourg. Here you will find a concentration of Alsace, embodied in the Musée de la Chartreuse, a former 14th-century Franciscan monastery where the Bugatti Foundation is headquartered, as well as in the city's ramparts and the typical half-timbered houses of the centre.

If you decide to stop in Obernai, getting back on your bike the next morning will be a real pleasure: awaiting you will be gentle hills covered with vineyards, ancient castles and an endless series of charming small villages, including Mittelbergheim and Itterswiller, renowned gastronomic destinations.

Continuing through a surprising mosaic of landscapes, you will then cross the city of Sélestat, in the heart of the region, where you will find a rich historical and artistic heritage waiting to be explored.

If you don't want to stop in the city, you can continue for another twenty kilometres and reach Riquewhir, one of the most charming villages overlooking the Route des Vins. Stopping here will be like spending the night in a fairy tale. Indeed, it appears that none other than Disney's illustrators were inspired by Riquewhir when drawing the village of Belle from Beauty and the Beast.

From here, cycling another fifteen kilometres, you will reach Colmar, one of the pearls of the Alsace Wine Route, a city full of life and history. Here you can admire traditional Alsatian architecture, with its half-timbered houses and canals, or visit the Musee d'Unterlinden, which houses internationally renowned works of art.

The official route of the Alsace Wine Route cycling path ends in Thann, in the heart of the Grand Cru of Rangen, the southernmost of the region, from which exceptional wines are produced. The historic centre has been included among the most beautiful places in France.

Alsace Wine Route: why ride it by bike

The route of the Alsace Wine Route offers a unique combination of wine, food, and nature, which you will hardly find elsewhere. Great white wines are born here, the fruit of an exceptional terroir, in particular Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Grigio, Muscat, and every village has its winery, where you can stop to taste the local wines and chat with the winemakers. A slow travel trip will allow you to stop anywhere and at any time and fully enjoy the peculiarities of the territory.

Alsace is also famous for its unique gastronomic culture. French and German culinary traditions merge here, creating a delicious and varied cuisine. Among the local specialities to try are flammenkueche, choucroute, coq au vin, and tarte flambée. Travelling by bike naturally allows you to taste everything in peace: the calories are burned off while cycling.

Choosing to cycle the Alsace Wine Route will allow you to fully enjoy the landscapes and the culture of the region. By bike, you can move calmly and observe details that you might otherwise miss. Not to mention that choosing a sustainable means of transport like the bicycle, you can immerse yourself in the beauty of the territory while respecting the places crossed, preserving them.

Riding the Véloroute des Vins d’Alsace is easy: the route is well-marked and does not present particular difficulties, apart from some hilly stretches with slight differences in height. On the official websites you can find detailed maps and GPS tracks. For everything else, such as early booking of selected accommodations, on-site assistance, and luggage transportation, remember that you can always turn to us!

Now that you know how and why to ride the Alsace Wine Route by bike, all that is left to do is jump on your bike and go. On Cyclando.com you can find numerous itineraries in the region, suitable for every type of cycle tourist, including those traveling as a family. Choose the one that suits you and start cycling!