Itinerary: Champagne-Lorraine-Alsace

This is a 6 day self drive itinerary taking in the best sites and experiences of Northeastern France. It covers some of the world's best known white wine regions including Champagne and Alsace. It takes you through many and beautiful cities, towns and villages steeped in history.

It is a loop itinerary that starts and finishes in Paris.

Day 1: Charles de Gaulle Airport - Epernay - Reims

Pick up your rental car from Charles de Gaulle Airport. Get the best choice and rates through Driveaway Holidays. Leave Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and get onto the A104 Autoroute heading south.

When you reach the junction of the Autoroute de l'Est A4 head in the direction of Nancy-Reims-Metz Leave the autoroute for the town of Chateau Thierry then make for the town of Dormans where the Epernay Champagne trail begins. From Dormans the Marne River Valley wine trail to Epernay is well signposted.

Stop in the city of Epernay for lunch and to explore for a while. Epernay has many Champagne cellars, or caves as they are known, that offer tours. In the afternoon make for the city of Reims where you will overnight.

Distances: Paris Charles-de-Gaulle Airport to Chateau Thierry 100km including some tolls. Chateau Thierry to Dormans and Epernay is 50km of country roads. Epernay to Riems is 30km of country roads.

Overnight in Reims - Search Expedia for hotels in Reims

Day 3: Nancy to Mulhouse

Spend the morning exploring the beautiful city of Nancy including the ornate Place Stanislas.

Depart Nancy for the attractive town of Epinal on the Moselle River - suggested lunch stop.

Depart Epinal for the Alsace city of Mulhouse which the second largest in the region. Mulhouse is a greate 'Dad destination' being home to the National Automobile Museum (Cité del’Automobile) and the National Railway Museum.

Overnight in Mulhouse - Search Expedia for hotels in Mulhouse

Day 4: Mulhouse - Thann - Routes des Vins

Explore the Alsace Wine Region via the famous Route de Vins. This area runs between the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine River wich aslo forms the border with Germany. Alsace has a strong Germanic flavour to it which is reflected in the names of the dozens of picturesque villages featuring colourful half timbered houses.  The Route de Vins is little more than 100km between Mulhouse and Strasbourg, but there is enough to keep you in the area for several days.   Visit the official site for the Alsace Wine Region. Start at the town of Thann and spend the day meandering through the valley visiting the following towns and villages:

Vieux-Thann, Cernay, Wuenheim, Soultz , Guebwiller, Bergholtz, Orschwihr, Soultzmatt, Westhalten, Rouffach , Pfaffenheim, Gueberschwihr, Hattstatt, Obermorschwihr, Voegtlinshoffen, Husseren-les-Châteaux, Eguisheim, Wettolsheim

Colmar is an small city on the Lauch River 64km from Strasbourg. It has an attractive Medieval quarter made up of many well preserved half timbered houses set on canals earning the name ‘Petite Venise’. Colmar has changed hands between France and Germany several times and retains a very Germanic feel. Colmar has an unusual microclimate, being the driest city in France, which helps it produce its excellent Alsatian white wine. Take the opportunity to sample real Alsatian cuisine in one of Colmar's many great restaurants.

Overnight in Colmar - Search Expedia for hotels in Colmar

Day 5: Routes de Vins continued - Colmar to Strasbourg

Continue on through the Alsace Wine Region visiting the following towns and villages:

Turckheim, Niedermorschwihr, Ingersheim, Ammerschwihr, Kaysersberg, Kientzheim, Sigolsheim, Bennwihr, Mittelwihr, Beblenheim, Riquewihr, Zellenberg, Hunawihr, Ribeauvillé, Bergheim, Rorschwihr, Rodern, Saint-Hippolyte, Orschwiller, Kintzheim, Châtenois, Scherwiller, Dambach-la-Ville, Blienschwiller, Nothalten, Itterswiller, Andlau, Mittelbergheim, Barr, Heiligenstein, Bernardswiller, Obernai, Ottrott, Boersch, Rosheim, Molsheim, Avolsheim, Soultz-les-Bains, Dangolsheim, Bergbieten, Traenheim, Westhoffen, Wangen and Marlenheim.

Arrive at Strasbourg and return hire car to Strasbourg Railway Station.

Overnight in Strasbourg - Search Expedia for hotels in Strasbourg

Day 6: Explore Strasbourg

Strasbourg is the capital of the Alsace Region and is also one of two locations of the European Parliament. It is a city of approximately 600,000 inhabitants and is located at the junction of the Ill (pronounced il) and Rhine Rivers. Strasbourg’s city centre Grande Île (great island) is World Heritage listed for its well preserved medieval architecture. Official Visitor Site for Strasbourg

Strasbourg has plenty to do and see. Take a river cruise on the city's many interconnected waterways, hire a bicycle or use Strasbourg's futuristic tram system.

Stay another night, take the train back to Paris or continue on to Burgundy.