Between the natural park of the Ballons des Vosges and the Swiss and German borders, the Haut-Rhin has a great variety of landscapes. With its beautiful cities, its small typical Alsatian villages, its wine route and its gastronomy, the department has many surprises in store for you.
Renowned for its superb traditional villages, the Haut-Rhin is organized around two large cities. The larger one, Mulhouse, surprises by its architecture where brick houses or painted walls predominate, reminding us more of neighboring Switzerland than Alsace. While walking in the center of the prefecture of the department, you will be able to admire the old city hall, the Protestant temple Saint-Etienne, the famous house Mieg or the tower of the Devil. The second city of the Haut-Rhin, Colmar, is on the contrary often considered as the most Alsatian of the Alsatian cities. With its beautiful half-timbered houses, its district of the small Venice, its collegiate church Saint-Martin, it amazes each of its visitors.
After these escapades in town, discover the beautiful wine landscapes of the Haut-Rhin by taking the Alsace Wine Route. Stretching between Saint-Hippolyte and Thann, it winds through hilly and green landscapes that are home to real treasures. In addition to the numerous wine estates, take the time to visit the superb villages of Bergheim, Ribeauvillé, Kayserberg... In Éguisheim, admire the architectural harmony of a medieval city and stroll through its small flowered streets to appreciate its squares, its fountains and its 13th century church. But also go to Riquewihr, nicknamed the "Pearl of the Alsatian vineyard", to contemplate the old castle of the Counts of Wurtemberg and the Thieves' Tower.
Between the Vosges mountains, the valleys and the plains, the Haut-Rhin offers a diversified natural setting suitable for many activities. Crossed by numerous trails, it offers a dream terrain for hikers who can, for example, make the panoramic tour of the Grand Ballon. Cyclists will be delighted to take the Rhine bicycle route and golfers will be able to take advantage of the many golf courses in the department, including the one on the Largue near Mooslargue. In winter, the numerous resorts of the Ballons des Vosges park will allow you to go downhill skiing or cross-country skiing. And, after a good day of activity, settle down in a good restaurant to appreciate the regional recipes: sauerkraut, baeckoeffe, pretzel, fleischnakas, bibeleskaes, kouglof...