Alsace Melanas Drymos – Ulm from Thessaloniki

We’ll enjoy a hearty breakfast, and then we’ll spend the whole day in Strasbourg. As soon as we arrive, we’ll begin our guided tour of the city, which feels more like the capital of Europe than an old Alsatian town. The historic center, known as "Petite France" (Little France), was designated a "World Heritage Site" by UNESCO in 1988. It has the vibrancy of a university town, thanks to the University of Strasbourg, founded in 1566—one of the oldest in the country. We’ll stroll through the old town, filled with picturesque wooden houses painted in vibrant colors, where the Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg stands out. It’s worth admiring the astronomical clock and the 12th-century stained-glass windows. In Place du Château, next to the cathedral, stands the 18th-century Roan Tower, once the archbishop’s residence, which today houses the city’s main museums: the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Decorative Arts and Archaeology, and the Camarzelle House. At noon, free time in the city’s pedestrian streets for coffee or a meal at the excellent Alsatian restaurants. Afterward, check-in at our hotel. In the evening, we recommend exploring the city by boat: One of the most romantic ways to discover the city’s beauty is by cruising down the Ill River on a 75-minute boat tour. You’ll get to see the entire historic center, enjoy panoramic views of the buildings in the Petite France district, the traditional houses along the river, the covered bridges, the German Quarter, and the impressive, state-of-the-art buildings of the European Parliament.

Join us today on a wonderful tour of the famous wine villages. South of the city of Strasbourg and within a 100-kilometer radius, there are 67 famous wine villages on French soil. Because this region is bordered on one side by the Vosges Mountains and on the other by the Rhine, a unique microclimate is created that is ideal for viticulture. Our first stop will be the small town of Riquewihr, nestled among vast vineyards on the eastern slope of the Vosges Mountains. For centuries it was owned by the Dukes of Württemberg, and having escaped the wars that ravaged the region, it retains its 16th-century architectural style, while its few residents have continued to this day to cultivate Riesling grapes for wine production. It retains part of its fortifications, cobblestone streets and towers, old fountains, beautiful rooftops, timber-framed houses, a riot of colors on the walls, and a variety of flowers in the windows. We continue on to Colmar, a town that looks like a painting. Pastel-colored wooden houses lining the canals and colorful flowers create a unique atmosphere in what is perhaps the most beautiful city in Alsace. Its historic center is crossed by the Lauch, a tributary of the Ill, which flows into the Rhine. Don’t miss the chance to try a glass of the region’s excellent white wine at one of the many shops in Colmar, which is rightly called the wine capital. We continue on to Eguisheim, our final destination, which has preserved its traditional architecture intact. Built in concentric circles around its 13th-century octagonal castle, it is surrounded by vineyards of two local grape varieties. We’ll happily lose ourselves in its circular alleys: they always bring you back to where you started. Small houses with balconies, wooden beams, and protruding windows overflowing with geraniums leave us in awe. The central square is no less beautiful, with its fountain, the 8th-century city castle with its outer wall dating to 720 AD, and the chapel of the reformist Pope Leo IX, who was born here. The tops of the castle tower and the church are home to stork nests. Other sites of historical interest include the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, which blends Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles, the city’s two Renaissance fountains, and the statue of Joan of Lorraine. Late in the afternoon, we return to our hotel in Strasbourg.

Today is yours to enjoy as you wish in Strasbourg. Alternatively, join us on a wonderful optional day trip to explore the fairytale-like natural landscape of the famous Black Forest with its countless beauties (pine trees, firs, waterfalls, lakes), the picturesque towns, and the villages with their charming wooden chalets. Our first stop will be in Freiburg (Freiburg), one of Germany’s most renowned university towns, which—not without reason—is characterized as the “environmental capital of Europe,” due to its smart use of solar energy, which it enjoys for much of the year. We will tour the historic center, which has been carefully restored to its original form and pedestrianized, to admire the Cathedral, one of the great masterpieces of Gothic art in Germany, the bright red Koifhus, the world’s first department store, the beautiful fountains in the square, not one but two City Halls, and the Art Nouveau main building of one of Europe’s oldest universities. We continue to the heart of the enchanting Black Forest (the dense trees block out the sunlight inside, hence the name) following the German "Clock Road" (with its countless cuckoo clock workshops) and arrive at Lake Titisee, "surrounded" by greenery. Next, we’ll visit Germany’s highest waterfalls (163 meters), in one of the region’s most beautiful villages, Triberg. Return to Strasbourg. Overnight stay.

Breakfast, then we depart for the city of Baden-Baden. It is a lush, green city, built in the Baroque style and famous for its thermal baths, which date back to Roman times. Baden-Baden, the “summer capital of Europe” on the edge of the Black Forest, welcomes us with an atmosphere of aristocratic elegance and historic glamour that remains unchanged over time. Upon arriving in the city, we will begin our journey by exploring a destination world-renowned for its thermal springs, its refined 19th-century architecture, and its iconic Casino. Transfer to the airport and return flight.