Black Forest, Alsace, Champagne
A Taste of Europe
- 14 Days
- From 10,565
- France & Germany
- Moderate
Moderate: Designed for hikers with some experience, offering longer trails and varied terrain.Â
Highlights
- Enchanting Black Forest: Step into a fairytale as we trek through deep, dark forests, alpine meadows, and valleys dotted with cozy timber farmhouses. Embrace the beauty of Southern Germany's ancient landscapes and romantic winding paths.
- Alsace Adventures: Wander through storybook villages with charming Tudor-style houses along the famous wine route. Explore stunning scenery and delve into Celtic heritage while visiting ancient castles and monasteries in the Vosges Mountains.
- Champagne Region: Stroll through the world-famous vineyards of Champagne, where Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay grapes create the bubbles behind centuries-old sparkling wine traditions. Walk through rolling hills, picturesque villages, and past swift-flowing streams.
Overview
Begin your journey in the enchanting Black Forest of Southern Germany, a region steeped in folklore and natural beauty. Here, deep, mysterious forests give way to winding romantic paths, picturesque valleys, and traditional timber farmhouses. As you walk through this stunning countryside, you’ll discover pristine mountain streams, meadows blanketed with wildflowers, and hillsides aglow with natural splendour. The Black Forest invites you to immerse yourself in a landscape that feels as if time has stood still, offering a glimpse into ancient Germany and its legendary past.
Crossing the border into France, your next stop is the Alsace region, tucked between the majestic Vosges Mountains and the Rhine River. Known for its exquisite white wines and renowned cuisine, Alsace is a place of both cultural and natural wealth. The region’s storybook villages, with their iconic half-timbered houses, line the famous Alsatian Wine Route. As you traverse this scenic path, you’ll meander through lush vineyards and glorious deciduous forests. Along the way, we explore Europe’s finest castles, monasteries, and delve into the region’s rich Celtic heritage, all while basking in the serene beauty that surrounds us.
Finally, arrive in Champagne, France’s legendary wine region. Its verdant, undulating hills stretch as far as the eye can see, carpeted in the vineyards that produce the world’s most celebrated sparkling wines. Only Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay grapes are grown in this extraordinary landscape, dotted with quaint villages that seem to float between history and modernity. Champagne’s effervescent spirit was born in the late 17th century, when its once tart wines were transformed into the sparkling creations that we enjoy today. As you stroll through these endless vineyards, oak forests, and beside swift-running streams, you’ll feel connected to the centuries of history that have shaped this magnificent region.
This seamless journey takes you from the fairy-tale landscapes of the Black Forest to the cultural richness of Alsace and finally to the iconic vineyards of Champagne. An extraordinary blend of nature, history, and culture awaits you at every turn.
Hotels & Cuisine
Our journey takes us through some of Europe’s most beautiful and historic regions, offering not just incredible landscapes, but also unforgettable culinary experiences at each of our charming hotels.
Starting in the quaint village of Menzenschwand, nestled in the stunning Black Forest of Southern Germany, we stay in a cosy family-run hotel that is the embodiment of warm Black Forest hospitality. Each day begins with a hearty German breakfast buffet, providing us with the perfect fuel for exploring the surrounding valley. As evening falls, we gather in the hotel’s inviting bar for a pre-dinner drink before indulging in home-cooked meals. Our hosts, Sabine and Sylvia, prepare delicious dishes that introduce us to the rich flavours of this unique region, with its renowned gastronomic delicacies.
From the Black Forest, we journey into the heart of Alsace, where we find ourselves in one of France’s most beautiful villages, Obernai. Our hotel, a former manor house and wine cellar of the distinguished Baron de Gail family, has been transformed into one of the region’s finest establishments. After a day of wandering through the village’s charming streets, we unwind in the hotel’s new wellness centre. In the evening, the hotel’s restaurant invites us to experience the best of Alsatian cuisine, with a menu inspired by local traditions and paired with some of France’s premier white wines. This stop promises a perfect blend of history, elegance, and culinary excellence.
Finally, we arrive at the enchanting Chateau de Courban, located on the border of the Champagne and Burgundy regions in France. This noble mansion, rebuilt in 1839 on the foundations of a 17th-century castle, has been lovingly restored over the past decade by the Vandendriessche family. Surrounded by ancient stone walls and a picturesque tower housing a dovecote, the chateau offers an unforgettable experience of elegance and history. Here, we savour the finest cuisine from two of France’s most famous food and wine regions, with each dish celebrating the culinary traditions of both Champagne and Burgundy. The chateau’s gourmet offerings, paired with exceptional local wines, provide a fitting end to our culinary journey.
Through these three unique hotels, we experience not only the stunning landscapes and rich histories of Champagne, Burgundy, Alsace, and the Black Forest but also the exquisite tastes of their local cuisines, making our journey a true feast for the senses.
Transportation
Menzenschwand
Hotel Hirschen Menzenschwand
Obernai
À La Cour d'Alsace
courban
Chateau de Courban & Spa Nuxe
begins
24 September 2025
Luzern, Switzerland
ends
