HEAVY SEAS TOUR

Alsace, VOSGES, WWi SITES & ChampagnE

Day 1 | ARRival in StRASBOURG FRANCE, ALSACE AND CHAMPAGNE

Froggytravel will welcome you at the Cour du Corbeau your hotel in Strasbourg, home for the next 3 nights. With half a million inhabitants, this lively city is the seat of the European Parliament, located close to the German border it has a very rich historical past. Strasbourg's historic city centre, the Grande Île (Grand Island), was classified a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988, the first time such an honor was placed on an entire city center. The fertile area in the upper Rhine plain has been populated since the Middle Paleolithic and the Roman camp of Argentoratum was first mentioned in 12 BC, the city of Strasbourg which grew from it celebrated its 2,000th anniversary in 1988.

The afternoon is yours to digest jet lag with a nap or if you wish or a quick discovery of our hotel’s district before our first group dinner.

Our hotel for these three nights is the beautiful 4-star hotel Cour du Corbeau, a classified historical monument where each room reflects a small part of the history and culture of the region.

Arriving a day early is usually recommended for all tours in Europe; let us know please.

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day 2 | ALSACE and CHAMPAGNE

Morning guided visit of the Strasbourg Cathedral described by Victor Hugo as a "gigantic and delicate marvel" and by Goethe as a "sublimely towering, wide-spreading tree of God". An amazing Astronomical clock is on display.

Lunch in an Alsatian village before our first wine tasting. Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Noir are used in this region enjoying a semi continental climate, cold in winter with dry and hot summers. If you are not a wine aficionado am afternoon trip to Freiburg Germany will be available.

Back in Strasbourg for our second group dinner and a night at the Cour du Corbeau.

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Day 3 | ALSACE and CHAMPAGNE

First and only early (not that early…) departure of this trip to the Haut Koenigsbourg castle. A spectacular mass and superb location, it was rebuilt from 1900 to 1908 at the behest of the German kaiser Wilhelm II who wanted affirm his domination on this region conquered in 1871 and occupied until 1918. This major tourist site, attracting more than 500,000 visitors a year had a very tormented history from the first mention of the site in 774 under the Frankish king Charlemagne. Again certified in 854, it was then a possession of the French Basilica of St Denis and the site of a monastery. Burned in 1462 by the free cities of Colmar and Strasbourg armies, burned again by the Swedes in 1663 The architect in charge, The architect Bodo Ebhart's aim was to rebuild it, as near as possible, as it was on the eve of the 17 century. He relied heavily on historical accounts but, occasionally lacking information, he had to improvise some parts of the stronghold. Wilhelm II regularly visited the construction site via a specially built train station in nearby Saint-Hippolyte,

After World War I, the French state confiscated the castle in accordance with the 1919 Treaty of Versailles. It has been listed since 1862 and classified since 1993 as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.

After lunch we will have another taste of some wonderful Alsatian wines in a Cooperative.

Last night in Strasbourg. Dinner on your own.

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Day 4 |alsace and Champagne

Morning on your own in Strasbourg; did you say “shopping”?

Lunch on your own.

Afternoon drive and visit of another very Alsatian town Colmar, birthplace of Frederic Auguste Bartholdi best known for designing Liberty Enlightening the World commonly known as the Statue of Liberty. His works are visible everywhere in the city. Colmar was founded in the 9th century and is mentioned as Columbarium Fiscum in a text dated 823.

Group dinner and night at the Hotel de la Maison des Têtes **** (head’s house) located in a famous Colmar’s landmark, a very special building, your home for two nights.

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day 5 |ALSACE and CHAMPAGNE

En route to Basel Switzerland. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany. Guided visit of the historic city and lunch.

Back via Mulhouse to be in Colmar late afternoon, perfect timing for a drink before dinner.

Dinner on your own; second and last night in La Maison des Têtes****.

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day 6 | Alsace and Champagne

Morning in Colmar for our last day in Alsace before a lunch at a farm in the Vosges, a splendid setting before a possible walk in the mountains. Afternoon drive west to dine and sleep in le Chateau des Monthairons***.

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day 7 | ALSACE and CHAMPAGNE

After an early start for a drive to Verdun, we will meet our guides who will try to make us understand better the terrible conditions and courage of the French and English soldiers defending this part of the front. We will stop to see some preserved trenches and drive through a landscape carved by shells 100 years ago before visiting the fort and the Douaumont ossuary.

Simple lunch on the road during our visit.

Back to les Monthairons for dinner and a second night.

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Day 8 | ALSACE and CHAMPAGNE

Drive to Epernay for our first Maison de Champagne, visit and tasting.

It is often referred to the L’Avenue de Champagne in Epernay as the most expensive avenue in the world. The length of the avenue (940 meters) is less than Avenue des Champs-Élysées but the champagne houses have extensive inventory of more than 200 million bottles in underground caves that extend for 110 kilometers (68 miles).

After lunch, another Maison de Champagne this time in Reims will open its door to our group. After these two visits, you should have a full understanding of how bubbly is made!

Dinner in Reims and night at the Hotel La Paix****.

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Day 9 | ALSACE and CHAMPAGNE

Morning guided visit of the Reims Cathedral.

The cathedral replaced an older church, destroyed by fire in 1211, that was built on the site of the basilica where Clovis (he could be considered as the first French King) was baptized by Saint Remi, bishop of Reims in 496. That original structure had itself been erected on the site of some Roman baths. Since 1027, kings of France were crowned in this cathedral, now a major tourist destination with one million visitors annually.

Afternoon drive to our last guided visit, one of the most magnificent and interesting castle often forgotten by international visitors staying in Paris: Chantilly.

Farewell dinner.

Night at a CDG airport hotel allowing a stress free morning departure.

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