The Grand Cru Tour of Central Alsace

The starting point is the car park at Place de la République in Turckheim.

(S/E) Enter the town via the Porte de France and the Grand'Rue, then head towards the Porte de Munster.

(1) Head towards the Cave de Turckheim; at the unloading bay, head into the valley.

(2) Follow the second path on the right, which goes round the Eichberg to reach the Col du Brand.

(3) Head towards the cross and take the path on the left which climbs before descending towards Niedermorschwihr and turning. Pass the church and the town hall before turning left onto the road leading to Trois-Épis. Follow this road uphill to the right.

(4) After leaving the village, take the first path on the right towards WaldMatten.

(5) Follow the road on the right which climbs up to the Sommerberg and overlooks Niedermorschwihr.

(6) A left-hand bend leads down to Katzentahl. Head towards the church via Rue des Trois-Épis, turn left into Rue de l’Église and right into Rue d’Ammerschwihr.

(7) This road leads to a wayside shrine; take the second road on the left, which leads to Ammerschwihr, passing the Meywihr chapel. Via Chemin du Schlossweg and Route du Cerf, join the Route du Vin.

(8) Follow this road to the right, then turn left towards the Quartier de Fleurs and continue to Kientzheim.

(9) Turn left to enter Kientzheim via the Porte du Lalli, passing Lupfen-Schwendi Castle until you reach the fountain.

(10) Turn right to leave the ramparts and continue along the small wine route leading to Riquewihr. Enter Riquewihr, join Rue du Général de Gaulle and turn left to leave the town via the Porte du Dolder.

(11) Follow the Chemin de la Forêt and turn right towards Hunawihr.

(12) Leave this road and turn right onto the path that passes by Schoenenburg and overlooks the town of Riquewihr before turning left towards Hunawihr.

(13) Pass to the left of the fortified church in Hunawihr and take Rue Ruhlmann to join the small road leading to Ribeauvillé.

(14) Cross the road leading to Aubure and join the Grand'Rue. Turn right then left into Rue de l'Abbé Kremp.

(15) Head downhill, turn right into Rue Klee and, before Maison Trimbach, take the path on the left (Red Rectangle) which leads to the foot of Reichenberg.

(16) At the foot of the castle, turn right to reach Bergheim, passing behind the Tempelhof.

(17) Cross Bergheim via the Grand'Rue before turning right onto Route de Colmar and joining the Piémont cycle path on the right.

(18) At the junction with the D416 leading to Ribeauvillé, turn right, then left to follow a path leading to Zellenberg which passes in front of the cemetery. Cross Zellenberg via Rue du Schlossberg.

(19) When you reach the viewpoint at the end of the village, turn left to follow a circular path to the church.

(20) Follow the road towards Beblenheim and, at the bend, continue straight on along the Chemin du Sonnenglanz, which passes above the Bevlenheim wine cellar.

(21) Follow Rue du 5 Décembre to the right, turn left onto Route Du Vin and immediately right onto a path leading to the Buchshof estate.

(22) Cross the Sembach stream.

(23) Walk past the Buchshof and head up towards the necropolis.

(24) A path on the left passes beneath the necropolis and leads to the road that descends towards Sigolsheim. Walk past the Romanesque church and, at the traffic lights, continue straight on to reach the distillery and the cycle path.

(25) An underpass allows you to avoid the D10 and join the cycle path on the right.

(26) Turn right opposite the Étang d'Ingersheim and keep left to go under the dual carriageway.

(27) Follow the Quai de la Fecht, turn right into Rue des Écoles and take the^second street on the left to go under Rue de la République.

(28) Near the retirement home, follow Rue de la Promenade, Rue des Lilas and Rue du 4 Février to return to the starting point (S/E).

The villages you’ll pass through are: Turckheim, Niedermorschwihr, Katzenthal, Ammerschwihr, Kientzheim, Riquewihr, Hunawihr, Ribeauvillé, Bergheim, Zellenberg, Sigolsheim and Ingersheim.

The route offers numerous views of the vineyards, particularly in the Brand, the Sommerberg, at Ammerschwihr, at the Schoenenbourg in Riquewihr, at Bergheim and Zellenberg.

You should allow a full day if you wish to stroll through the narrow streets of the villages along the route. There are plenty of places to eat and drink throughout the route.