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German? French? Alsace is like visiting two countries at once. Fortunately, for everyone's sake, you won't see locals wearing berets with lederhosen--instead, you can expect some of the most picturesque scenery in all of Europe. The city of Strasbourg, with its cobblestone streets, half-timbered homes and Gothic architecture glows with such ancient perfection it almost looks movie-set fake. Equally as impressive, but on a smaller scale, is the city of Colmar. More Old World than New, it's the perfect stomping ground for testing the region's most championed wines--Riesling and Gewurztraminer--while also inquiring about the area's fascination with storks, seemingly symbolized on every building.
The Vosges Mountains, France's last great pristine wilderness, also add to Alsace's wow status. Staggering views of glacier-cleaved valleys ornamented with Medieval castles are the norm rather than the exception.
But nothing captures the true essence of Alsace more than "La Route du Vin." This famed thoroughfare hugs the Vosges foothills while winding through an endless string of impossibly idyllic wine villages for 112 miles.