Grand Hotel Filippo

Château Dietrich

Château Dietrich, also known as the Reichshoffen Castle, is a fantastic castle with a lot of interesting history attached to it. The lovely grounds are also surrounded by a beautiful park. The castle was originally founded and built for the Duke of Lorraine in 1232, but after wear and decay the beautiful pink sandstone castle was rebuilt and today belongs to the wealthy Jean de Dietrich family.

Haguenau

Take a driving holiday to the small town of Haguenau, located in Alsace Haguenau Nord, about 35 km north of Strasbourg. Today, the town is home to over 35,000 inhabitants and has acted as a hub throughout history thanks to its central and beautiful location, in the middle of a large forest of over 14,000 hectares. Surrounded by greenery, Haguenau, with its 580 shops and markets, is also a good place to stop for a spot of shopping. There are restaurants and bars and in fact it's quite a lively little town.

Haguenau was founded around 1115 by Frederick Borgne and after a rich and turbulent period including fire and German takeover, Haguenau is today the largest centre of employment in northern Alsace.

The city has two museums and there are many monuments in the heart of the city.

Museum of the Battle of 6 August 1870

This unique museum is completely dedicated to the battle that took place on August 6, 1870 in the Franco-Prussian War and which ended with a French defeat. The battle was between France and Prussia's leadership and the southern German states of Baden, the Kingdom of Bavaria and Württemberg. The war led, among other things, to the start of the Third Republic following the capture and subsequent surrender of Emperor Napoleon III. As for Germany, after the war it was united under Prussia's leadership. Further consequences for France were the loss of Alsace and Moselle, which remained German for 48 long years.

The museum exhibits swords, firearms, uniforms and helmets as well as everything a soldier in the French army in 1870 needed in the art of survival. There are also many beautiful paintings and a total of 1,300 fascinating objects on display, all bearing witness to the tragic past.

Bouxwiller

Drive to Bouxwiller in France, which is also one of the most beautiful towns in northern Alsace, known for its architectural and historical treasures. The town has retained its charm with its half-timbered houses and narrow streets and around the castle park you can still admire the buildings that were once part of the Cathedral.

Bouxwiller is an active town that also attracts many tourists, especially in summer, but the famous Christmas market is certainly an experience too, and starts in early December. Bouxwiller is also known for its big hill, Bastberg, from where there is a great view over the whole area, which by the way is also known for its many witches!

Bouxwiller dates back to Roman times and was already mentioned in a document in the year 725. There are a number of museums in the town, Pays de Hanau and Musee Judeo-Alsacien, and it's easy to spend days in the charming little town. Find a cheap weekend break for the whole family in Alsace with child-friendly hotels and plenty of exciting things to do in the area, including those for children.

Work of the Lime Kiln

Ouvrage du Four à Chaux was built between 1930-1935 and was part of the many fortifications that made up the Maginot Line, a French fortification line that defended the Alsace region from the German border between Luxembourg and the Rhine. As is well known, the Germans went around the fortifications and over the Ardennes mountains, and thus the Maginot Line fulfilled its defensive function.

When Hitler annexed Austria, Sudetenland and Bohemia, the Ouvrage du Four à Chaux was manned and also became an important part of the area's growth thanks to the very industrious soldiers. Discover the fascinating history of one of the great fortifications of all time, the Maginot Line.

The fortress covers an area of 26 hectares, with 6 man blocks, 3 artillery cannons and 4.5 km of underground passages. The site housed about 600 men.

The fortress served as a defence until 1 July 1940, when the French regiments were forced to surrender after the fighting between May and June 1940.

Christmas market in Strasbourg

Open 26th November to 24th December - You can visit the Christmas market's own website with current information

For many, the Christmas markets in Strasbourg are one of the greatest experiences of the festive season. There is a real magic in the air when Strasbourg's Christmas markets with Christmas trees, lights, wooden huts and traditional mulled wine open every year from the end of November.

In Strasbourg, the Christmas markets help to link the festive season with spiritual faith and culture, and it's not for nothing that the Christmas markets were voted the best Christmas destination in Europe in 2013.

It is almost 450 years since the first Christmas market called "Christkindelsmärik" became a tradition in Strasbourg, making it one of the oldest in Europe. Since then, the city has continued the tradition, providing visitors with a hospitable and authentic experience of a lifetime.

The Christmas markets in Strasbourg remain one of the places you simply have to visit at Christmas time.