Places to visit and things to do:
To make the most of your trip to our wedding we suggest staying a bit longer and enjoying the many things to see and experience in France. Listed below are regions and places that we think are the highlights of the East of France.
​As for Paris, we have decided not to include it in our list as it would take a book to describe it all. Should you wish to travel to Paris after the wedding there is a super-express train (TGV; 350 km/h; ) from Belfort-Montbéliard station (about 40 km from Villersexel) to Paris (takes 2–3h) plying thrice a day.
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Enjoy!
Alsace
Alsace is a beautiful and interesting region in the East of France. It is famous not only for being the driest region, but also for its rich mix of Germanic and French cultures.
We would suggest travelling the Alsace Wine Route for its enchanting vineyards, picturesque villages, and distinctive half-timbered houses. Alsatian wine, especially the white wine, is among the best in France and little known, even among French people. The food is delicious as well. We'd recommend Auberge aux 4 Saisons in Colmar as a good and not too expensive restaurant.
You should also consider visiting Riquewihr, a beautiful winemaking village, and Kaysersberg (125 km from the wedding venue).
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The Castle of Haut-Koenigsbourg is a huge fortress perched above the plains of Alsace in the Vosgian mountains, where the walk up to the castle will give you a chance to stretch your legs and burn off those excess calories acquired during the wedding. The views from the castle are breathtaking.
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Vosges
The Vosges is one of the most beautiful mountainous regions of France and also where Kilian was born.
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There are lots of beautiful walks in the Vosges on the “route des crêtes” ; you will need walking shoes for most of them, but you can go to the Hohneck by car. If it's not cloudy, you will have breathtaking views of the Swiss Alps, and sometimes even of the Mont Blanc.
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The Vosges also has plenty of beautiful lakes you can visit, such as Gerardmer and its city. You can swim in this lake and there are many treks and activities to do in the area.
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Our personal favorite lake, Longemer, is also close to Gerardmer. Nestled between mountains, it offers spectacular views, and like the previous one you can enjoy a dip in the cold water or have a bite/drink in some of the adjacent restaurants/bars.
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If you have an interest in history, the site of the Battle of the Linge in the Vosges is a must see. Many of the trenches of this First World War battle are still in good repair and you can walk along them and get a real feel of how brutal this war really was.
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Colmar
Colmar (114 km from the wedding venue) deserves a special mention. It is rumoured to have inspired the setting for "Beauty and the Beast". A real fairytale town!
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There are so many things to see and do in this town that it would take too much time to describe everything here. Please see this comprehensive description instead.
Besançon
Much closer to the wedding venue is the town of Besançon (about 60 km to the south), it has been referred to as the town that the tourism industry passed by...
Don’t miss the astronomical clock at the cathedral, the fortress designed by Vauban, or Musée du Temps if you are into time
pieces.
The Musee des Beaux-Arts has been referred to as the “petit Louvre”. It is also the birth place of Victor Hugo and you can visit his house.
The restaurants and hotels are comparatively less expensive than those in Alsace.
Basel
It would be unfortunate not to mention this Swiss town, if not only because it is a few kilometres from Basel/Mulhouse airport and you can go there on a Schengen visa.
Basel is the third most populous city in Switzerland and is considered it's cultural capital. It is renowned for its museums, over 40 of them, and it's art galleries.
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It was also a place of refuge for many notable people such as Karl Jung or Friedrich Nietzsche and where the signing of many international treaties took place.
Consider visiting the Rathaus in Marktplatz. You can also take a ride on the river Rhine which divides the old city from the new city.
The Basel Münster cathedral and the Münsterplatz are must-sees. There are also many day tours from Basel into the Alps, such as this one.