Head for the Grand Est for a multi-day motorcycle tour, with two people or with friends. Strasbourg and the surrounding area are full of wonders, from the characterful towns with their timber-framed houses, the vineyards and hilly landscapes, to the great castles that rise above the green valleys and offer a journey through time. After renting a motorbike from Yamaha Rent Strasbourg, which offers comfortable machines and scooters, and after travelling through the Lower Rhine, it is too good an opportunity not to push on to the neighbouring Upper Rhine, and then go further up to the Vosges, to ride in the heart of its gentle mountains. Strasbourg and its region is a motorcycle itinerary of all kinds of pleasures, between architecture, nature, history, great wines and food. Here is a good example of a route to follow
Once the motorcycle has been collected from the rental agency in Strasbourg, you must take the time to walk around the city to discover its treasures. It's hard not to fall in love with the Grande Île, its historic heart. You can visit the Notre-Dame cathedral, the Kammerzell house and the Rohan palace, then stop at the pretty Gutenberg and Kléber squares. The historic centre of Strasbourg is a UNESCO world heritage site, and in particular the Petite France district, sublime with its medieval alleys, its half-timbered houses full of flowers, its bridges and the Ill river which crosses the district and almost reminds us of Venice. It is here that you can taste some regional specialities, by joining the restaurant Au Pont Saint-Martin. Along the river, you can try sauerkraut or a tarte flambée. After having parked the motorcycle in one of the secured car parks of Strasbourg, we then join the bed and breakfast Du Côté de Chez Anne to spend the night. This superb Alsatian house has tastefully decorated rooms, where you are sure to spend a restful night before hitting the road at sunrise.
The next day, the journey through the landscapes of the Bas-Rhin takes us 76 km from Strasbourg, and more precisely to Colmar in the Haut-Rhin. Colmar is the oldest town in Alsace, and if its architecture reminds us of certain districts of Strasbourg in many respects, it has a more intimate character. It is a city that is ideal for strolling, particularly in the Little Venice district, with its timber-framed and colourful houses on the waterfront. You can also take a trip back in time by visiting the main buildings, such as the Maison Adolph, the oldest in the town, the Maison des Têtes and the Maison Pfister. The town also has parks and gardens where you can go green, and on the museum side, the Toy Museum and the André Malraux Contemporary Art Museum are happy to welcome visitors. For lunch or dinner, Le Petit Schlossberg is a must for its Alsatian, but also Italian and exotic cuisine. The Villa Elyane is perfect for spending one or two nights, with a decoration mixing Art Nouveau and contemporary design, and the presence of a sauna area. A trip to Colmar offers the possibility to reach the nearby village of Eguishem. Labelled "Most Beautiful Villages in France", it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in Alsace and walking through its narrow streets is an enchantment
The motorcycle trip continues peacefully with a return to the Bas-Rhin to visit one of the most beautiful castles in the region, the Haut-Koenigsbourg castle. Note that for those who arrive early in the morning, the site has a parking lot with 150 free spaces to park the motorcycle. Located on the heights of Orschwiller, its imposing silhouette dominates the whole plain. Built in the 12th century, the lower courtyard, the mill, the drawbridge, the spiral staircases, the drawbridge, the dungeon, the arms room and the cannons are a constant reminder of the vocation this mountain fortress had in the Middle Ages. In addition, the monument offers a sublime panorama of the surrounding valley and on very good days, it is not unusual to see the Alps! After a moment spent in the heart of this architectural jewel, it is then time to take the road to reach the town of Barr. Less known by tourists, the village is nevertheless another love at first sight, with its beautiful historical centre. After a night at the 5 Terres Hôtel & Spa - MGallery, superb with its luxurious spa, we leave the motorbike the next day to visit the surrounding countryside, and in particular the vineyards, with the help of an electrically-assisted bicycle that can be rented from the Pays de Barr Tourist Office.
For the rest of the journey, we take the Alsace Wine Route to Obernai. On arrival, we will drop our luggage at the Villa Haute Corniche, a superb white house clinging to a hillside which offers rooms with a high level of comfort. A bottle of wine is offered on arrival and the swimming pool is perfect for cooling off on hot days. In Obernai, you can enjoy strolling through the typical Alsatian town centre, going to the market to stock up on local produce, but also stopping off at the restaurant La Dîme to take a seat in a sublime medieval building and taste local recipes such as presskopf, onglets and other "bouchées à la reine". You can then take a walk along the ramparts, before taking the Schenkenberg wine trail on foot, to gain height and enjoy a superb panorama of the village and the valley
The penultimate stage leads to Saverne, gateway to the Vosges Regional Nature Park. It is in this town that we leave the motorcycle, before going to this natural setting which is characterized by a soft relief as well as landscapes strewn with clearings and ponds. Forests cover 65% of the territory and on the hiking trails, you will come across roe deer, deer, black tits and lynx. The Vosges du Nord Regional Nature Park also boasts beautiful historic towns such as Reichshoffen and Wissembourg, as well as castles and the remains of defensive castles, often built on sandstone spurs. After a day of hiking in the fresh air, you can drive the 50 km from Saverne to Strasbourg to reach the hotel Le Grillon, which has a special parking lot for two-wheelers. The rooms are modern and affordable, a good way to end your stay before returning your bike to the rental agency.
For information on sightseeing and maps, motorcycle travelers can visit the tourist offices in Strasbourg, Colmar, Pays d'Eguisheim and Rouffach, Pays de Barr and Pays de Saverne.
For more information on motorcycle rentals in Strasbourg, visit the Yamaha Rent website.
