Haut-Rhin, France
Self-catering Haut-Rhin holiday rental homes - Gites Haut-Rhin
Haut-Rhin is a department of the Alsace region of France, named after the Rhine river. The countryside is marked by hills and the Vosges mountain range.
Colmar is the capital of the department. It is situated along the Alsatian Wine Route and is the "Capital of Alsatian Wine" – perfect for wine-lovers who rent a holiday home in the Haut-Rhin, France. Colmar is the home town of the sculptor Frédéric Bartholdi, who designed the Statue of Liberty. The city is renowned for its well preserved old town, its numerous architectural landmarks and its museums - well worth a visit when staying in an Haut-Rhin holiday rental house or gite. Colmar has a sunny microclimate and is the second driest city in France, with an annual rain fall of just 550 mm, making it ideal for Alsace wine. Colmar is crossed by canals of the river Lauch, and now has a neighbourhood known as "little Venice" (la Petite Venise).
Mulhouse is the largest city in the Haut-Rhin, and the second largest in the Alsace region after Strasbourg. Mulhouse is famous for its museums, especially the Cité de l’Automobile and the Musée Français du Chemin de Fer, respectively the largest automobile and railway museums in France. Two rivers run through Mulhouse, the Doller and the Ill, both tributaries of the Rhine. The Rebberg district consists of beautiful grand houses inspired by the colonnaded residences of Louisiana cotton planters.
Ribeauvillé is another town which is worth seeing when you holiday in Haut-Rhin, France. It’s surrounded by ancient walls, has many picturesque medieval houses, and two old churches, of St Gregory and St Augustine, both fine Gothic buildings. Near the town are the ruins of three famous castles, Saint-Ulrich, Girsberg and Haut-Ribeaupierre.
Thann is situated at the foot of the Vosges mountains, at the mouth of the valley of the Thur River – which runs through Thann. Thann is the southern terminus of the route des Vins d'Alsace. The northern side of the town is overlooked by the Rangen vineyard, one of the few vineyards in Alsace to be classed grand cru.
Travelling to your Self catering Haut-Rhin holiday rental property
By Air: The nearest airport is close-by - Basel in Switzerland. British Airways offers daily flights departing from London Heathrow. Easyjet also flies into Basel from London Gatwick and Edinburgh airport. By Train: By train from Paris Est station to Colmar a regular TGV service is in operation and the journey times is approximately 2 ½ hours. By Road: The department is well situated for the French auto route network such as the A35 and A36. From Paris the journey time to the department is 5 ½ - 6 hours.