Ine's Christmas holiday in Alsace

Around the Christmas holidays, Ine and her family travelled to enchanting Alsace. Their holiday home (the F88.053) was the ideal base: surrounded by nature, close to atmospheric Christmas markets and wonderfully peaceful. During the day, they enjoyed the Christmas magic in the picturesque villages, and in the evening, they warmed themselves by the open fire. Curious to find out how Ine experienced this winter trip? Read on to find out!

Text and photos: Ine Doupagne ©

'Winter wonder in Alsace: our Christmas holiday with the family

In December, our family of four travelled to Alsace, a part of France we had not yet discovered. We stayed in an authentic house on the edge of a village, secluded and surrounded by forests. It immediately felt as if we were completely away from the hustle and bustle. With a bit of luck, we could even have seen a deer in the garden, but unfortunately, we only saw footprints. Still, that was special in itself: it made us feel how close nature is here.

We enjoyed wonderful walks in the woods around the house and savoured the silence and fresh air. But we also spent a lot of time exploring the region. Of course, we couldn't miss the Christmas markets: Colmar, Kaysersberg and Strasbourg were on our list. Kaysersberg was a real gem at this time of year. The village was so atmospheric and cosy. We ate in a typical Alsatian restaurant and tried knepfle, a traditional type of pasta, for the first time. I found it quite an unusual experience. 
Strasbourg was an absolute must for us. The city is beautiful, with its historic streets, atmospheric squares and impressive cathedral. 

We also had a picnic by Lake Gérardmer and then took a lovely walk around the water, enjoying the December sunshine.
Back at the holiday home, we enjoyed the warm atmosphere: the pizza oven and the fireplace were real highlights. The house was well heated, and the bathroom was surprisingly spacious with both a bath and a separate shower. It was the perfect combination of peace and comfort: we could relax, but also explore to our hearts' content.

This would be a fantastic place for dogs. The grounds are not fenced, but they are private and you can enjoy nature without being disturbed.

All in all, we had a wonderful week with our children. We are glad we got to experience this region: we drove through the hills, saw so much beautiful nature and really felt like we were away from it all. This had been on our bucket list for a while, and now we can tick it off!

Ready for a new winter adventure close to home? Take a look at our range of holiday homes in the Grand Est and choose the one that suits your needs. Prefer personal advice? Our specialists will be happy to help you find your perfect holiday!