Autumn is definitely a wonderful and spectacular season in Alsace and the upper Rhine valley: late September, October and beginning of November.
Autumn in the upper Rhine valley is actually 3 seasons in one. End of September is often very similar to Summer. Then comes the golden leaves period in October …
Here are some pictures I have taken in Autumn while strolling through Alsace, nearby Germany and the Vosges mountains.
Pearls on the Alsace Wine Route
The Alsace Wine Route has become famous the world over for its exceptional natural beauty, its simple course and for the instant connection its visitors feel with the region and its growers.
Riquewihr is in the very heart of the Alsace vineyards, a major milestone on the Alsace wine route. All pictures of the gallery below were taken in a 10 kilometers radius maximum from Riquewihr. Click on the first picture to enlarge and browse the picture gallery. Go to the bottom of the page to share with your Facebook friends.
Vineyards on the hills near Riquewihr and Zellenberg. Haut-Koenigsbourg castle in the background.
It is difficult to access the vineyards of Kaysersberg
Ribeauvillé, a charming little city near Riquewihr
Bergheim, medieval city surrounded by walls and vineyards. Just a few kilometers from Riquewihr.
Rodern, famous for its Pinot Noir wines
Traditional house of a winegrower in Rodern
Vineyards on hills below the castle of Haut-Koenigsbourg
St-Hippolyte for its Rouge de St-Hippolyte, a red wine made with Pinot Noir
Haut-Koenigsbourg castle overlooking the church of Rorschwihr
Riquewihr seen from the Schoenenbourg hill, a famous vineyard.
Hiking through the vineyards in Kintzheim. In the background the castle hosting the famous Volerie des Aigles.
Riquewihr seen from the Schoenenbourg vineyard. In the middle of the picture our holiday rental property set on the medieval wall.
Hunawihr and its famous church overlooking the vineyard Clos Sainte Hune. An easy walk of 2 km from Riquewihr.
Kaysersberg and its terraced vineyards
Stay with us in the heart of the Alsatian vineyards and rent your holiday accommodation at Les Remparts de Riquewihr – We are providing new luxury holiday apartments created in an old historical winery facing the vineyards in Riquewihr, Alsace.
Riquewihr is a very practical base to visit all Alsace, the Vosges mountains and even nearby Germany and Switzerland.
Between Châtenois and the Mount Sainte Odile
The Alsace Wine Route winds its way from north to south, for more than 170 kilometres (106 miles) along the eastern foothills of the Vosges. Here are some pictures taken East and North-East of the city of Sélestat. All places shown are easily accessible from Riquewihr with a drive of less than one hour. Our Mountain Hiker apartment in the village of La Vancelle is even nearer.
Click on the first picture to enlarge and browse the picture gallery. Go to the bottom of the page to share with your Facebook friends.
Ortenbourg medieval castle overlooking the Rittersberg vineyards near the village of Scherwiller famous for its Riesling.
Scherwiller vineyards
The village of La Vancelle, on a sunny mountain slope.
Church of La Vancelle. Near to our Mountain Hiker holiday apartment.
Fish restaurant in Villé, Alsace
Andlau and its famous monk who gave his name to a good vineyard.
Châtenois and its wonderful medieval church
Up to our Mountain Hiker holiday apartment. The road is always clear even in the Winter.
The holy Mount Sainte Odile in the background, on the top of the mountain.
Old prehistoric defense wall near Ste Odile monastry
The holy Mount Sainte Odile monastry. Terrace overlooking the plain of Alsace.
The holy Mount Sainte Odile monastry. Chapels.
The holy Mount Sainte Odile monastry
Vulture flying back to his falconer. An impressive bird indeed. Eagle Park – Volerie des Aigles at Château de Kintzheim.
A day out in nearby Germany
The border between France and Germany is merely 30 kilometers away from Riquewihr or La Vancelle. Do not miss a day out in the city of Freiburg im Breisgau combined with the beautiful Kaiserstuhl vineyards (about 16 km northwest of the city of Freiburg) and make a stop in Burkheim.
The Kaiserstuhl hills are the remains of an ancient vulcano. It can be spotted from Riquewihr when the weather is clear (our guests staying in the White Stork or Alsatian Hart apartments can see the Kaiserstuhl and the Black Forest from their windows). Burkheim is a beautiful medieval village in the German Kaiserstuhl vineyards. Weather and season permitting you can have a drink at one of the terraces in the center of the village. But in any case you need to pay a visit to the Burheimer Winzer wine cellar. They make beautiful white wines and a stunning Spätburgunder dry red.
See our dedicated post about A day out in Freiburg, Germany.
In Alsace, more South of Colmar
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Schauenberg schrine near Geberschwihr (south of Colmar)
Schauenberg schrine near Geberschwihr (south of Colmar). View to the north.
Schauenberg – the church
Vineyards West and South of Colmar
Abbey of Murbach near Guebwiller, Alsace
Chapel, Murbach near Guebwiller, Alsace
Sea of clouds on the Champ du Feu (near Sainte Odile)
These pictures were taken later in November in the Vosges mountains. Nature always has some wonderful surprises.
Hundreds of people came that day to the Champ du Feu to see the sea of clouds (near Mount Sainte Odile), Alsace
Impressive cloud tsunami
Sunset on a sea of clouds
Sunset on a sea of clouds
Impressive cloud tsunami
Alsace is an incredible region to visit, whatever the season!
Useful links
Rent your holiday accommodation at Les Remparts de Riquewihr – new luxury holiday apartments created in an old historical winery facing the vineyards in Riquewihr, Alsace.
For nature lovers, our Mountain Hiker apartment in the village of La Vancelle is another good option.
Riquewihr as well as La Vancelle are also a very practical base to visit all Alsace, the Vosges mountains and even nearby Germany and Switzerland.
Go to the bottom of the page to share with your Facebook friends.
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Thank You for sharing! Looks wonderful! Will definitely reach out to you for accommodation once our trip and itinerary is finalized!
For your accommodation, we have some of the finest places in Alsace: http://www.i-love-riquewihr.com 😉
Thanks a lot for the message! 🙂
Bonjour, the pictures that you see here are taken in October, most of them during the second half of the month.
Great article! Am planning a road trip through the wine trails of France in October and the recommendations in this article are very helpful. I wanted to check, when do you get to see fall colors in Alsace region usually? Is Mid October a good time? Or should we move our trip to the later part of October? The pictures posted here look great, what time of the month were they shot?