You Shouldn't Have to Marry a Local to Have a Great Vacation in Alsace!
Ok, I hit the jackpot.
I found the man of my dreams AND he just happens to be French (and from the region of Alsace), so my friends, family and I get to see what most tourists visiting France never will...
...their own private tour of where the French prefer to go on vacation in France (and surprisingly enough, a lot of French people stay in France for their vacations!)
When I first moved here, I didn't think much of it.
Alsace?
It's that German part of France, right?
Weren't there some wars fought in there? I think I remember something like that from history classes.
Yeah, ok, why should I go to Alsace on vacation, or (in my case) live there?!?
But if you like....
history...
Alsace has over 150 villages full of:
centuries-old churches
medieval gates
medieval walls
restored and ruined castles
and a lot more...
I often feel like time is standing still in these ancient Alsatian villages and yet the locals live and thrive here like it's no big deal. They're so wonderfully down to earth.
It's really indescribable, and I always end up taking a million pictures trying to capture the magic in my photos!
I just can't help myself. It's so magical!
wine...
Alsace is a French wine region and has over 104 villages surrounded by vineyards with mostly family-run wineries...
And did I mention wine tastings?!?
But pace yourself!
If you do a wine tasting at every winery in even a really small Alsatian village in a single day, you may not make it to dinner!
culture...
Alsace is distinctly different from the rest of France.
Alsatians (the people not the dogs!) have their own language that sounds NOTHING like French or German. They have their own cuisine, music, traditional dress, architecture, art, and way of life.
They are a wonderful people and it's well worth experiencing the way they live life day in day out.
If you only sample their wine and take photos of their villages, you've missed something you may regret.
Take the time, if you can, to find out what it's like to live here...
Even if for a short time!
I live here and from experience I can say that it's completely unlike living anywhere in the US or even Paris.
war history...
Alsace has been fought over from Roman times to the 20th century.
Everybody wanted it (with good reason for strategic purposes):
Julius Caesar
Frederick Barbarossa
Louis XIV
Napoleon
the Hapsburgs
the Holy Roman Empire
and the Germans to name a few.
Because of all this, Alsace has tons of castles...some ruined, some in good shape.
Alsace also has quite a few Maginot Line forts. One of which was still shelling Germany after the French had surrendered to the Germans. Why? Nobody told them about the armistice!
Alsace also has the ONLY concentration camp in France (although it was technically part of Germany at the time).
And I won't even start talking about the World War One trenches in Alsace...that are still in good shape...
Gothic cathedrals and medieval monasteries...
Alsace has a magnificent cathedral in Strasbourg, but it's also full of monasteries and convents that are even older!
European Politics...
Alsace's capital, Strasbourg, is the seat of the European Parliment, the Council of Europe, and the European Court of Human Rights.
and a lot more, but that is what the rest of the website is about!
We're here to help you plan your trip to Alsace...
- whether you will be visiting Alsace for a day or a week...
- whether you want to get off the beaten path or see the most popular sites here in Alsace...
- whether you're travelling alone or with friends or family...
- whether you're bringing small children, tweens, or teens with you on your trip to Alsace...
- whether you speak French or German or just English...
- whether you've been to a foreign country before or just got your first passport...
Hey, I know what it's like. Before I moved here, I had never visited a foreign country other than Canada. So a FOREIGN country on a DIFFERENT continent that speaks a DIFFERENT language can be a little intimidating.
BUT it doesn't have to be. I've thought of EVERYTHING (or at least everything I could think of!) for your trip to Alsace.
And if you can't find the information you're looking for, you can ask me.
And for those more seasoned travelers, there will be lots of lesser-known things to do and recommendations.
So whatever you are looking for in Alsace, you will be able to find it here!
So...
Bienvenue en Alsace!
Willkommen im Elsass!
Welcome to Alsace!
It's time..... to GET ALSACED!
What's New at GetAlsaced.com
Here's where you'll find out about what's new at www.GetAlsaced.com
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GetAlsaced Site Map
Use our GetAlsaced site map to find whatever you're looking for! Want to know about Flammakueche? Or medieval villages with train stations? Whatever you're looking for...it's here!
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All about GetAlsaced.com and Suzele
All about GetAlsaced.com and Suzele: why did I build this website anyway? Why am I in love with Alsace? and Who am I? You can find out more about us here.
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What Are You Looking for about Alsace?: Your Questions About Alsace Answered
Here's where I answer all of your questions about Alsace... Or you can just read everyone else's questions and my answers about what you're looking for about Alsace...
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Your Recommendations in Alsace: What Are Your Favorites?
Here you'll find everyone's recommendations in Alsace. It's where you can share your favorites...whatever they may be... Wines, restaurants, food, hotels, vacation rentals, or just helpful advice...
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You Can Contact Suzele at GetAlsaced.com Here
Contact Suzele: So you've got a question about Alsace? I've got some answers. If I can help you, I will. Got a comment? I'd love to hear it!
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Want to Make a Hotel Reservation in Alsace?
Want to make a hotel reservation in Alsace? Finding hotels in Strasbourg isn't so difficult, but what about those adorable wine road village hotels.You can find what you're looking for here!
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Alsace Map:Where Are All Those Charming Alsatian Villages Anyway?
Here is an Alsace map to give you an idea of where everything is. From there you can go to more detailed maps of Alsace.
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Train Travel in Alsace France : Take the Train and Save Money
Don't want to drive? Have you considered train travel in Alsace? Get out and see some of Alsace by train and save some money too! It's a lot easier than driving.
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Family Fun in Alsace: Fun Trips the Kids Will Like
Looking for family fun in Alsace? So you're bringing the kids to Alsace and you need to find something fun for them? No problem. These are the things our kids love to do here in Alsace.
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A Condensed History of Alsace
A lot happened in Alsace. Most of it, unfortunately, is written in French. That's not a problem for me, but I thought you might like to read it too, so I've created a condensed history of Alsace.
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Alsace France in World War One: 1914 to 1918
Alsace France in World War One was the border between France and Germany at the time which means that there are a number of war memorials and trenches to see in Alsace...
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Learning French: My Secrets to Enjoying the French Language
I ought to know...I've been learning French since I was nine years old... And now that I live in France, I've probably tried everything out there!
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The Alsatian Language
The Alsatian language is actually a number of different dialects spoken in the Alsace region. You can find out more about who speaks it and what it looks like here.
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Alsace and Food
There's Alsace and Food. And then there's Alsatian food. There's also French food. If you want to know more about all this, you've come to the right place.
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The French Wine Region of Alsace
Do you want to learn more about the French wine region of Alsace? Like what sort of wine do they make there? Or maybe you just want to know more about the Wine Road!
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Alsace Wineries: What Are Your Favorites?
There are SO many Alsace wineries. In Eguisheim alone there are 30!! And when you consider that there are over 100 wine producing villages on the Wine Road in Alsace...
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