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Day trip fromStrasbourg to 1- Colmar and 2- Natzweiler-Struthof Concentration Camp Memorial

We are travelling in early December to Strasbourg. We are planning to take a day trip to Colmar and thought it would be nice to experience the wine culture of the area. It sounds like a morning to stroll through Colmar will be enough. I read in another post that it is more common to visit a wine cooperative than wineries and are considering adding Cave de Turckheim which seems to showcase the area wines. An alternative is the half-day on the wine route with L'Alsaciette also recommended here from Colmar. We like the option of seeing other villages. Would love some input about either experience.

Another day, we would like to see Natzweiler-Struthof Concentration Camp Memorial. There are tours but they stop in other places. A half-day visit would be enough for us. We read that we could take a train to Schirmeck-La Broque and then taxi to the site. Has anyone done this? We have not rented cars internationally and would prefer not to unless 100% necessary. A guide just to drive us seems unnecessary, although we are open to options. We want the afternoon/evening back in Strasbourg.

We don't mind using the trains, taxis, Uber (not buses) but don't want it to be a difficult journey.

Posted by
2913 posts

You’ll be there during Christmas market season. This means TONS of people. Do not underestimate the crowds. If you’ve been to Disneyland on New Year’s Eve, it’s that level of crowds at night and on weekends. Seriously.

Your “morning stroll” in Colmar might turn into more than that. There’s a working winery in Colmar called Domaine Robert Karcher. The vineyard is just outside town, but the processing happens in town, and they offer tastings. There are tasting rooms on every corner in all of these towns. A visit to a vineyard at that time of year would be pretty bleak.

Do not rent a car expecting to easily drive to the small villages. There is no parking, and during the markets tens of thousands of people visit. People park on the road and in vineyards for a mile. There is a Christmas Shuttle that operates from Colmar, or you can take the public bus. You can also visit towns on the trainline. Turckheim and Obernai are adorable and have train stations.

Posted by
1319 posts

I did a full day tour with L'Alsaciette in 2022 and really enjoyed it. Our guide/owner Arnaud was very informative.

I think a half day tour could work well from Strasbourg. It would give you time to see Colmar in the morning. The Christmas Market crowds will be somewhat less busy if you can plan a weekday. Maybe enjoy dinner in Colmar before taking the train back to Strasbourg.

I'm unfamiliar with the logistics of visiting the Natzweiler-Struthof Memorial, but I would suggest you prebook any taxi if traveling to Schirmeck by train. Even in Colmar it is not easy to get a taxi.

Posted by
2310 posts

If you want to visit Colmar for the Christmas markets you need to rethink your timetable. You want to stroll through them in the late afternoon-early evening, because that's when they're open. The booths are rarely manned before noon. And really, the main reason to go is to see them at their best, lit up against the coming darkness. Admittedly you can do this in the rain, but it's not the same.

Wineries are rarely open after mid-October. Once the new wine season is past (which is in about two weeks) the tourists die down and it's production and maintenance time. Vineyards in winter are not especially attractive. There are a number of places in Colmar, and Strasbourg for that matter, where you can sample and buy regional wines. The covered market (Marche Couvert) in Colmar has a couple stands dedicated to regional wines. Or L' Sommelier across from the cathedral.

For a scenic day trip consider Mont Saint-Odile, from which you get a commanding view over the valley. On a clear day this is a fantastic place to visit.

Remember, the weather in December will be cold, wet, and there's a good chance of snow.

Posted by
606 posts

Natzweiler Struthof is well worth a visit. It is a deeply moving, almost upsetting experience. You don't say who "we" are, but if you have children, preparation is advisable.
You should read the information on the website in advance. - https://www.struthof.fr/en/
Note that it is closed on Mondays.
We had a car and I recall that it was quite a long drive off the main road.
If you don't have a car, I'd have a car and driver rather than have to rely on sporadic trains and prebooked taxis. Otherwiae, it will take more than your desired half-day.

Posted by
18 posts

Thank you. We are there December 2-5. Has anyone ever visited Cave De Turckheim? It sounds interesting but wondering if it is worth a special trip. It looked like an easy trip from Colmar but given the crowds, maybe not? Is it enough to just see Colmar and some of the wineries that have tastings in town? We (my husband and I) would love to see some of the quaint villages but being careful not to pack to many things in. We had considered Colmar in the morning but will now be sure to visit later in the afternoon and maybe do a tour in the morning.

As for Natzweiler-Struthof, has anyone done a tour from Strasbourg?