Hello,
We're planning a short European trip with 3 days in Strasbourg, 3 days in Zell am Harmersbach, and 2 days in Schwabenheim. Could you suggest a relaxed itinerary with day trips to scenic Swiss and Alsatian villages from Strasbourg? We'd also like to explore the Black Forest, but excluding Titisee and Triberg.
Thank you!
Gengenbach and Schiltach are nice places to visit from Zell
Thanks a lot.
We are finishing up our stay in Strasbourg today. We enjoyed a day trip to Colmar, and loved spending 2 nights in Baden, Baden, Germany to “take the waters”. I can’t imagine anything more relaxed than that!
I stayed in Gengenbach in the Black Forest for 4 nights in 2022 and absolutely loved it. The town is very charming with beautiful half-timbered houses (it's frequently called a "chocolate box" village) and has a beautiful Altstadt, with quite a few restaurants and cafes to choose from. It's also a very short 30-40 minute train ride from Strasbourg.
The town church (Saint Marion) is quite beautiful, and the medieval gates to the city are really interesting. The Benedictine Abbey is also worth a visit, and behind it are some cloistered gardens that were a joy to wander through. This was one of my favorite places. It was peaceful and inviting and I could have stayed for hours. There were little signs of inspiration scattered around, and some children from a nearby kindergarten playing on one side.
Also don't miss a walk through Engelgasse and Höllengasse streets (near the TIC). Here you will find cobblestones and half-timbered houses, flower pots and cats resting on doormats and quaint dolls in the window. I felt like I had walked back in time when I strolled through these quaint and narrow streets. There is also a nice hike you can take that will get you above the town with some absolutely beautiful views of below. The hike ends up at a church called St. Jakob auf dem Bergle that sits above town. The TIC in town will have maps showing you how to get there. it was a really nice hike and as I said, the views are just lovely!
Thanks a lot for the detailed response.
I second Colmar. I would not do more than 1 day trip as Strasbourg is large enough for a couple days easily.
Thanks a lot for your response
Are you staying in Zell for a particular reason? Zell can be reached from Strasbourg in a little over an hour.
In reasonable time from Strasbourg you can reach Gengenbach, Baden-Baden and Freiburg on the German side (Haslach is decent too). In France: Wissembourg, Colmar, Obernai, Barr, Andlau, Mittelbergheim, Selestat. The more famous wine villages around Colmar are harder to reach.
Basel just over an hour.
