Autumn in Alsace

Enjoy the famous wine-making region of Alsace in full autumn splendour by steam train on this enchanting holiday in eastern France.

• Based in the vibrant city of Colmar, you’ll explore the region on privately chartered steam trains on all the preserved railways in Alsace and a forest railway in nearby Lorraine.
• Tour highlights include excursions into nearby southern Germany and a visit to the impressive steam Abreschviller Forest Railway in Lorraine, hauled by an 0-4-4-0T Mallet type steam locomotive.
• Discover historic Basel on a lunch cruise aboard a stylish vintage motor vessel.
• There’s also a visit to the Alsatian vineyard town of Eguisheim and to the city of Mulhouse to savour, with the excellent French National Railway Museum and the one-of-its kind Bugatti Museum both located there.
• Short transfer distances from Colmar to all the featured attractions make this a truly relaxed and engaging tour, the perfect opportunity to see France with a completely new perspective.

Thursday 3rd October
London to Colmar

You travel by Eurostar from London St. Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord, before a transfer to Paris Gare de l´Est for the onward journey by TGV express to Strasbourg, where you change onto a regional service to Colmar. You check in to your elegant, centrally located hotel in the heart of this picturesque town. The rest of the day is free to explore and discover the timber-framed houses and quaint canals of historic Colmar.

Friday 4th October

Scenic river cruise in Basel

This morning you board a locomotive-hauled French Railways (SNCF) service train for the journey from Colmar to Basel, just across the border in Switzerland. You then take a tramway on the short ride into the historic city centre, alighting at the landmark red city hall. Just before lunchtime you alight at the river embankment and board a vintage motor vessel for a delightful lunch cruise on the River Rhine. Your classic red-funnelled ship oozes old-fashioned charm and boasts beautiful wood-panelled dining saloons. You’ll savour a sumptuous buffet lunch, complete with dessert, as you cruise through Swiss, German and French waters. After the cruise there’ll be free time to explore the city centre at your own pace. In the late afternoon you return to Colmar by SNCF service train. (B L)

Saturday 5th October
Steam along the Rhine; free time to enjoy Colmar
After breakfast you travel by road coach to visit the Chemin de Fer Touristique du Rhin, located in the nearby town of Volgelsheim. This standard-gauge railway operates both French and German steam locomotives hauling Austrian carriages with balconies. You’ll traverse the 13 km (8 mile) line from Volgelsheim to the Sans Souci Quay at Marckolsheim, where the River Rhine and canal separate. Afterwards you return to Colmar by road coach. For the rest of the day you are free to relax in Colmar and further discover this outstanding destination with its ornate buildings and tranquil canals. (B D)

Sunday 6th October
Steam on the Thur Doller Railway; scenic cruise in historic Breisach
Today you visit the enchanting Train Thur Doller Alsace, which operates a 13 km (8 mile) long standard-gauge branch line from Cernay to Sentheim, along the foothills of the Vosges Mountains and crossing the River Doller. The railway features a number of authentic photogenic coaches dating from the late 19th century. A powerful early 20th century steam tank locomotive hauls you over this preserved line on a privately chartered train at a time when there is no regular traffic, so numerous run pasts can be staged. A typically French buffet lunch will be served at the station building in Burnhaupt, where you’ll visit the shed and see the railway’s extensive collection of historic rolling stock. At the end of the return journey you travel by road coach to Colmar via the ‘Alsatian Wine Route’ on the way to the historic town of Breisach, Germany, where you board a stylish motor vessel for a welcome sunset cruise on the River Rhine, with coffee and cake included. (B L)

Monday 7th October
Steam in the Black Forest of Germany; visit to historic Freiburg
The German theme continues today as you visit the Kandertalbahn, located on the very tip of Southern Germany, near Basel. This 12.9 km (8 mile) long branch line runs through rural scenery in the Kander Valley. Your train comprises an early 20th century German steam tank locomotive with matching period carriages, and a buffet lunch of regional delicacies will be served when you reach the end of the line at Kandern. There will be plenty of photo opportunities before returning to Colmar by road coach later, stopping to visit the historic city of Freiburg im Breisgau, a German city noted for its medieval university and cathedral. (B L)

Tuesday 8th October
Museums and trams in Mulhouse
Today you travel by train to Mulhouse, famous for its outstanding museums, especially the ‘Cité du Train’ and ‘Cité de l’Automobile’, respectively the largest railway and automobile museums in Europe. You’ll receive a rover ticket for the city’s urban tram network, which you’ll use to travel to the ‘Cité du Train’, the national railway museum of France and one of the largest and most amazing collections of technically unique steam locomotives in the world. The vast collection of classic cars in the nearby ‘Cité de l’Automobile’ is also worth a visit. The remainder of your time in Mulhouse will be free to explore its medieval city centre, with both French and Swiss architecture, the pedestrianised Place de la Réunion main square, and St. Stephen’s church. In the evening you return to Colmar by service train. (B)

Wednesday 9th October
Steam at the Abreschviller Forest Railway
Today you make a side-step from Alsace and visit nearby Lorraine. At Abreschviller you will find a remarkable ‘hidden gem’ in the form of the local forest railway, which operates steam locomotives on the unusual 700 mm gauge. You are comfortably accommodated on the railway’s ‘Belle Epoque’ luxury coach and hauled by a 0-4-4-0T Mallet type steam locomotive dating from 1906. Running through dense forests and crossing the Red Saar River, the train will pause for photos and run-pasts near the village of Grand Soldat. At the terminus of the line, you will also see an old saw mill. Once back in Abreschviller, you still have time to visit the local steam shed and see the other stored steam locomotives, before returning to Colmar. In the evening you have a farewell dinner at the hotel. (B L D)

Thursday 10th October
Colmar to London
You say a fond ‘au revoir’ to Alsace today and return to Paris by TGV express train. You transfer from Paris Gare de l´Est to Gare du Nord and board a Eurostar service to London St. Pancras International. (B)