Page 35 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - France

DRIVE 1: Alsace Wine Route 33

5 Zotzenberg
Bas-Rhin, Alsace; 67140
The wine trail through the Zotzenberg hillsides traverses the
grape-growing territory of Mittelbergheim village below. The trail is
one of 38 wine trails – sentiers viticoles – along the Alsace wine route.
A two-hour walking tour Rhine. It is a prized grape-growing
The walk is most pleasant in the terrain which produces top-grade
afternoon amid spring flowers or grands crus wines. At the top of the
the thick vines of summer and hill is a forest road. Take the left-hand
autumn. The trail starts from the path towards the rocky platform,
Zotzenberg car park on the D362. Rocher Sainte-Richarde 2,which
The walking area is rippled with hills, takes in the views of the Château du Above Zotzenberg grand cru grapes above the
culmi nating in the foothills of the Spesbourg. Return to the fork and village of Mittelbergheim Below Brasserie on
Vosges moun tains and silhouette turn left to walk up the gentle hills the Grand Rue in Barr
of Mont Sainte-Odile. and the bottle-green forested pleats
Leave the car park and take the to reach the ruins of the14th-century
VISITING ZOTZENBERG
path on the left through the vine- Château d’Andlau 3.
yards. Turn left at the intersection Continue on the forest road until
Tourist Information
towards the forest, and then left the first crossing. Here turn right 1 place Hôtel de Ville, Barr, 67140; 03
again at the fork through the pine towards the Trois Chênnes crossroads. 88 08 66 65
forest to the Colline du Crax 1. On On reaching the crossroads, take the
the southern hillside of the Colline path towards Mittelbergheim. After
EAT AND DRINK
du Crax, part of the sub-Vosges getting back at the fork that led to the
mountain slopes, Zotzenberg lies “Espiègles”, turn left and take the path OBERNAI
within a hilly basin between the through the vineyards. Move straight La Cloche inexpensive
valley of Andlau and the plane of the on and take the Rippelholz path to Alsatian specialities include
reach the Zotzenberg car park. choucroute and potato pancakes.
Along the well-marked Rippelholz 90 rue Général Gouraud, 67310;
03 88 40 90 43; closed Wed out
path there are 17 information panels
of season
dedicated to Alsace’s seven different
grape varieties. Nine other panels Le Bistro des Saveurs expensive
illustrate the work of the winemaker, Housed in a 400-year-old building, this
from the vineyard to the bottle. For place serves fine regional dishes.
35 rue de Sélestat, 67210; 03 88 49
much of the walk visitors will be view-
90 41; closed Mon and Tue
ing crops of Sylvaner – the “queen”
grape of the region account ing for BARR
about 40 per cent of the growing area. Au Potin inexpensive–moderate
ª Continue on the D362 and turn This Parisian-style genial café-brasserie
serves Alsatian dishes.
left onto the Rue Principale of
11 rue du Général Vandenberg, 67140;
Mittelbergheim.
03 88 08 88 84; closed Mon and Tue
Attenberg
Château d’Andlau
RUE ROTLAND
Trois Chênes Chemin du Rippelholz
Sentier Vitic ole Zotzenberg
S entier des Espiègles Rue du Holzweg
Colline du Crax
MITTELBERGHEIM
RUE DE LA MO NTAGNE
Rocher Sainte- RUE RRINCIPALE
Richarde
0 metres 500
0 yards 500

Eat and Drink: inexpensive, under €20; moderate, €20–€40; expensive, over €40