Vosges in Spring - Advice Wanted

[Rasher]

I am trying to put together a long weekend jaunt to take some mates to experience the wonders of European roads (and to watch them in agony on their pocket rockets after a few hours of motorway) and the Vosges looks like a good choice.

The Alps is a bit far (4 days max so people don't need long of work) as is the Pyrenees, and the Vosges looks to have great roads tightly packed together.

It will have to be around the last weekend in April or first weekend in May, a bit of googling suggests Colmar is a good bet with a generally very dry climate and the Vosges on the doorstep and the Black Forest just 30 minutes away. It appears that snow is unlikely in April (1 snow day on average) and we would there be at the end of the month.

Any knowledge or experience of the area at this time of year would be appreciated, both with regard to weather and traffic.

The plan would be an easy out with a stop off near Verdun, then Motorway to Baden Baden and a run down the B500 sticking to roads within the Black Forest all the way down until level with Colmar before hopping back over the Border to France and Colmar. We would get a full days riding around the Vosges "best" roads before making the trip home in one go on the last day.

The routes I have no problems with, just trying to gauge how risky the weather is - I am assuming by this time of year it ought to be at least as good as what we would find in the UK, and the roads would be clear of snow

 

[stolzy]

There is a significant risk that there will be at least some roads closed with snow in April.

I've been skiing often during the first weeks of April in the vosges. On the other hand it could be warm and sunny.

Bear in mind that the reason Colmar is the second sunniest town in France is because all the rain falls on the vosges.

Colmar is nice enough, but I'd probably choose to stay in one of the wine villages - Eguisheim, Riquwihr, Ribeauville etc. The towns and villages in the Vosges are pretty grim (with a few exceptions) - mostly down at heel ex-mining towns.

 

[swissrob]

there is a good chance of snow patches still around in april, the roads should be clear but be VERY VERY careful of water run off which can freeze during the night, we got caught out this year and had an off on an area that didnt get sun for the whole day, sheet ice right across the road and you have no chance, the ice had not mented and it was 1600.

as stolzy says colmar or one of the larger wine vilages, the rest of them and dull and grim

 

[Giles]

Yes, the Vosge can be very damp .....

this might help too .....


http://www.alpineroads.com/vosges.php

 

[Wicker]

Just back from a euro trip in Sept which included 4 nights in the Vosge. Stayed in a biker hotel run by a Dutch couple who speak english. Comfortable accommodation out in the country. Took half board; menu choice was somewhat limited i.e. take it or leave it (although the evening menu is posted on a board at breakfast so you can decide to eat in the hotel or elsewhere).

Hotel was well situated for riding some of the nicer routes & Cols in the Vosge including the Route de Cretes.

http://www.coldebussang.com/fr/accueil.htm

If you have a look at the attached Tourenfahrer link there are a few other biker orientated hotels listed for the Vosge.
http://tourenfahrer-hotels.de/index.php?id=6

 

[swissrob]

this is a very nice trip - only main section was route de cretes and that was a very small part of the trip. On a sunday expect a fair bit of traffic here. All other roads are quite minor and wouldnt expect too much traffic on them.

As you know the vosges is about curves, if you are not so good at bends then you will get plenty of practice.. lots of fast twisty roads, good and safe speeds possible.

 

[stolzy]

this is a very nice trip - only main section was route de cretes and that was a very small part of the trip. On a sunday expect a fair bit of traffic here. All other roads are quite minor and wouldnt expect too much traffic on them.

As you know the vosges is about curves, if you are not so good at bends then you will get plenty of practice.. lots of fast twisty roads, good and safe speeds possible.

So many fine roads you could ride every day and still find a new route at the end of a month.

Not to mention a fine and distinctive cuisine

 

[wessie]

Colmar seemed a nice place when I stopped there for lunch last year. I noted it as somewhere for a longer visit in the future. Some friends were unimpressed by Riquewhir on a trip this year - they thought it would be a nice place for a day off the bikes but found it dull: something of a touristy, one trick pony museum.

I have a friend who lives a few miles west of Mulhouse so I know the area quite well. My advice is to be flexible at that time of year. The weather is very changeable all year - don't have a rigid plan to ride down the B500 on the way there - check the weather forecast when you get to Verdun as it might be horrid in Baden Baden & Titisee but wonderful in St Dizier & St Dié.

Same with your rideouts: don't make any promises to visit a particular place. If the weather turns foul blast up the Autoroute and spend a day in Reims, taking in a champagne tasting or two to cheer people up. Reims is my usual stopover place when returning from Alsace.

 

[Speckled Jim]

Don't miss out on the Route des Cretes, if it's not snow bound.

http://www.frenchmoments.com/Route_des_Cretes.html

Have a great trip

...As you know the vosges is about curves...

...and I seem remember that the tarmac runs out and the cobbles begin on a lot of those curves too!

 

[swissrob]

yes correct, on a small section of the cretes they have put (or preserved ?) cobbles on the hairpins. I actually expect its to stop the weekend warrior riding like a cnut as many of them do.

 

[Rasher]

Thanks everyone

My advice is to be flexible at that time of year. The weather is very changeable all year - don't have a rigid plan to ride down the B500 on the way there - check the weather forecast when you get to Verdun as it might be horrid in Baden Baden & Titisee but wonderful in St Dizier & St Dié.

Same with your rideouts: don't make any promises to visit a particular place. .

Having done a few Euro tours I am familiar with flexible planning, with modern technology we can get weather on the move and would do exactly as you suggest and checkthe B500 weather on the day, if it is crap all over I would actually spend the morning hanging around the Verdun war sites and then just bomb down the motorway to Colmar (or wherever) in the afternoon.

I also like the Colmar area as again we can look at the weather on the morning of our full day and go either to the Vosges or Black Forest, and even into Switzerland as it is only a 3-4 hour round trip.

 

[Charlie Mc]

We have stayed at Orbey a couple of times. Can't remember the hotels name but it was very comfortable, it was like a motel with separate chalets & the food was excellent

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

We went to the Vosges in late May this year, staying in Turckheim just west of Colmar. The weather was showery but when it was hot, it was hot! One day was 20+ degrees when we left Turckheim but within an hour was 5 degrees at the top of a pass. Search under "Wappings Wanders" and you'll find details. It is a properly lovely biking area, as is the Black Forest just across the Rhine.

Go back a few more years and we came back from a trip to Germany via the Vosges - this was in early May. There was still loads of snow beside the roads on the higher passes - Col de la Schlucht being the one we picked - and it was properly chilly. Worst of all - the gallons of melt water crossing the road at various points put a seed of doubt in my mind for every corner.

I have no idea whether this was a freak year, but if that was anything like normal (and Stolzy's posts seem to indicate it was fairly typical) I think you might need to pack kit accordingly and put any hopes of sun-drenched mountain passes to the back of your mind!

 

[Rasher]

I have no idea whether this was a freak year, but if that was anything like normal (and Stolzy's posts seem to indicate it was fairly typical) I think you might need to pack kit accordingly and put any hopes of sun-drenched mountain passes to the back of your mind!

Thanks, I now sun drenched is unlikely, we had snow on the top of the Nufenen and Stelvio in August last year, and it was about 6c at the top of La Bonnette this August.

I am hoping for 12-18c at lower levels and for the roads to be mainly clear of snow and frost higher up (i.e. passable by bike)

If anything like the Alps many roads you can see well ahead, especially on downhill switchbacks so should be able to spot running water - if just a fraction of the corners are dry it will still be fantastic compared to what we have around here on a good day.

In my sportsbike days even the odd damp patch seemed to ruin a ride, on the GS I am happy unless it is really crappy weather, hopefully over the 600 - 700 non motorway miles we will cover in France and Germany we can get some good biking in.

 

[Rasher]

Has anyone stayed in Munster?

I am looking at towns around Colmar as the city is not getting great reviews, don't want to be in the middle of nowhere as I like to be able to wander into the local town and choose a restaurant.

 

[stolzy]

Munster doesn't have a great deal to recommend it.

If you want a decent choice of restaurants etc kaysersberg or ribeauville would be my choices.

The very touristy places like Eguisheim and riquwihr tend to be a bit quiet out of season

Colmar is nice enough and/but much bigger than any of the above.

 

[Rasher]

Thanks, will have a look at Hotels around them places

 

[wessie]

Has anyone stayed in Munster?

I am looking at towns around Colmar as the city is not getting great reviews, don't want to be in the middle of nowhere as I like to be able to wander into the local town and choose a restaurant.

I'm surprised. I thought Colmar was a place I'd like to go back to. Certainly plenty of places to eat and I did the very thing you describe: wandered about for an hour before selecting a place to eat in a pleasant square with a fountain. turned out to be a good choice with a very good salad and decent beer. Ice cream for pud by the fountain from a nearby Eisgeschäft. Tripadvisor has plenty of recommendations for eateries & hotels. I'd be considering this place based on the reviews & location

Some typical Colmar scenes:

 

[Wapping]

Colmar is part olde worldy and part modern French concrete in the unsympathetic style. Very much a city of two parts. That being said, it's not all bad.

I have ridden through Munster several times and always thought it might well be a good place to stay. A large enough town to have a choice of restaurants, busy enough to be interesting without becoming clogged up. I am planning on making it my base for the next time I go.... or at least putting it on the shortlist.

I had thought about this hotel http://reservation-hotel.logishotel...e=24&url=http://www.hotel-panorama-alsace.com It is outside of the town itself but I'm sure they have a taxi service of sorts.

If not, this one may be OK for a couple of nights, perhaps? http://reservation-hotel.logishotels.com/jreservit/fichehotel.do?langcode=EN&hotelid=1690

 

[wessie]

Munster is certainly well named for a UKGSer tour to the Vosges