Vosges - routes/accommodation?

[Wapping]

Parts of Colmar are OK, basically the old part. Parts are a semi-industrial mess.

Better in my opinion to look at the quite attractive smaller towns and larger villages instead. Google up the Wine Route, here's a start: http://www.ribeauville-riquewihr.com/en/discover/alsace-wine-route.htm and look at what the towns in and around it might offer.

One tiny word of caution. If you go too far out of the main tourists season some places all but close up for their own holidays, before they kick-off again for Christmas and the New Year.

As ever, streetview gives you some pretty good clues.

 

[wessie]

We've booked a hotel in Wissembourg - 55euro pp for two nights inc breakfast which sounds good enough

http://www.hotel-alsace.fr/eng

Now to sort somewhere further south, Colmar looks nice for a few days!

Cheers, Phil

Wissembourg is nice - some good roads there, especially the one to Bitche which has an impressive Napoleonic fort,

As Wapping says, the towns along the wine route are a nicer than Colmar itself. I've mentioned one above, Kaysersberg.

 

[mcinlb]

+1 for Kaysersberg

 

[adventuredon]

I had to stop when I saw that town!

 

[adventuredon]

The D86 is a cracking road

 

[Redboots]

Bitche which has an impressive Napoleonic fort,

There in its current form before Napoleon was born

 

[Redboots]

The D86 is a cracking road

They put chippings on part of it this spring, but they are just about gone now and at least it got rid of all the over-banding that was right on your line .
From Bitche, the D35/D3 to Wissembourg is better, but there are lots of smaller roads round here that are far more interesting that most of the visitors never use

 

[Phil-H]

Wissembourg is nice - some good roads there, especially the one to Bitche which has an impressive Napoleonic fort,

As Wapping says, the towns along the wine route are a nicer than Colmar itself. I've mentioned one above, Kaysersberg.

+1 for Kaysersberg

Cheers, Kayserberg looks lovely on Google but we are staying at here for 3 nights so thought a larger town (like Colmar) may have a larger selection of watering holes to keep us occupied, admittedly I hadn't realised that Colmar was so industrialised....

I'll be searching out some lesser used backwater goat tracks to keep the two sport bike riders focused ; )

Cheers for the input, it is appreciated

Phil

 

[wessie]

There is no shortage of bars and food places to eat. This is my favourite. Found it when the UKGSer Dolomites tour dropped into Kaysersberg on the way home. Revisited it last year. The Baekhoffe for 8.90 euros is great.
<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m0!3m2!1sen!2suk!4v1441396141659!6m8!1m7!1svQi36IoHNHF_w8-jUJ-Pig!2m2!1d48.14008979193195!2d7.259995875886474!3f181!4f0!5f0.7820865974627469" width="600" height="450" frameborder="0" style="border:0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Phil-H]

There is no shortage of bars and food places to eat. This is my favourite. Found it when the UKGSer Dolomites tour dropped into Kaysersberg on the way home. Revisited it last year. The Baekhoffe for 8.90 euros is great.

The link no workee
Kayserberg looks lovely BUT is there enough to do and enough watering holes for a group of thirsty bikers for 3 evenings, we want somewhere nice/pretty but also with plenty going on...?

 

[wessie]

The link no workee
Kayserberg looks lovely BUT is there enough to do and enough watering holes for a group of thirsty bikers for 3 evenings, we want somewhere nice/pretty but also with plenty going on...?

try this https://goo.gl/maps/t8WG1

what do you want? You won't find a casino, lap dancing club, gay bar, Irish bar etc but you will find plenty of places selling local beer, wine & food. There's a castle, a lovely salon du thé near the Hotel Constantin for breakfast and loads and loads of fabulous roads and scenery.

I would be happy to spend 3 nights there, using it as a base for a motorcycling tour. After riding the bike all day I want to relax, have a few beers, eat some local food and sleep before doing it all again.

 

[Phil-H]

Update, we have managed to get booked up for the trip.

First 2 nights in Wissembourg, following 3 nights in Ribeauville (seemingly nothing available in Kayserberg) and the last night en route back to Rotterdam staying in Cochem.

Thanks for all the tips and pointers.
Phil

 

[Wapping]

Lookin' good, Houston!

 

[stolzy]

Colmar is nice enough in the centre. I wouldn't mind staying there if I was within walking distance of the old centre.

You won't be short of watering holes in the villages on the wine route. They are well set up for tourists - Turkheim, Kaysersberg, Eguiseheim (very close to Colmar and a beautiful intact medieval village), Riquwhihr, Ribeaville.

If you want somewhere larger, what about Munster? Close by many excellent twisty routes and only a couple of dozen hairpins from the bikers cafe at Schlucht.

Edit: Ah, too late I see. Story of my life.

 

[Wapping]

How did the trip go?

Any useful pointers for others who might want to do the same?

 

[Phil-H]

How did the trip go?

Any useful pointers for others who might want to do the same?

Not set off yet!
Heading off on Wednesday and will report back upon my return

 

[Phil-H]

Usual ferry pic

Perfect riding conditions!

With the odd U turn...

Wissembourg is beautiful;

The hotel is great - clean & cheap.

View from the room:

Fleckenstein chateau is very impressive

Today we visit the Maginot line then head to Ribeauville - I'm liking this place

 

[Wapping]

Looking good

http://www.hotel-alsace.fr

 

[Tinytim]

Great stuff Phil (the occasional U-turn is a must)

 

[Phil-H]

A couple of nice toys outside the hotel.

The bikes with an impromptu break en route to Lembach

Then a visit to one of the Marginot line emplacements - a worthy visit but no English speaking guide....

Arrival at Ribeauville was later than expected, a beautiful centre beer food rugby (?) bed!

This was parked up near the hotel.