Alsace & Lorraine - Classic Christmas Markets

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Cruising through the Marne-Rhine Canal

Bordering Germany, Alsace & Lorraine blends French and German culture and glows with Christmas traditions dating back over 500 years. Strasbourg, the “Capital of Christmas,” draws over two million visitors annually to its sparkling streets and iconic Christkindelsmärik—the oldest market in France—featuring more than 300 wooden chalets. Guests on our Christmas market cruises can explore Place Gutenberg and La Petite France, then enjoy a traditional Alsatian dinner. In fairy tale-like Colmar, with its half-timbered houses and festive décor, you’ll discover six Christmas markets, visit a chocolate atelier, and even try your hand at making sweets, with a stop at the Riquewihr market in the Vins d’Alsace wine region. In Lutzelbourg, guests visit the Meisenthal Glass Bauble factory—the birthplace of the Christmas ornament—and the Musée Lalique, showcasing the glass artistry of René Lalique, a legend of Art Nouveau and Art Deco. Panache’s voyage through Alsace & Lorraine brings the best of the region to life, from storybook villages and festive markets to Strasbourg’s Romanesque architecture and Europe’s most famous boat elevator.

About this UnTour Cruise

Itinerary Highlights:

Visit the colourful Christmas markets of Colmar and admire its spectacular display of lights and decorations.

Visit the world-famous René Lalique glass collection.

Roam around the incredible Christmas markets of Strasbourg, featuring hundreds of stalls and Christmas trees.

Visit the workshop of a chocolate atelier for a decadent demo and tasting.

Savour Alsatian delicacies in the pretty village of Riquewhir with its charming Christmas market.

Experience the magic of glass blowing at Meisenthal Glass Bauble factory, which is the birthplace of the bauble!

Try Alsatian ‘Flammekueche’, also known as tarte flambée, aboard Panache.

Please note: This itinerary is subject to change depending on weather conditions. On alternate weeks, the cruise is in the reverse direction.

Air Options

We recommend flying in and out of Strasbourg, Basel-Mulhouse, Zurich, or Paris

What's included

6 nights on board (Sunday to Saturday) in air-conditioned en-suite accommodation.
Daily excursions, hosted by the Tour Guide, inclusive of all entry fees.
The services of our experienced Captain, Chef, Tour Guide, Housekeepers & Deck Hand.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner aboard. All lunches and evening meals are a gastronomic adventure with local produce delicately prepared by a Private Chef.
An excellent selection of fine regional and international wines and branded spirits from the open bar, soft drinks plus coffee, and a selection of teas.
Use of barge facilities such as library, bicycles, complimentary Wi-Fi, and a spa pool (hot tub).

Itinerary

Day 1 (Sunday): Plobsheim

Guests are met in Strasbourg and transferred by private chauffeured minibus to Panache’s mooring for a champagne welcome and the first opportunity to meet your crew. There may be time for a short walk along the canal before dark, or you can enjoy settling into your cabin and relaxing before your first gourmet dinner on board.

Day 2 (Monday): Plobsheim to Strasbourg

This morning, the first cruise of the week takes us from Plobsheim through the countryside before we reach the outskirts of Strasbourg and head to our mooring in this historic city. After lunch, we drive to Colmar to visit its six Christmas markets, including the gourmet foods area. Framed by fairy-tale half-timbered houses with festive scenes and Christmas trees on every corner, there is a magical atmosphere here. Later, we visit a local chocolate atelier where there will be the opportunity to try your hand at creating your very own chocolatey souvenirs. Dinner on board.

Day 3 (Tuesday): Strasbourg to Souffelweyersheim

After breakfast we explore beautiful Strasbourg – ‘The Capital City of Europe’ with its 13 Christmas markets in its historic centre. We’ll stroll around Place Gutenberg and explore La Petite France – a cobbled pedestrian area brimming with half-timbered houses, boutique shops and cafés. We’ll also see Strasbourg’s breathtaking 12th century Gothic pink sandstone cathedral, home to a famous Renaissance astronomical clock and soaring spire, as well as its popular nativity scene. After lunch we cruise through the city and on past the impressive European Parliament building, the Palais de l’Europe, on the outskirts of Strasbourg to our mooring in Souffelweyersheim. Dinner ashore this evening at a traditional Alsatian restaurant.

Day 4 (Wednesday): Souffelweyersheim to Brumath

This morning, Panache cruises further north along the canal, with good walking and cycling opportunities, through pretty countryside and the Forest of Brumath to our rural mooring set amongst the trees. In the afternoon, we drive to the beautiful little medieval town of Riquewhir, located in the heart of the Alsatian vineyards. We have time to wander the Christmas markets and many artisanal craft stalls with the option of a wine tasting experience at nearby Maison Hugel. Dinner on board.

Day 5 (Thursday): Brumath to Waltenheim-sur-Zorn

This morning we enjoy a relaxing cruise to Waltenheim-sur-Zorn. After lunch on board, we visit Meisenthal with its glass bauble factory – the original birthplace of this iconic Christmas decoration – to watch the glass blowers in action. If time permits, on the way back to the barge, we also have the option to visit the famed René Lalique collection and see over 500 exceptional examples of Art Nouveau and Art Deco glassware. Before dinner on board, time for aperitifs and perhaps some traditional Alsatian ‘Flammekueche’ prepared by your chef.

Day 6 (Friday): Waltenheim-sur-Zorn to Hochfelden

This morning we cruise further west through open countryside to our final mooring in Hochfelden. After lunch on board, we head to the 12th century hilltop Château du Haut Barr which towers 1,500 feet above the pretty town of Saverne to admire the panoramic view, before having time to wander the decorated town centre for some final festive shopping and perhaps a turn on the ice rink in the market square. Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.

Day 7 (Saturday): Hochfelden

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Strasbourg by a private chauffeured minibus.

Excursions

Included. Please see Itinerary.

Ship

Panache

Panache is a hotel barge that has been fitted out in traditional yacht style with brass and mahogany fittings in the spacious public areas and very comfortable cabin accommodation. In the saloon, the picture windows let in plenty of natural light, and the tempting cocktail bar and comfortable leather sofas are enhanced by polished hardwood flooring. The separate roomy dining area provides a congenial setting for up to 12 guests (plus 6 crew) to enjoy the gourmet meals and fine wines served on board.

The cabin accommodation comprises six generously sized junior suites, which can be in twin or double bed configuration. All the en suite bathrooms have twin hand-basins and oversized showers.

Outside, the spacious sun deck is the perfect place to unwind and admire the passing scenery in one of the comfortable chairs, or to enjoy being served a long, lazy alfresco lunch at the outside dining table. There’s a heated spa pool and plenty of bicycles for you to take advantage of to explore the towpath that lines the canal.

Cabin Amenities

Twin or queen bed convertibility (150 sq.ft)

En suite bathroom with a shower, accessed through a sliding door, extractor fan, and 2 wash basins

Bathrobes, slippers, and hairdryer

Towels, hand soap, shower gel, hair dryer, and bathrobes

2 bedside tables with reading lamps

Writing desk & chair

Closet with storage space

Individually controlled heating & air conditioning

220 and 240 volts (standard French 2-pin plugs)

USB sockets

Facilities on Board

Spa Pool (hot tub) for 6 passengers on the sundeck

6 bikes with helmet

Small library of books & maps

Board games

Disclaimer

Our staff have inspected this cruise and the above description and photographs reflect what they saw at that time. It is possible that the supplier has made changes to the cruise without our knowledge. While we do our best to keep up with any changes or improvements made to our cruises, we cannot guarantee that everything in the above description will be accurate.