France's northeastern region of Alsace is a blend of French and German cultures, the result of years of bitter border brawls. Strasbourg, its cosmopolitan capital city, has been exchanged between the two four times in the last 300 years. Here, chic French cafes are juxtaposed with Bavarian-styled, half-timber houses adorned with brightly coloured flowers. Strasbourg hosts part of the European Parliament, which may be toured when arranged in advance. Its Gothic Cathedrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg trumpets the highest spire in France, and its superbly-crafted astronomical clock puts on a daily parade of apostles before Christ while a rooster spreads its wings to sing.

The highly revered wines of Alsace can be sampled along the Wine Route (La Route du Vin), which stretches 170 km (106 mi) from Strasbourg to Mulhouse, passing through 100 towns and villages on the way. Worth traipsing to are the often-visited Castle of the High Koenigsbourg in lower Alsace and the enchanting village of Riquewihr in upper Alsace has retained its original 16th century atmosphere.