Trail Name: Sentier Viticole des Grands Crus (also known as the Perles du Vignoble)
Trail type: Mid-distance hiking circuit; mostly paved, some hard-packed gravel; very well-maintained and well-marked.
Length: Total – 17 km/10.5 miles
Convenient to: Colmar, Alsace, France
Marking: Mostly gold letters on brown wooden background
Trail Description: This trail passes some of the most famous vineyards to be found on Alsatian wine labels. Slightly hilly, (with only two or three steeper gradients), intersected with streams, the walk through countryside is quite peaceful. Additionally, at varying intervals, this trail passes through six of the famed regional wine villages, from quiet Beblenheim to busy Riquewihr.
Trailheads: (Anywhere, but these are convenient to parking): Riquewihr: Rue de Kientzheim x Rue de Mittelwihr Bennwihr: D1B (Rue de General de Gaulle) x Rue de la Cave Mittelwihr: Rue des Amandiers x D1B, behind the hotel Beblenheim: Rue du 5 Decembre x Rue de Saint Martin Zellenberg: Rue d’Ostheim x Rue de Schlossberg Hunawihr: Rue de Riquewihr x Rue de Nord
Parking Possibilities:
Zellenberg: Rue d’Ostheim, at the church and opposite the church
Hunawihr: Large lot behind the Jardin des Papillons, off Route de Ribeauville
Mittelwihr: Intersection of Rue des Amandiers and D1B (the Route des Vins)
(Riquewihr: parking areas for pay, but even then, they are often full)
Public Transportation Options: Bus: See: http://www.cg68.fr/horaires-des-bus/horaires-des-bus.html (Beginning in Colmar (train station), the 106 buses, Route 106a (southbound), and 106b (northbound), conveniently connect all the villages on this hike, following the Route des Vins through this area).
Suggested Stages: Not applicable
Trail Itinerary-Reference Points:
Riquewihr: Avenue Mequillet x Rue de Kientzheim-Rue de Mittelwihr; Bennwihr: below military cemetery; Rue de la Cave x D1B (Rue de General de Gaulle); Mairie (town hall); Rue du Raisin; Mittelwihr: Rue des Merles, Rue du Vignoble-Rue des Fleurs-Rue du 25 Decembre-Rue des Amandiers x D1B, behind the hotel below Mandelberg Slope; Beblenheim: Rue du 5 Decembre/D3, Cave Vinicole de Beblenheim, Rue de Ribeauville; Zellenberg: Church at Route d’Ostheim x Rue de Schlossberg, Rue du Vignoble; Hunawihr: Rue de la Sinn, Rue du Rosacker, Rue Roger Kuhlmann, Rue de Riquewihr.
Representative Trail Photo:
Restrooms:
Riquewihr: Rue de la 1er Armee, behind the tourist office; near the Poste; off Avenue Mequillet near the gate
Zellenberg: Mairie, Rue de Schlossberg (Mittelwihr, Hunawihr and Bennwihr: also have restrooms in/near the Mairies, but apparently open only during business hours)
Attractions along the Trail:
Cellars to visit and tasting opportunities everywhere
Riquewihr: Medieval walled village, with well-maintained half-timber houses, picturesque alleyways, and lots of shopping in a myriad of small boutiques promoting regional specialties (to include wine); Vintner’s House (Maison de Vigneron) – a 16th century house with exhibits on the life and work of vintners and barrel-makers
Hunawihr: Butterfly pavilion (Jardin des Papillons); a stork research and visiting park (Centre de Reintroduction des Cigognes et des Loutres); a fortified church
Outside Bennwihr: the military monuments and cemetery complex (“Necropole”) Educational signboards at intervals throughout the length of the trail
Tasting along the Trail: Many opportunities at “Caves” on the trail
Alternative Options: Walking: For a shorter hike, either follow one or two of the individual village circuits, or follow one of a couple of intersecting paths which shorten the long circuit. Running: This entire path is suitable for running. Biking: Bikers may also use this trail. Car: Route des Vins d’Alsace, the Alsatian Wine Road
Additional Information:
Trail specific: In addition to the link above, visit tourist offices in Riquewihr or in Ribeauville to obtain a fantastic map of the main circuit and each villages’ associated small circuit (and parking) for free. This map, with the trail markings, is sufficient to hike with.
Comments: Beautiful scenery throughout the hike, wonderfully convenient to reach and to follow, this is a great trail for everyone.