Last week I finally got to revisit the stunning Alsace region in Northeast France, while staying at a centrally located, affordable luxury Spa hotel, which made it the perfect combination of exploration and relaxation.
After my first visit 5,5 years ago, just before Christmas, I was already enchanted by this region, about which you can read more in this blog: Pre-Xmas road trip Alsace.
While magical, the towns we visited then were also very busy and the trip was quite short.
That's why I vowed to come back during a more quiet time of year, preferably for the harvest season of the wine route, and I did!
This picturesque region, known for its colorful villages, scenic vineyards, and rich cultural heritage, has much historical charm and natural beauty. Especially in August - October, Alsace flourishes, with flower decorations all around and vineyards full of grapes.
During our 1 week trip start September we drove from the Netherlands to Alsace, and really enjoyed exploring the wine route.
And we visited several of the smaller towns throughout the region, which are evenly quaint as Colmar and Strasbourg, but much quieter. You can read all about that in my next blog, including custom map.
During all this we stayed at a very authentic, yet luxurious gastronomic Spa hotel, still quite affordable and centrally located, which I can highly recommend.
I will happily tell you why in this blog, including many of my own pictures, as always, but first:
How to get to Alsace
This region in northeastern France, is renowned for its unique blend of French and German cultures, located just next to southwest Germany. Actually, not so far away and quite easy to reach from the Netherlands. You can go there in several ways.
By Car: Driving there is convenient if you value flexibility and scenic routes. The drive from The Hague to Ottrott took us 6,5 hours, covering about 640 kms, crossing Belgium and Luxembourg. But you can also drive via Germany.
By Train: For a more relaxed and sustainable travel experience you can also take the train. The Thalys high-speed train connects Amsterdam to Paris, where you can transfer to an SNCF TGV train to Strasbourg. This will take you around 6 to 7 hours, including transfer times.
By Plane: Of course flying is the quickest option and a flight from Schiphol to Strasbourg Airport will take you about 1-1,5 hours, although direct flights are limited.
It's possible to explore the Alsace region through several tours, however in my opinion it's more convenient with a rental car and quite easy, as the roads are good.
I found it very nice to do this with our own car, as many towns are located near each other and along the wine route. The car gave us the flexibility to explore more off-the-beaten path spots and stay longer at the ones we liked.
Affordable Luxury Hotel Alsace - France
I would recommend staying overnight in a central location to be able to explore more of the smaller towns and the many castles, in both north and south Alsace, spread out over at least 3 - 5 days.
And if you also want to combine this with some relaxation, wellness facilities, high-end cuisine paired with local wines, in a setting with plenty of Instagrammable spots, then a stay at Hostellerie des Châteaux is exactly what you need!
This gourmet Spa hotel is located in the north of Alsace in the quiet, yet colorful village of Ottrott, with quaint half-timbered houses, and near the endless vineyards and wine route of Northeast France.
Luckily, we had quite a bit of sun last week, which enabled us to enjoy the outdoor pool and scenic garden. But with 2 heated indoor pools and 2,500 m2 of Spa and wellness facilities, it's also a great place to stay in wintertime.
What made this accommodation extra special is the following:
Unique features Hostellerie des Châteaux & Spa - Ottrott
Its central location in the Alsace, just 38 kms from Strasbourg, 53 kms from the popular Colmar, but also very close to other quaint Alsatian towns like Obernai, which is just a 10 minute drive away.
Hostellerie des Châteaux offers a range of elegant rooms and suites, set in a beautifully restored building that combines traditional architecture with modern amenities.
All 64 rooms and suites are air-conditioned and equipped with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, while decorated in that quaint Alsatian style. Most rooms have a balcony with seats and some also with lounge chairs, offering views over the surrounding countryside and mountains.
The suites even have a private sauna and Jacuzzi. We stayed in the Panoramic Spa Suite, with our own wellness facilities and 2 balconies, which looks like this:
All hotel guests have free access to the Spa facilities and pools.
The property also has a spacious outdoor area, with an abundance of lounge chairs and a big heated outdoor pool, perfect for those summer days!
The hotel offers free private parking and has good Wi-Fi in all areas.
Gastronomic options & restaurants
Hostellerie des Châteaux has 2 restaurants: the Comptoir des Châteaux, serving a delicious extensive breakfast buffet and bistro dishes for lunch. And the Gastronomic gourmet restaurant open for lunch and dinner, serving unique flavors of Alsace.
The menu features a variety of dishes prepared with locally sourced ingredients, combining both traditional and modern culinary techniques.
It's possible to have dinner à la carte or book your stay at the hotel with a gastronomic chef's 3 or 5 course dinner arrangement, including Alsatian wine pairing, like we had every night. This was a real treat. I do not like foie gras however, which is a popular local dish, but they were very accommodating in adjusting to my food preferences.
Get a taste in this gallery of our high-end dinners, which almost looked like art:
Wellness & Spa facilities
The extensive Spa includes 2 heated indoor pools, several hot tubs, 10 different saunas and steam rooms (9 of them are only accessible without bathing wear), 4 relaxation rooms, some with waterbeds.
And a range of massages and treatments can be booked for an extra charge. Get an impression through my own pictures:
Additional amenities include a 24-hour fitness center. And the hotel’s gardens and outdoor terraces have plenty of lounge chairs and a large meadow to unwind and enjoy the picturesque surroundings.
While Spa access is included for hotel guests, the hotel offers several packages with Spa access for non-residents as well, which can also be booked in combination with brunch, lunch or dinner.
Perfect combination of exploration & relaxation
Exploring Alsace’s villages, scenic vineyards, and natural surroundings while staying at Hostellerie des Châteaux creates the perfect balance of gastronomy, adventure and tranquility, without breaking the bank!
That’s why I can really recommend a road trip to this authentic region, while staying at this affordable luxury gastronomic Spa hotel.
Find more pictures and the best rates for your own stay on: Hostellerie des Châteaux website.
The luxurious comfort of the suites and the relaxing Spa facilities of Hostellerie des Châteaux provide everything you need to wind down after a day of exploring the historic towns and vineyards. While the gastronomic dinners, paired with unique local wines, will make your stay in Alsace even more enjoyable and memorable.
Read all about our exploration of the Alsace region in my next blog and find even more France inspiration, including many tips for other road trips to this lovely country, on this page of my website: Authentic Chic Trips France.
NB: While this stay was a collaboration, sponsored by affordable luxury hotel Hostellerie des Châteaux in Alsace, my experience and opinions in this blog, are honest and fully my own, as always.
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