Strasbourg and Colmar
22nd-25th April 2027
Strasbourg sits at the crossroads of France and Germany, its identity shaped by centuries of changing rule and cultural exchange. During our visit, we will explore the city’s historic centre and UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Grande Île. This picturesque island is the perfect place to amble down cobbled streets that wind past medieval timber-framed houses, between the river Ill and below the Gothic Cathedral.
We will also take a day trip to Colmar, one of the best-preserved towns in Alsace to see the extraordinary Isenheim Altarpiece and go on a boat trip through ‘Little Venice’. We will stay at the Hôtel Cour du Corbeau, a beautifully restored 16th-century building wrapped around a tranquil courtyard and within walking distance from the main attractions.
Itinerary
Thursday 22nd April
We will arrive in the early afternoon. Once we’ve settled into our hotel, we will recover from our journey by visiting the hospital. Not only does it date back to the 12th century, but it also has a rather unusual department: a wine cellar! We will discover the fascinating history of the Cave Historique des Hospices with a tour and wine tasting. Supper will be at a good restaurant on the Grande Île, wandering past the cathedral through the atmospheric streets.
Friday 23rd April
We will spend our first morning in and around Strasbourg’s crowning architectural achievement—the Cathedral of Notre-Dame. Having admired the spire and explored the sculptures on the outside, we will go in to admire the stained glass, the famous astronomical clock and the Pillar of the Angels – one of the supreme achievements of medieval sculpture. We will also visit the neighbouring Cathedral Museum, which houses an excellent collection of sculptures, paintings, and architectural fragments related to the cathedral.
After a well-earned lunch, we will feel rejuvenated and ready to explore Strasbourg’s rich and varied history while walking through its streets and along its waterways. Starting in the French quarter, ‘Petite France’, we will wind our way along the narrow lanes lined with timber framed houses overlooking the canals, where Medieval artisans plied their trades. Nearby is the Barrage Vauban, which functions as both a weir and a bridge stretching across the River Ill, created by the French in the 17th century. We will then continue around the Grand Île past an intriguing array of churches and on to the Neustadt, dating from Strasbourg’s time as part of the German Empire, to discover its broad, straight roads, and bold, imposing buildings. Supper will be at a good restaurant near the hotel.
Saturday 24th April
Our coach will take us to Colmar, a beautifully preserved Alsatian town, famous for its colourful architecture and fairy-tale charm. In the morning, after a gentle, introductory stroll through the town, we will visit the Unterlinden Museum, home to the extraordinary Isenheim Altarpiece— whose expressive, sometimes unsettling imagery was created for a monastery hospital treating patients suffering from St Anthony’s Fire.
After lunch, we will enjoy a walk through the town. Starting at the Dominican Church, we will see Martin Schongauer’s masterpiece, The Madonna of the Rose Bower, before meandering through cobbled streets past the richly decorated Maison Pfister, a picturesque medieval merchant’s house, and heading to Colmar’s own ‘Little Venice’, crisscrossed by canals. If time and weather permit, a short boat trip there would offer a lovely way to take in the scenery from the water. From there we will travel back to Strasbourg for supper.
Sunday 25th April
On our final morning, we will visit the Musée des Beaux-Arts, cherry-picking from its vast collection to look at the very best paintings and sculptures, including works by the likes of Giotto, Memling, Crivelli, Raphael, Veronese, El Greco, and Zurbarán – not to mention the city’s own favourite painting, La Belle Strasbourgeoise. After a good lunch, we will begin our journey home from Strasbourg.
Further Details
Tuition
Richard Stemp and Tina Corri will lead the trip, both of whom are experts in their field and have led trips for AHA for many years.
Hotels
We will stay at the Hotel Cour du Corbeau, a centrally located hotel set in a historic 16th century Alsatian building within easy walking distance of the Cathedral, museums and Petite France. We will be staying in the ‘Deluxe’ rooms which are beautifully furnished and overlook the hotel’s quiet courtyard.
Hotel website: https://www.cour-corbeau.com
Travel
We do not book the travel to and from Strasbourg thus allowing you to travel to suit your budget, use airmiles, travel from different places or on different dates. However, we recommend booking the following group flights with British Airways:
Thursday 22nd April London Heathrow 8:35-11:15 Basel BA758
Sunday 25th April Basel 19:10-19:50 London Heathrow BA763
Alternatively you can take the train, do let us know and we will be in touch with our suggested timings once tickets become available to purchase. You can book the whole journey on the Eurostar website. It is a very short walk from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de l’Est – 5 minutes at the most.
Transport
There will be coach or taxi transfers to meet the recommended travel arrangements.
Ability
There is quite a lot of walking on this trip, as well as slopes and uneven cobbles. As many of the streets are small you will need to walk from the coach to the churches and museums. As is the case for all our courses, there is a lot of standing while we discuss the works we are looking at.
Lunches and Dinners
Lunches are a set menu of two courses to include drinks. Dinner is by no means compulsory, but we book a table for the group each night at different restaurants and divide the bill equally between everyone. Sometimes these may also need to be a set menu but we try our best to avoid this. We will adjust the bill for those not drinking alcohol.
Cost
The fees are £1900 which includes accommodation and breakfast, all lunches, transfers for the recommended flight, transport when connected with teaching, entrance fees, tuition, reading lists and local advice. The single occupancy supplement is £210 (double room for single use). Not included are the flights, all suppers, travel insurance. The group will not exceed 16 people and we will divide in to two smaller groups wherever possible.
To register – Please complete the online registration form, having read our terms and conditions and pay a deposit of £600 per person via bank transfer once you have received the confirmation email. Please note your place is not confirmed until we have received your deposit.
If you have any queries, please email [email protected] or call 01379 871800 (302).
NB you must buy your own flights or train.
