We are a family with adult children and are planning a week long trip to the Alsace area this mid July.
We are planning to rent a car for the week to explore the Alsace area, as well as do day trips by car into Germany and Switzerland.
Is it possible to take a car from France into Germany, Switzerland for day trips? Are there any border issues?
We would also apprecite suggestions as to routes to take and what to see in Alsace... as well in the areas of Germany and Switzerland that are close to Alsace (for day trips).
Thank you!
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%26gt;take a car from France into Germany, Switzerland for day trips?%26lt;
Yes
%26gt;Are there any border issues?%26lt;
It may be that the car papers and the car-hiring contract are asked at the Swiss border.
%26gt;Germany and Switzerland that are close to Alsace%26lt;
Depends on your accommodation, the Alsace is stretching for about 100 miles from north to south.
South: Switzerland with Basel, Lucerne, Bern the Jura mountain range.
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en.cfm/home
http://www.juratourisme.ch/e/home/
http://www.basel.com/en/welcome.cfm?
In Germany the black-forest with Freiburg, Titisee
http://www.blackforest-tourism.com/
freiburg.de/servlet/…index.html
http://vogtsen.land-in-sicht.com/index.php
Between Baden-Baden and Freiburg there is Germany%26#39;s largest theme park:
www.europa-park.de/lang-en/c51/default.html
North: Baden-Baden with the Merkur mountain funicular and the black-forest high road.
tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g187278-Activiti…
http://www.baden-baden.de/en/index.html
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I enclose for you, advice from this website:
…drive-alive.co.uk/driving-in-switzerland.htm
In Switzerland you pay an annual motorway tax, even if you%26#39;re only using the motorways for an hour or two. A vehicle sticker, or vignette, must be displayed on the windscreen by all vehicles. Of course, if you don%26#39;t need to use a motorway you don%26#39;t need to pay, although it%26#39;s difficult to cross the country without doing so.
If you don%26#39;t display a vignette you%26#39;ll be liable to a fine of CHF100 plus the cost of the vignette. You can buy the stickers in the UK from the Swiss Centre. You can also buy them in Switzerland from customs offices at the frontier or service stations, garages and post offices.
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Thank you for your great advice.
I have learned about Equisheim and the wine route and I can%26#39;t wait to visit there.
I have noted that the Black Forest is close to Alsace and within easy reach of Alsace by car and this area looks intereting.. especially Titisee with its lake.
I have also noted the suggestions regarding places to visit by way of day trips in Switzerland from Alsace and the need for a sticker to drive in Switzerland. What is the cost of this sticker?
Also... if we were to do a trip spending one or two nights in Switzerland coming from the Alsace area, would it be too far to go to an area in the Alps around Interlaken so that we can do a hike into the high Alps and see one of the car free mountain villages? Or do you think that doing Alsace and such an adventure is too much to do withing a week%26#39;s trimeframe. Is it even possible to get there by car, or is a train the only way to reach such area from Alsace.
I am enjoying learning about Switzerland... and my mind is spinning with the possiblities for this trip.
I appreciate your time, commments, and suggestions.
Thanks again.
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The Swiss motorway sticker is € 25,--/SFR 40,-- , (valid till 31.01.2009)
…admin.ch/zollinfo_privat/…
%26gt;would it be too far to go to an area in the Alps around Interlaken%26lt;
Eguisheim-Interlaken is 130 miles or 2 hours.
%26gt;do you think that doing Alsace and such an adventure is too much to do withing a week%26#39;s trimeframe.%26lt;
I don%26#39;t think so. Switzerland and the alps are round the corner and would be a pity to miss.
%26gt;possible to get there by car, or is a train the only way to reach such area from Alsace%26lt;
For e.g. Wengen you can drive by car as fas as Lauterbrunnen. There you have to change for the Jungfraubahn. Going by train would be more expensive and take longer, but save parking fees, the motorway sticker and nerves:-)
In case you go by train, compare prices, may be a Swiss Half Fare Card for 1 month (€ 62,--) could pay.
www.swisstravelsystem.ch/Tickets.16.0.html…
jungfraubahn.ch/en/…
Timetable:
From: Colamr
To: Interlaken Ost
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Sorry,
From: Colmar, not Colamr of course:-)
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Bring toilet paper for your road trip.
The motorway reststops don%26#39;t always have it. Sometimes, in France and Switzerland, the absence of toilet paper at the reststops comes complete with squat toilets too.
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You also asked about what to see in Alsace. I%26#39;m guessing you%26#39;ll have done a bit of research so you know all about the villages and the wine route, but we%26#39;ve been a couple of times, once with sub-adult children, so these are just a few alternative ideas to google:
- the route des cretes, including a couple of places which have summer toboggan runs (luge d%26#39;été)
- Gerardmer - nice lakeside town over the pass into the Vosges, which is a really scenic drive
- Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg which was reconstructed, but it%26#39;s fun
- the Stork and Otter Centre at Hunawihr
- several wine paths (sentiers viticoles) through the vineyards. I went round the one at Turckheim on my own, following a leaflet I%26#39;d picked up, and really enjoyed it - there were information boards every now and then to explain different features. I think there are guided tours in the main summer season.
- as Alsace was on the front line in WW1, I know there are some memorials, which might be of interest
- Mulhouse - the car museum is amazing. We spent a full day there - booked a table for lunch in the restaurant as soon as we arrived at opening time and left when they closed www.collection-schlumpf.com/en/schlumpf/ - this is the %26#39;must see%26#39;, in my opinion anyway ... and I don%26#39;t normally like cars!
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WOW! This is great. I am open to all suggestions... and I am sure getting many. My thanks for these.
I have noted the lack of toilet paper, a very interesting bit of knowledge that I have tuccked away in my back pocket.. so to speak!
I am sure to have more Qs as my planning continues... but I wanted to be sure to acknowledge the posters for the time and help that they have sent my way so far.
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