A week's itinerary in Eastern France

It's no surprise that a visit to Strasbourg is one of the must-sees on your tour of the Grand Est region. Here, your trip gets off to a gentle start with a stroll through the flower-filled streets of the Alsatian capital. Take your time to browse the beautiful little shops and take a few breaks to sample the local specialities: flammekueche, bretzel, kougelhof...

Not to be missed are the Petite France district and the quays. And of course, you can't miss Strasbourg's Notre Dame Cathedral, the oldest Gothic cathedral in the world!

A major advantage is that you can visit the city on foot, by tram or even by bike! 24-hour tram passes are available, or you can choose to hire a Vélhop (self-service bicycle hire) for as long as you like.

Finally, your visit wouldn't be complete without a meal to discover Alsatian gastronomy! A stopover at a typical winstub will give you the chance to sample some generous Alsatian cuisine! The restaurant Le Pont du Corbeau is one of the most famous: a traditional decor, local produce and a wide choice of wines await you.

To round off your day, don't hesitate to go out for a drink in the city centre, on the quays or in the Krutenau student district. Atmosphere guaranteed!

Cycling is the best way to discover Alsace! And with good reason: the region is France's leading cycling area, with over 2,500 km of cycle routes: a network covering a vast area, allowing you to enjoy the region's magnificent picture-postcard landscapes in complete peace and safety.

One of our favourites is the wine route linking Marlenheim to Thann. This 131-kilometre walk will take you around 10 hours. You can reach Marlenheim by train from Strasbourg. Then, once you've reached the village of Thann at the end of your tour, the train will allow you to return easily to the Alsatian capital. And if you're looking for a shorter, more accessible tour, there are plenty of routes to suit all levels.

The route takes you through the vineyards and a hundred or so wine-growing villages. It's a real picture-postcard landscape, with superb flower-filled villages, vineyards, castle ruins and abbeys.

For the full experience, take the time to meet the winegrowers for a few tastings. You can also take a break in one of the local winstubs to recharge your batteries!

In summer, the sun beats down hard in Alsace! If you decide to set off on a day's cycling, remember to take plenty of water and a small repair kit in case of a puncture.

The Vosges massif offers a wide range of walks. One of the most popular day hikes is the traverse of the Grand Ballon massif: an exceptional hike, which follows the famous GR5 for just under 30 km, with an ascent of 889 metres.

Over a period of around 10 hours, this route will enable you to discover the treasures of the Vosges and cross some exceptional landscapes. This hike is best suited to motivated or experienced walkers.

But don't worry, you can opt for shorter hikes. Among our favourites, don't miss the sentier des roches (about 4 hours, accessible to all) or the randonnée des trois lacs (about half a day).

To recover from these two sporting days, a spa and relaxation day is more than welcome. Villa Pompei in Amnéville, less than 30 minutes' drive from Metz, is ideal for this. This refined building combines fine materials with thermal water at 35°C, and boasts a pleasant, cosy spa. It includes baths, relaxation areas, tropical showers, indoor and outdoor areas, saunas, steam rooms... Total relaxation is yours!

If you prefer to spend only half a day at the spa, no problem! The Amnéville business park is packed with activities for all the family. Zoo, aquarium, bowling, 4D cinema... the hardest part will be choosing from all the possibilities!

On this 5th day, make the most of a stopover in Metz to discover one of the most visited French museums outside Paris: the Centre Pompidou-Metz, opened in 2006.

Following in the footsteps of the Parisian centre, this museum aims to bring all forms of artistic expression to a wide audience. Its major ambition is to be a major centre for exhibitions and contemporary artistic initiatives. In short, this fun, family-friendly museum is bound to amaze you!

Then continue your day by strolling through the lively streets of Metz: the perfect opportunity to visit the cathedral, go shopping in the city centre (and pick up a few souvenirs to bring back from your trip) or simply sip a coffee on the terrace.

Did you know that the Champagne-Ardenne region is home to the largest artificial lake in Europe? It's called Lac du Der-Chantecoq! With a surface area of 48 km², this lake offers magnificent scenery throughout the seasons.

From April onwards, you can enjoy water sports such as kayaking, paddle boarding and sailing. In summer, the 27°C water lets you enjoy one of the 6 sandy beaches. But that's not all, as the surrounding forests offer walkers and nature lovers a breath of fresh air.

What better way to end your week in the Grand Est than with a visit to the best champagne cellars in Reims? The city boasts no fewer than 200 kilometres of underground labyrinth housing some of the most famous champagne houses. These houses offer guided tours of their cellars and tastings of their precious nectar. Among the best known are Taittinger, Ruinart, GH.Mumm and Vranken-Pommery.