Pourquoi Séjourner à Grand Est
Grand Est is the crossroads of Europe — a vast region stretching from the Champagne vineyards west of Reims to the Rhine river that forms France's border with Germany, and from the Ardennes forests in the north down to the Vosges mountains in the south. Created in 2016 from the merger of Alsace, Champagne-Ardenne, and Lorraine, Grand Est is France's eastern frontier, shaped by centuries of European history and blessed with an extraordinary density of natural beauty, gastronomic riches, and architectural treasures.
The region's diversity is astonishing. In Alsace, half-timbered villages painted in pink, ochre and cream line the Route des Vins, with vineyards climbing the eastern slopes of the Vosges mountains. Colmar's Petite Venise looks like a fairy-tale illustration, while Strasbourg marries medieval charm with European governance — the city hosts the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, and the European Court of Human Rights, earning it the title of "capital of Europe." Further west, Reims is the spiritual heart of Champagne, where the region's great houses — Taittinger, Veuve Clicquot, Ruinart — maintain cellars tunnelled deep into the region's chalk bedrock. The magnificent Notre-Dame de Reims, where French kings were crowned, stands at the city's centre.
Lorraine offers its own distinct identity. Nancy's UNESCO-listed Place Stanislas is one of the most beautiful squares in the world, an elegant ensemble of 18th-century architecture built by Stanislas Leszczyński, former king of Poland. Metz surprises visitors with its striking Centre Pompidou-Metz, a bold contemporary art museum designed by Shigeru Ban, alongside its Gothic cathedral with the largest expanse of stained glass in Europe. The Vosges mountains provide the region's green lung — gentle forested peaks, glacial lakes, and long-distance hiking trails that rival anything in the Alps for scenery, minus the crowds.
Getting here is straightforward. High-speed TGV trains connect Paris-Est to Strasbourg in 1 hour 50 minutes, to Reims in 45 minutes, and to Nancy in 1 hour 30 minutes. The region also has international airports in Strasbourg (SXB), Mulhouse-Basel (MLH), Metz-Nancy (ETZ), and the EuroAirport shared with Switzerland and Germany at Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg. Once here, the network of regional TER trains, trams, and bike routes — including the EuroVelo 5 along the Rhine — makes car-free travel easy. Book your Grand Est hotel through IMPT and every night removes 1 tonne of CO₂ from the atmosphere, at the same price as Booking.com.
- Région
- Grand Est
- Country
- France
- Departments
- 10 (Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin, Moselle, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse, Vosges, Ardennes, Marne, Haute-Marne, Aube)
- Main Cities
- Strasbourg, Reims, Metz, Nancy, Colmar, Mulhouse
- Price Range
- €40–€300 per night
- CO₂ Removed
- 1 tonne per booking
Que Faire à Grand Est
Strasbourg Cathedral & Historic Centre
Strasbourg's pink sandstone cathedral, completed in 1439, was the tallest building in the world for over 200 years. Its single spire reaches 142 metres, and the astronomical clock in the south transept puts on a mechanical show daily at 12:30 PM. The cathedral square and surrounding Grande Île — the historic island core — are classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk the cobbled streets of Petite France with its canals, half-timbered houses, and working locks that once served the tanners and millers of medieval Strasbourg.
Reims Cathedral & Champagne Cellars
Notre-Dame de Reims is one of the supreme achievements of Gothic architecture, where 33 French monarchs were crowned between 816 and 1825. The cathedral's 2,303 statues on its west front alone outnumber those of Chartres. Beneath the city, the champagne houses maintain kilometres of chalk cellars — crayères — originally carved by Roman quarries. Visit Taittinger, Veuve Clicquot, Ruinart, or Pommery for guided tours that end with a tasting of their finest vintages. Advance booking is essential, especially during harvest season (September–October).
Colmar & Petite Venise
Colmar's old town is one of the most beautifully preserved in France. Petite Venise (Little Venice) takes its name from the Lauch River canal that winds through the former tanners' and fishermen's quarters, lined with colour-washed half-timbered houses that lean over the water. The Unterlinden Museum, housed in a 13th-century Dominican convent, displays the Issenheim Altarpiece — one of the masterworks of European art. The town also marks the unofficial capital of the Alsace Wine Route, with over 50 wine-tasting cellars within walking distance of the centre.
Nancy & Place Stanislas
Place Stanislas was built in just 17 months between 1752 and 1755, a masterpiece of classical French urban design commissioned by the deposed Polish king Stanislas Leszczyński. The square — 125 by 106 metres — is framed by gilded wrought-iron gates, fountains of Neptune and Amphitrite, and buildings designed by Emmanuel Héré. The surrounding Place de la Carrière and the Palais du Gouvernement complete one of the most harmonious urban ensembles in Europe. In summer, sound-and-light shows illuminate the square nightly.
Metz & Centre Pompidou-Metz
Metz surprises at every turn. The Centre Pompidou-Metz, opened in 2010 with a striking undulating roof designed by Shigeru Ban and Jean de Gastines, is the largest temporary exhibition space in France outside Paris, drawing from the 100,000+ works of the Centre Pompidou collection. The nearby Saint-Étienne Cathedral features over 6,500 square metres of stained glass — the largest expanse in Europe — including windows by Marc Chagall. The city's Imperial Quarter, built during the German annexation (1871–1918), showcases grand Wilhelmine architecture unusual in France.
Route des Vins d'Alsace
The Alsace Wine Route snakes 170 kilometres along the eastern foothills of the Vosges, through some of the most picturesque villages in France. Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé, Kaysersberg, Eguisheim, and Bergheim each offer their own wine specialities — Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Muscat being the principal Alsace varieties. The route passes through 67 designated Grand Cru vineyards, each with identifiable soil types ranging from granite to limestone to volcanic basalt. Most domaines offer free or low-cost tastings, and many estates have English-speaking staff.
Vosges Mountains & Hiking
The Vosges mountains offer gentle but rewarding hiking through beech, fir and spruce forests dotted with clear glacial lakes. The Ballons des Vosges Régional Nature Park spans 3,000 square kilometres across the highest peaks — the Grand Ballon (1,424 m), the Hohneck (1,362 m), and the Storkenkopf (1,366 m). Lac Blanc and Lac Vert are among the most scenic lakes, with hiking trails, swimming, and in winter, small ski areas. The GR5 long-distance trail traverses the entire Vosges massif from Wissembourg to Belfort, a 400 km journey through landscapes shaped by both nature and centuries of contested borders.
Verdun Battlefields & Memorial
The Battle of Verdun in 1916 was the longest and one of the most devastating battles of the First World War, with over 700,000 casualties. The Verdun Memorial, reopened in 2016 after extensive renovation, presents a comprehensive and moving account of the battle. The Douaumont Ossuary holds the remains of 130,000 unidentified French and German soldiers, and the surrounding landscape — still pockmarked with shell craters — has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Funerary and Memory sites of the First World War.
Où Séjourner — Areas of Grand Est
Strasbourg & Alsace
Strasbourg is the regional capital and the natural gateway to Alsace. The city centre — the Grande Île — is compact and highly walkable, with the cathedral, Petite France, and the European quarter all reachable on foot. Hotels range from luxury properties in the Orangerie district near the European Parliament to affordable family-run hotels in the Krutenau student quarter. From Strasbourg, the Alsace Wine Route and the villages of Obernai, Sélestat, and Colmar are easily reached by TER train in 30–90 minutes. Strasbourg's extensive tram network and bike-sharing system (Vélhop) make car-free stays easy.
Reims & Champagne
Reims is the capital of the Champagne region and an ideal base for exploring the vineyards of the Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de la Marne, and the Côte des Blancs. The city centre clusters around Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Place Drouet d'Erlon, lined with cafés, brasseries, and champagne bars. Hotels here are generally less expensive than in Strasbourg, with good options in the historic centre and near the train station. The TGV puts Paris in 45 minutes, making Reims a practical base for combining Champagne with the capital. Épernay, home of the Avenue de Champagne, is 30 minutes by train.
Nancy & Lorraine
Nancy's elegance centres on Place Stanislas, and the city's best hotels are within a five-minute walk of this magnificent square. The city is also a cultural hub, with the Musée des Beaux-Arts, the aquarium-museum, and the Villa Majorelle — a masterpiece of Art Nouveau designed by Henri Sauvage. The old town (Vieille Ville) offers excellent restaurants serving quiche Lorraine and other local specialities. From Nancy, day trips to Metz (35 minutes by train), the Vosges (1 hour by car), and the Verdun battlefields (1 hour by car) are practical.
Metz & Moselle
Metz offers a more relaxed alternative to Nancy or Strasbourg. The Centre Pompidou-Metz has revitalised the city's cultural scene, and the cathedral district is compact and charming. Hotels cluster around the cathedral, the Imperial Quarter, and near the train station. Metz is an excellent base for exploring the Moselle valley — the Route de la Mirabelle follows the river through plum and mirabelle orchards. The city's German heritage from the 1871–1918 annexation gives it an architectural character distinct from the rest of Lorraine.
Colmar & the Wine Route
Colmar sits at the heart of the Alsace Wine Route, making it the ideal base for oenophiles. The old town — with its Petite Venise, Unterlinden Museum, and half-timbered streets — is a destination in itself. Hotels range from 4-star spa properties to cosy guesthouses (chambres d'hôtes) in the old town. From Colmar, the wine villages of Eguisheim, Kaysersberg, Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé are all within 15–20 minutes by car or bus. The TER train connects Colmar to Strasbourg in 30 minutes and to Mulhouse in 20 minutes.
Mulhouse & Southern Alsace
Mulhouse is the industrial city of Alsace, home to two world-class museums: the Cité de l'Automobile (the largest car museum in the world) and the Cité du Train (the largest railway museum in Europe). Though less immediately picturesque than Colmar or Strasbourg, Mulhouse offers affordable hotels and a convenient base for exploring the southern Vosges and the Sundgau region. The EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg is just 25 km away, making Mulhouse a practical entry point to the region.
Hotels in Grand Est
Hotel Regent Petite France
Set in the heart of Strasbourg's Petite France district, the Hôtel Régent Petite France is a 5-star property housed in a former 17th-century mill on the Ill river. Its 95 rooms blend contemporary design with exposed timber and stonework, and the Nuxe spa offers a heated indoor pool, sauna and hammam. The Michelin-starred Les Obernois restaurant serves contemporary Alsatian cuisine with views over the canal. The cathedral is a 10-minute walk, and the European Parliament is 20 minutes by tram.
Book with IMPTChâteau Les Crayères
A magnificent Belle Époque château set in 7 hectares of parkland on the edge of Reims, Château Les Crayères is one of France's most celebrated hotel-restaurants. The triplex restaurant holds three Michelin stars under chef Philippe Mille, who reimagines the cuisine of the Champagne region with precision and artistry. The wine cellar holds over 60,000 bottles, with an exceptional focus on Champagne. Rooms are grand and traditional — high ceilings, drapery, period furniture. The champagne houses of Reims are a 10-minute drive or pleasant walk through the Parc de la Patte d'Oie.
Book with IMPTHotel La Maison de la Place
La Maison des Têtes is one of Colmar's most famous buildings — a 1609 Renaissance townhouse named for its 106 sculpted human heads decorating the façade. The 4-star hotel inside combines period features (original beams, a grand staircase) with contemporary comfort. The restaurant, under the direction of chef Philippe Bohrer, holds a Michelin star and focuses on Alsatian cuisine with market-driven tasting menus. The property also has a wine cellar and a small spa, located directly in the historic centre a short walk from Petite Venise and the Unterlinden Museum.
Book with IMPTGrand Hôtel de la Reine
Directly overlooking Place Stanislas, the Grand Hôtel de la Reine occupies one of the square's original 18th-century buildings. Named for the visit of Marie de Médicis — the queen mother of France — in 1622, the hotel has welcomed guests since the 19th century. Rooms are individually decorated with period furniture, rich fabrics, and high ceilings. The ground-floor brasserie spills onto the square in summer, and the lounge bar is a local institution. The Musée des Beaux-Arts and the old town are steps away.
Book with IMPTHotel La Citadelle
Set in a former military building within the historic Citadelle district of Metz, this 4-star hotel combines industrial heritage with clean modern design. Rooms are spacious with floor-to-ceiling windows, many overlooking the Moselle river or the cathedral. The breakfast terrace is a highlight in summer, and the location is ideal for exploring Metz on foot: the cathedral is 8 minutes away, the Centre Pompidou-Metz is 15 minutes on foot. The hotel also offers a fitness centre, bike rental for exploring the Moselle valley, and a bar specialising in local wines and beers.
Book with IMPTMulhouse Hyper Centre
Located in the heart of Mulhouse, this accessible 3-star hotel offers clean, comfortable rooms within walking distance of the city's main attractions including the Cité de l'Automobile (15 minutes), the Cité du Train (20 minutes), and the historic Place de la Réunion. The hotel provides a buffet breakfast and is an excellent budget-friendly base for exploring southern Alsace and the EuroAirport region. Mulhouse's tram network connects the station to the city centre and nearby Basel.
Book with IMPTWalking & Hiking in Grand Est
GR5 — Vosges Traverse
The GR5 is the grande randonnée trail that follows the Vosges mountain crestline from Wissembourg on the Franco-German border all the way south to the Belfort Gap. The most spectacular sections are in the Hautes-Vosges between the Col de la Schlucht and the Grand Ballon, passing through forest, high pastures (chaumes), and rocky ridgelines with panoramic views of the Rhine plain, the Black Forest, and the Alps on clear days. The trail is well-marked with the classic red-and-white GR blazes and dotted with refuges and gîtes d'étape for multi-day hikers. For day hikers, the section from the Hohneck to the Kastelberg (12 km, 4 hours) offers the best scenery-to-effort ratio.
Sentier des Vignerons — Winegrowers' Path
The Sentier des Vignerons parallels the Route des Vins but stays higher on the hillside, weaving through the vineyards that produce Alsace's Grand Cru wines. The most popular sections run between Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé (8 km, 2.5 hours — rated one of the most beautiful walks in France) and between Eguisheim and Colmar (12 km, 3 hours). The path is marked with wine-themed signage, past riesling, gewurztraminer, and pinot gris vines, with views over the Alsace plain and the Vosges beyond. Most sections end at a village with wine-tasting possibilities.
Lac Blanc Circuit
A stunning loop trail around Lac Blanc, the largest of the Vosges glacial lakes, set at 1,054 metres elevation near the Col du Calvaire. The trail circles the lake through mixed forest with regular viewpoints opening onto the water and surrounding peaks. The adjacent Lac Noir (Black Lake), a smaller and deeper glacial lake, can be added as a 2 km extension. In summer, the lake offers swimming (water temperatures reach 20°C in August), pedal boat rentals, and a via ferrata on the cliffs above.
Mont Sainte-Odile & the Pagan Wall
Mont Sainte-Odile (764 m) is a sacred site in Alsace — a hilltop convent and pilgrimage destination dedicated to the patron saint of the region. The trail climbs gently through the forest to the convent plateau, which offers panoramic views over the Alsace plain to the Black Forest and, on clear days, the Alps. The site's most mysterious feature is the Pagan Wall (Mur Païen), a 10 km cyclopean stone enclosure dating from prehistoric times — its origins remain debated by archaeologists.
Nearby Régions
Grand Est borders five French regions and three countries (Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Switzerland).
Cities in Grand Est
Grand Est Travel Guides
Questions Fréquentes
Where can I go wine tasting in Grand Est?
Grand Est is home to two of the world's greatest wine regions. In Alsace, follow the 170 km Route des Vins d'Alsace from Marlenheim to Thann, passing through Colmar, Ribeauvillé and Riquewihr with tastings at family-run domaines. In Champagne, visit Reims and Épernay for cellar tours at legendary houses including Taittinger, Veuve Clicquot, Ruinart, and Moët & Chandon. Many offer multilingual tours with tastings included.
When are the best Christmas markets in Grand Est?
Strasbourg's Christkindelsmärik, founded in 1570, is the oldest Christmas market in France. It runs from late November through Christmas Eve across 300 chalets around the cathedral. Colmar's markets spread across five locations in the old town. Reims, Metz, Nancy, and Mulhouse all host excellent markets from late November, making Grand Est the premier Christmas destination in Europe. Weekend trains between cities make it easy to visit multiple markets in one trip.
Can I visit the European Parliament in Strasbourg?
Yes. The European Parliament in Strasbourg offers free guided tours in multiple languages. You can visit the iconic hemicycle when plenary sessions are not in session. Strasbourg is the official seat of the European Parliament, and visitors can also explore the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights — all within walking distance along the Ill river. Advance booking is recommended, especially during the summer tourist season.
Is Grand Est good for family vacations?
Absolutely. Grand Est offers exceptional family-friendly experiences across all seasons. The Alsace Wine Route welcomes families at many estates. The Vosges mountains provide gentle hiking, Lac Blanc for swimming and watersports, and the Montagne des Singes near Kintzheim delights children. The Cité de l'Automobile in Mulhouse and the Pompidou Centre in Metz appeal to older children. Christmas markets are magical for all ages, and the region's efficient train network makes travel between cities simple.
How does IMPT work for eco hotel bookings?
IMPT is a free hotel booking platform offering the same prices as Booking.com and Expedia, with a crucial difference: every booking removes 1 tonne of CO₂ through verified carbon removal projects. You also earn 5% cashback in IMPT tokens and get EUR 5 free credit on your first booking. With over 8 million hotels across 25,000+ green partners, you can travel sustainably without paying more. Simply search for your destination, choose from the same hotels you would find elsewhere, and book — the CO₂ removal happens automatically.