Alsace is the smallest region of metropolitan France. It is almost four times longer than it is wide, corresponding to a plain between the Rhine in the east and the Vosges mountains in the west.
It includes the départements of Haut-Rhin and Bas-Rhin (known previously as Sundgau and Nordgau). It borders Germany on the north and the east, Switzerland and Franche-Comté on the south, and Lorraine on the west.
It contains many forests, primarily in the Vosges and in Bas-Rhin (Haguenau Forest). Several valleys are also found in the region. Its highest point is the ballon de Guebwiller in Haut-Rhin, which reaches a height of 1426m.
- Museums in Bas-Rhin (Northern Alsace)
- Museums in Haut-Rhin (Southern Alsace)
- Monuments and historical sites
- Wildlife and botanical parks
- Industrial and craft's tourism
Alsace has a semi-continental climate with cold and dry winters and hot summers. There is little precipitation because the Vosges protect it from the west. The city of Colmar has a sunny microclimate; it is the second driest city in France, with an annual precipitation of just 550 mm, making it ideal for vin d'Alsace (Alsatian wine).