Beat the winter blues in Alsace

For two weeks from the first day of spring (March 17th) until April 1st Alsace in France is being turned upside-down! Nearly one hundred events are taking place across the whole of the region to celebrate the passing of winter and the arrival of spring.

Known as Après l’Hiver…L’Envers (literally After the Winter…Back), the events will showcase the cordiality, humour and wonderful eccentricity of the Alsatian people.

Activities vary from open-air plays, concerts and art exhibitions to a garden gnome exhibition, wine tasting, food festivals and giant street party! On 1st April the people of Alsace are even reversing their entire day, starting with hot chocolate or cocoa in the morning, eating dinner backwards (i.e. coffee and cognac to start, followed by desert, and with an appetizer and aperitif to finish) and ending the day with breakfast!

Many of the regions hotels are offering special deals during the festival. The three-star Hotel De La Bourse in Mulhouse, for example, is offering two nights in a double room for €110 (£72.80) which is reduced from €398 (£263.50), for the festival. The price is for the room only and includes all taxes. Visit www.tourisme-alsace.com to book online.

More details on all the events can be found at alenvers.com. At the site there is also the opportunity to download a voucher which provides free breakfast at many participating hotels.

Air France fly from London Gatwick to Strasbourg, Ryan Air from Stansted to Karlsruhe Baden in Germany, just 30 minutes drive from Strasbourg while British Airways, Swiss and Easyjet fly to the European Airport at Mulhouse-Basel.

It is now possible to buy discounted rail tickets within France up to 90 days before travelling. Rail Europe (raileurope.co.uk) offer cheap, ‘Prems’ tickets for those able to book in advance. Prices start at £11.50 for a Paris – Strasbourg ticket by Corail and £19.00 for the same journey by TGV.