Alsace

Geography

Alsace has an area of 8280 km², making it the smallest région 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.

Related Topics:
Région - Metropolitan France - Rhine - Vosges mountains

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It includes the départements of Haut-Rhin and Bas-Rhin. It borders Germany on the north and the east, Switzerland and Franche-Comté on the south, and Lorraine on the west.

Related Topics:
Département - Haut-Rhin - Bas-Rhin - Germany - Switzerland - Franche-Comté - Lorraine

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It contains many forests, primarily in the Vosges and in Bas-Rhin (Haguenau Forest). Several valleys are also found in the région. Its highest point is the ballon de Guebwiller in Haut-Rhin, which reaches a height of 1,426 m.

Related Topics:
Forest - Bas-Rhin - Haguenau Forest - Valley - Ballon de Guebwiller - Haut-Rhin

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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 driest city in France, with an annual precipitation of just 550 mm, making it ideal for vin d'Alsace (Alsatian wine).

Related Topics:
Semi-continental climate - Vosges - Colmar - Sunny - Microclimate - Vin d'Alsace

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