Grand Est isn’t limited to the wine routes it’s usually associated with: the Vosges massif holds some of the best mountain biking terrain in the northeast of the country, while Champagne offers a UNESCO-listed vineyard gravel ride. This selection covers all three sides of the region, from sporty to family-friendly.
1. Mountain biking in the Vosges, La Bresse and the Markstein
A bike park partly lift-served in summer, with a network of singletrack that alternates dense forest and open ridgelines between La Bresse and the Markstein. Around 35 km and 850 m of cumulative climbing, on technical terrain that calls for prior mountain biking experience.
2. Champagne vineyard gravel, from Épernay
The only UNESCO-listed vineyard ride in the whole catalogue: tracks between rows of pinot noir and chardonnay around Hautvillers and Aÿ-Champagne. Smoother than most of the gravel routes further south, a good entry point for riders new to the discipline.
3. Alsace Wine Route for families, from Colmar
A 40 km loop on cycle paths and small vineyard roads between Colmar, Eguisheim and Riquewihr, where half-timbered villages punctuate the route at regular intervals. Modest elevation gain (250 m) that stays manageable for children used to riding for a few hours.
Planning the trip
The Vosges and Alsace pair well in a single trip — La Bresse and Colmar are only about an hour’s drive apart, with a sharp contrast between the two days. Champagne, further northwest, works better as a separate stop or a standalone weekend trip from Paris.
