The Alsace region between Franche Comte and Lorraine forms the easternmost part of France. It borders Germany along the Rhine and is closer to the main German cities of Karlsruhe and Stuttgart than it is to Paris - a geographical situation that has brought much territorial conflict to Alsace down the ages. Indeed, many of the villages in the Eastern Alsace have German sounding names - especially those along the Rhine Valley to the north and south of Strasbourg. Today, the region's rich cultural heritage, medieval villages over which fortified castles gaze and the beautiful forested hillsides are just some of the features that attract French property buyers to the Alsace.
The climate in the Alsace is typical of Central Europe. Summers are often hot and dry, with only intermittent rainfall. Winters are cold and dry with occasional snow. The majority of rainfall is generally confined to the autumn and spring months, which overall creates ideal weather conditions for the production of Alsace's most famous of exports - wine!
There are in fact over 15,000 hectares of vineyards in the Alsace, producing 165 million bottles of wine each year. The wines from the Alsace region are white and range from sweet to dry. Riesling originates from the Alsace, and accounts for almost one-quarter of the region's wine production. Other grapes unique to the region are the Pinot Blanc and the Sylvaner. Prime vineyard land is located along a narrow strip that runs along the western slopes of the Rhine Valley between the head of the Vosges Mountains and Saverne.
Strasbourg is the main city in the region. It occupies a prime position on the Rhine down in the valley and provides passage to Germany via neighbouring Kehl. The Rhine Canal - a fully navigable stretch of waterway - runs through Strasbourg and crosses into Germany near the small village of Diebolshiem. Alsace property in Strasbourg is much sought-after and the rental market is buoyant. A one-bed apartment overlooking one of the Rhine's tributaries in Strasbourg will cost in the region of 100,000 euros. Alsace property in the surrounding countryside offers better value. A 4-bed villa in France in the nearby village of Pfulgriesheim for example will cost around 350,000 euros.
Moving further afield into rural Alsace, French property prices are even more reasonable. A 5-bed detached farmhouse with land in the hills to the west of Colmar was recently available for 185,000 euros, while 4-bed houses in the town of Colmar itself are available for around 160,000 euros.
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