Vosges

Colmar

From Colmar the road tilts up almost immediately into the Vosges, with the Col du Platzerwasel, the Grand Ballon, the Col de la Schlucht, the Col du Pré de Raves and the long drag of the Col d'Hahnenbrunnen all within reach of a single day out. Vineyard lanes above the town make for easy warm-ups, the forest roads are smooth and lightly trafficked, and Colmar itself offers good rail links, plentiful lodging and a compact old centre to come back to.