Overland

Destination spotlight: Grand-Est

Grand Est is the new name of the Alsace-Champagne-Ardenne-Lorraine region. It replaces the three former administrative regions of Alsace, Champagne-Ardenne and Lorraine and consists of the eastern departments of the Ardennes, Aube, Bas-Rhine, Haut-Rhine, Haute Marne, Marne, Meurthe and Moselle, Meuse, Moselle and the Vosges.

Nature lovers come to Grand Est to enjoy its beauty in the many national parks. Its neighborhood with Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Switzerland makes its geographical location a cultural melting pot. The region's gastronomy is mostly influenced by its bordering neighbors, with most dishes inspired by the tastes and flavors of Germany.

The cuisine of the Grand Est region is heavily influenced by its German neighbors, who border the region to the east. Traditional dishes include steamed potatoes, wild boar platters and pork sausage. We particularly enjoyed the authentic Quiche Lorraine.

We asked a couple of Frenchmen what they thought of Alsace. They were full of memories and affection for this highly idiosyncratic region, which borders Switzerland to the south and Germany to the east. It's hard to pin down the character of this region, with its own identity, language, cuisine, history and architecture, - part French, part German, but 100% Alsatian.

On our to-do list are still expeditions to the Champagne region and the “continuation” of the German Wine Route in Alsace. Nature lovers come to Grand Est to enjoy the beauty of the numerous national parks. The proximity to Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Switzerland makes the geographical location a cultural melting pot. The region's gastronomy is mainly influenced by the neighboring countries, with most dishes inspired by the tastes and flavors from Germany.

Champagne-Ardenne is famous for its wine production, although the exquisite sparkling wine steals the show from the wine. The prestigious vineyards are located here, or you can visit the champagne houses. You can never go wrong deciding to try some champagne.

There is no shortage of places of interest in the Grand Est. The Ballons des Vosges Nature Park and the Northern Vosges Regional Nature Park are both worth a visit.