Alsace holds three great treasures: Strasbourg's cathedral, Issenheim's retable in Colmar and the humanist library in Selestat, a city which, for a time, was indeed the veritable heart of Alsatian culture. This was due to a number of historic factors and to the artists and intellectuals educated there. The city's geographic location played an important role as well and has continued to do so in the city's development as Selestat is located near the road and rail north-south communication routes in the heart of Middle-Alsace.
This advantage has recently been enhanced by the piercing of the Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines road tunnel which opens the way toward the Vosges and Epinal. Selestat also benefits from its surrounding area. To the east we find the Ried with its distinctive biotope, deer reserve and extraordinary wildlife.
Even though Selestat is not part of the Wine Route, it is close enough to it to be good place to get started from.
