Lapoutroie

Lapoutroie is a small town in the Haut-Rhin department of Alsace, tucked into the Béhine valley within the Orbey valley, between Colmar and the Bonhomme pass. Surrounded by Vosges forests and mountain pastures, this village serves as a traditional gateway to the Route des Crêtes and the mountain passes of the Vosges range. The town is home to the Musée des Eaux-de-Vie, housed in a former distillery, which showcases Alsatian traditions of fruit brandy production. The surrounding countryside offers plenty of walking opportunities, including routes towards the Col du Calvaire and higher points of the massif, along with cross-country and downhill skiing in winter at nearby resorts such as Les Bagenelles. The region is also known for its cheese-making heritage, linked to the neighbouring Munster valley. The Vosges climate, with cool, snowy winters and mild summers, makes the area well suited to nature tourism and mountain stays. Lapoutroie appeals to those seeking outdoor pursuits, regional gastronomy and authentic Alsatian rural heritage, away from the busier tourist routes of the Alsace plain.