From Colmar to Neuf-Brisach by bike: 47 km along canals and historic sites in Alsace
From Colmar to Neuf-Brisach by bike
Another day of biking around Colmar! After my loop along the Alsace Wine Route, I’m changing direction completely and heading this time toward Neuf-Brisach.
On the agenda: a loop covering 47 kilometers, which took me about 2 hours and 30 minutes of cycling, not counting, of course, the breaks and the visit to Neuf-Brisach.
And I might as well tell you right away: it’s much flatter than in the vineyards! You leave Colmar fairly quickly and find yourself back in the countryside, passing through the villages of the Alsace Plain and, best of all, riding along several beautiful stretches by the water.
My main goal for the day was to reach Neuf-Brisach, that astonishing fortified town designed by Vauban, whose fortifications are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
I took the opportunity to explore the town, take a costumed guided tour of the ramparts, before hopping back on my bike and heading back to Colmar.
Here are the 5 highlights of this trip!
A 47-kilometer loop between Colmar and Neuf-Brisach
We set off from Colmar for a 47-kilometer bike ride !
And unlike my ride along the Wine Route a few days earlier, here there’s no need to prepare your legs for steep climbs. The route is mostly flat, making it easy to ride across the Alsace plain.
It took me about 2 hours and 30 minutes, but that time obviously doesn’t include my many photo stops or my visit to Neuf-Brisach. If you really want to enjoy the route, I recommend setting aside a good half-day—or even longer.
What I really liked was the variety of the route. You leave Colmar, pass through the countryside and several villages before reaching Neuf-Brisach, and then on the way back, you get to enjoy long stretches along the canal that are much quieter.
A route that’s fairly simple from a technical standpoint and, above all, a great way to connect two completely different places by bike.
Here’s a little tip if, like me, you’re doing the route by bike: some parts of the city center and the rampart path are best explored at a leisurely pace on foot. No problem—just get off your bike, walk it, and enjoy the scenery!
The Colmar Canal: the most peaceful part of the route
Much of this outing takes place along the Colmar Canal and, clearly, this is where the route becomes the most peaceful.
Long straight stretches, hardly any cars, and the water right beside you: all you have to do is hop on your bike and ride!
Here, we’re right in the heart of the Alsatian plain, far from the rolling hills and vineyards I’d explored a few days earlier. The landscape is much more open, and the ride is easy, with no particular difficulties.
I especially enjoyed this stretch on the way back. After setting my bike aside for quite a while to visit Neuf-Brisach and the ramparts, it was quite nice to ride for several kilometers without really needing to check the GPS every thirty seconds.
The canal is actually one of the main routes on this official loop between Neuf-Brisach and Colmar.
It might not be the most spectacular stretch to photograph, but it’s a real pleasure to ride!
Neuf-Brisach: A completely different view of the city from the ramparts
After traveling several kilometers across the plain, we arrived in Neuf-Brisach !
And this city is definitely worth taking a break from cycling for a few hours.
Neuf-Brisach is the last fortified town designed by Vauban. Its fortifications are among the twelve major sites of the Vauban network that have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008.
What’s quite unusual here is that when you arrive in the city center, you don’t necessarily notice right away how crazy the overall shape of the complex is.
You have to go up to the ramparts, get a little higher up, or look at an aerial view to understand this star-shaped layout and the entire defensive system designed around the city.
In the center is the large Place d’Armes, followed by very geometric streets that branch off in different directions.
But for me, the most interesting part is really the area outside the city: the gates, the moats, and especially the various lines of fortifications.
And to help me understand all of this, I got to go on a rather unusual tour!
A guided tour in costume along the ramparts of Neuf-Brisach
The costume-themed guided tour really adds something special to exploring Neuf-Brisach.
The tour starts at the Place d’Armes with a guide in period costume, then heads toward the fortifications.
For about 1 hour and 30 minutes, we walk along the ramparts while gradually understanding how the whole system works: why the walls have this shape, how the city was protected, where the soldiers were stationed, and how Vauban designed the different levels of defense.
And most importantly, we don’t just stand there looking at the ramparts from the outside.
The tour takes you through the Porte de Belfort, allows you to walk right into the fortifications, and even enter one of the bastioned towers, which is usually closed to the public.
It was definitely this tour that helped me understand Neuf-Brisach better. Because without an explanation, all you see are thick walls and moats. With the guide, everything makes much more sense!
And the costume definitely adds a nice touch to the whole experience without turning the visit into a show.
Rent a Bike in Neuf-Brisach with Vélo Connect
One last practical tip if you’d like to explore the area by bike but don’t have your own equipment with you: you can rent a bike directly in Neuf-Brisach at Vélo Connect.
Vélo Connect is located on Rue Vauban and offers, among other things, electric bikes for exploring the Alsace Plain and the trails around Neuf-Brisach.
So this is a good option if you want to do this loop in the opposite direction.
You can set off directly from Neuf-Brisach, cycle to Colmar, enjoy the downtown area, and then return along the canal.
And with an e-bike, the 47 kilometers become truly accessible to a lot of people. The route is already very easy to ride, so the motor assistance mainly lets you enjoy the day without worrying about the distance.
That’s also what I love about this area: it’s pretty easy to tailor the outing to your preferences. You can do the entire loop, just follow the canal, head to Colmar, or go in another direction around Neuf-Brisach.
47 kilometers and about 2 hours and 30 minutes of cycling to discover a completely different side of Alsace around Colmar.
After the vineyards, villages, and climbs of my first day on the bike, I found a much flatter route here, with long, peaceful stretches along the canals.
But what really makes this loop special is Neuf-Brisach —not to mention how safe it is for families!
You don’t just ride 47 kilometers for the sake of it: there’s a real highlight in the middle of the day—exploring the town and, above all, touring the fortifications, which I really enjoyed.
Julien Audigier
As a travel enthusiast, I want to share my adventures across France with my community. Whether hiking or biking, I love setting out to discover new adventures through breathtaking landscapes. In these articles, I’ll share the routes I’ve taken in Alsace, my favorite spots, and my top recommendations.
