Grand Est is a vast northeastern French region created in 2016 from the historic provinces of Alsace, Champagne-Ardenne, and Lorraine. Bordered by Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Belgium, it is a crossroads of European culture, language, and cuisine. Strasbourg, the regional capital, hosts the European Parliament and flaunts one of Europe's finest Gothic cathedrals. Reims preserves the coronation church of French kings and the prestige champagne cellars of the world-famous Champagne region. In between, Colmar's half-timbered lanes, the vine-draped Alsace Wine Route, the Vosges mountain forests, and the solemn WWI battlefields of Verdun create an unrivalled diversity of experiences within a single region.
Cultural orientation
Essential context for travellers.
G
r
a
n
d
E
s
t
i
s
s
h
a
p
e
d
b
y
c
e
n
t
u
r
i
e
s
o
f
F
r
a
n
c
o
-
G
e
r
m
a
n
i
n
t
e
r
c
h
a
n
g
e
.
A
l
s
a
c
e
c
h
a
n
g
e
d
n
a
t
i
o
n
a
l
i
t
y
b
e
t
w
e
e
n
F
r
a
n
c
e
a
n
d
G
e
r
m
a
n
y
f
o
u
r
t
i
m
e
s
b
e
t
w
e
e
n
1
8
7
1
a
n
d
1
9
4
5
.
M
a
n
y
o
l
d
e
r
r
e
s
i
d
e
n
t
s
s
p
e
a
k
A
l
s
a
t
i
a
n
,
a
G
e
r
m
a
n
i
c
d
i
a
l
e
c
t
,
a
n
d
G
e
r
m
a
n
i
s
w
i
d
e
l
y
u
n
d
e
r
s
t
o
o
d
.
L
o
r
r
a
i
n
e
h
a
s
i
t
s
o
w
n
d
i
s
t
i
n
c
t
i
d
e
n
t
i
t
y
c
e
n
t
r
e
d
o
n
A
r
t
N
o
u
v
e
a
u
(
É
c
o
l
e
d
e
N
a
n
c
y
)
a
n
d
m
i
r
a
b
e
l
l
e
p
l
u
m
t
r
a
d
i
t
i
o
n
s
.
C
h
a
m
p
a
g
n
e
-
A
r
d
e
n
n
e
c
u
l
t
u
r
e
r
e
v
o
l
v
e
s
a
r
o
u
n
d
v
i
n
e
y
a
r
d
h
e
r
i
t
a
g
e
a
n
d
t
h
e
p
r
e
s
t
i
g
e
c
h
a
m
p
a
g
n
e
h
o
u
s
e
s
.
Do's and don'ts
Quick guide to local norms.
Do
- Greet shopkeepers and restaurant staff with 'Bonjour' on entering
- Sample local specialities — tarte flambée, choucroute, and kougelhopf are points of local pride
- Explore villages on the Wine Route on foot — walking between Eguisheim and Husseren-les-Châteaux takes 45 minutes and rewards with vineyard views
- Visit a winstub for the evening — arrive between 18:00 and 19:00 to avoid the wait
- Ask wine estate owners about specific vintages — they are passionate and knowledgeable
Don't
- Do not confuse Alsatian culture with German culture — Alsatians are fiercely proud of their unique Franco-German identity
- Do not smoke inside restaurants or cafés — illegal in France since 2008; designated outdoor areas are available
- Do not be loud on public transport — French public transport culture values quiet behaviour
- Do not assume English is spoken outside the main cities — attempt French (or German in Alsace) first
- Do not photograph people in winstubs without permission
Local customs
Traditions and practices you'll encounter.
Etiquette by setting
How to navigate everyday situations.
Useful phrases
A few words go a long way.
Bonjour
Good morning / Hello
Merci
Thank you
S'il vous plaît
Please
Une tarte flambée, s'il vous plaît
One tarte flambée, please
L'addition, s'il vous plaît
The bill, please
Où est la cathédrale?
Where is the cathedral?
Je voudrais visiter la cave, s'il vous plaît
I would like to visit the cellar, please
Santé!
Cheers! (toasting with champagne or wine)
Religion & spirituality
Understanding faith in Grand Est.
Items:
- Faith
- Catholicism
- Notes
- The dominant faith; Strasbourg, Reims, and Colmar cathedrals are active places of worship. Dress respectfully when visiting.
- Faith
- Lutheranism (Protestantism)
- Notes
- Historic Protestant community in Alsace since the Reformation — Strasbourg's Temple Neuf and Church of Saint-Thomas are major Lutheran churches.
- Faith
- Judaism
- Notes
- Strasbourg has one of France's oldest Jewish communities; the 1898 synagogue on rue Stéphane Hessel (formerly rue de la Paix) is a landmark.
- Faith
- Islam
- Notes
- Present mainly in urban centres; mosques in Strasbourg, Reims, Metz, and Nancy.