Alsace and the Carrefour Européen du Patchwork by Rail

This morning, we will explore Colmar, a picturesque town, sometimes referred to as ‘little Venice’, on foot. Known for its well-preserved old town, charming half-timbered houses and scenic canals, our guided tour will take you through its most delightful spots. You will see some of the emblematic monuments of the old town, the church of the Dominicans, the Tanners quarter, and the colourful houses once inhabited by fisherman, boatmen and market gardeners.

This afternoon your first hand-sewing workshop with Mandy Shaw will take place at the hotel.

The European Patchwork and Art Textiles Show is a renowned event for quilt enthusiasts, artists and textile lovers, held annually in the Alsace region of France. Considered the cradle of the Amish community, the show takes place across four beautiful villages of the Val d’Argent, where you will find the doors of unique venues open to explore unforgettable works of colour, materials and textures by local and international artists and collectors, from patchwork to embroidery, mixed media, dyeing, crochet and lace as well as several other forms of textile art. You will also find a shopping area of over 4,500 square meters, where you will be able to stock up on supplies, new ideas and learn about the latest trends, or you might like to participate in one of the workshops or seminars offered by renowned tutors.

Your ticket will include use of the event organisers own shuttle buses that connect the four villages enabling you to make the most of your full day visit to Europe’s largest quilting event!

Today, travelling by rail, we will spend the day in Mulhouse, a city renowned for its rich textile heritage. During our full day, guided walking tour, you will discover how the golden age of the textile industry from the first factories to the industrial boom which transformed the city. Our tour will also include a visit to the vibrant market of Marché du Canal Couvert, where you will find the haberdashery area offering a selection of textiles and fabrics with unique and Alsatian prints and patterns, a vast selection of threads in different colours and types, as well as craft supplies to embellish your projects.

During the course of the day, we will also visit the Museum of Printed Fabrics, founded in 1857, the museum houses pieces dating back to 1833 and through samples preserved and machines on display, it is possible to trace the history of textile printing in the region, much of which still inspires great designers and stores such as Kenzo, IKEA, Laduree, Hermes and many others.

Today you will be able to spend a second day at the European Patchwork and Art Textiles Show where amongst other things you will be able to view the bold and creative exhibits of quilters from Australia and New Zealand.

Enjoy a full-day workshop with Mandy to continue working on your project.

This morning, we will travel into Germany, where we will visit the family-owned Madeira thread headquarters and production site near Freiburg im Breisgau. With origins dating back to 1919, our visit will offer a fascinating insight into the production of the company's high-quality embroidery threads, technological innovations and the diverse product range which began from humble beginnings specialising in silk threads to one of today's global leaders in the embroidery industry.

This afternoon there will be some free time to explore Freiburg im Breisgau independently before returning to Colmar.