Centre Européen de Rencontre Hostel

Location

Phalsbourg is not served by rail, but buses do take passengers to the center of town (Rue de la Gare). From the bus stop, take the Rue de la Gare south, then turn right on the Rue de l'Hôpital, which will also bend to the south. When you reach the N4, turn left and follow it for about 2.5 blocks. The hostel will be on your left.

Amenities

This is by all means a very clean and modern hostel. The rooms are semi-private, with two rooms sharing an ensuite shower and toilet. There is also a party room of sorts. In the town, there are only a few restaurants per se to choose from, but a few cafes and sandwich shops will provide some variety during the lunch hour and afternoon. And although there is breakfast and other meals available at the hostel, there is no self-serve kitchen.

Atmosphere

This hostel can be a bit on the quiet side sometimes, but the hosts are as friendly as you will find anywhere. And that makes all the difference in the world between the feeling of peaceful solitude and uncomfortable abandonment.

Attractions

Because of its location on the French-German border lands, Phalsbourg is a town that was laid to be easily defensible, much like the 11th-century Bastide towns of southwestern France. The main square probably seems unnaturally large for such a small town, but the extreme sense of peace and quiet somehow works. One of the nearest major attractions is the Rhine-Marne Canal (pictured) and its Inclined Plane, which basically functions as a staircase for boats. The geography that made the canal possible also makes this the easiest place for cyclists to cross Les Vosges at the Col de Saverne. But perhaps the best thing about this hostel is its location at the northern end of the Alsace wine route, with all its vineyards and border castles! So I guess this hostel should be a favorite for cyclists and wine-lovers (preferably both)!

Price

This hostel is competitively priced with other local accommodations, like most other hostels in France.

Overall Value

For those looking for a private, clean, comfortable, and affordable way station along the Alsace wine route and/or the Rhein-Marne canal, the hostel at Phalsbourg is the place!

-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review