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Press Release 21 March 2011

On the current of the Rhine

Press Contacts :

�Alsace Press Contact Fatiha Rachedi - Alsace Tourist Board

Tel.: + 33 (0)3 89 24 73 82 / E-mail: frachedi@tourisme-alsace.com

�Schwarzwald Press Contact

Irene Ulrich - Project Manager “Upper Rhine Valley” Tel.: + 49 (0)761 3881-1211

Irene.Ulrich@fwtm.freiburg.de

�Basel Tourismus Press Contact Ann Müller – Basel Tourismus

Tel.: + 41 (0)61 268 68 11 E-mail: ann.mueller@basel.com

Projet cofinancé par l'Union Européenne - Fonds européen de développement régional (FEDER) Dieses Projekt wurde von der Europäischen Union kofinanziert - Europäischer Fonds für regionale Entwicklung (EFRE) This project is cofinanced by the European Union / European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

Dépasser les frontières – projet après projet. Der Oberrhein wächst zusammen, mit jedem Projekt. Transcending borders with every project.

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I. The Rhine… A mythical river Source of life and purveyor of precious resources, the Rhine nourishes the most exuberant of landscapes, creating the perfect symbiosis between water, earth and vegetation… Perceived in times past as a ‘barrier’ between countries, today the Rhine is seen as both a natural - and cultural - link.

First trinational ‘Wine & Gastronomy’ cruise in the Upper Rhine Valley Connected by the thread of a mythical and majestic river, the Palatinate, Alsace, the Black Forest and Basel Region are all taking part in the promotion of a new and original tourist product: a trinational gastronomic and wine cruise on the River Rhine. The most renowned French, German and Swiss Michelin-starred chefs will be working their magic at the stoves and sharing their passion for cuisine with the on-board passengers. With world-famous wine growers and wine waiters in attendance, they will offer an exclusive dinner prepared by 6 expert hands. Run by CroisiEurope , the travel itineraries aboard the MS Modigliani have been set to fall on 8 special dates spanning the period from June to September 2011, at an extremely attractive price of €299/person .

� 11 and 12 June (leaving from Strasbourg) & 12 and 13 June (leaving from Basel)

With the participation of chefs from the following establishments: “l’Auberge du Cheval Blanc” in Lembach, France [www.au-cheval-blanc.fr] � “Hotel Colombi” in Freiburg, Germany

[www.colombi.de] � “Brenner’s Park Hotel” in Baden-Baden, Germany [www.brenners.com] � “Grand Hôtel Les Trois Rois” and the restaurant “Le Cheval Blanc” in Basel, Switzerland

[www.lestroisrois.com]

� 6 and 7 July (leaving from Strasbourg) & 7 and 8 July (leaving from Basel)

With the participation of chefs from the following establishments: “Bistro des Saveurs” in Obernai, France � “Bristol Rendez-vous de Chasse” in Colmar, France [www.grand-hotelbristol.com] �Hotel & restaurant “Adler” in Lahr, Germany [www.adler-lahr.de] � Restaurant “Talmühle” in Sasbachwalden, Germany [www.talmuehle.de] � Restaurant “Teufelhof” in Basel, Switzerland [www.teufelhof.com]

� 14 and 15 August (leaving from Strasbourg) & 15 and 16 August (leaving from Basel)

With the participation of chefs from the following establishments: “Hostellerie du Rosenmeer” in Rosheim, France [www.le-rosenmeer.com] �“Villa Hammerschmiede” in Pfinztal-Söllingen, Germany

[www.villa-hammerschmiede.de] � “Grand Hôtel Les Trois Rois” in Basel, Switzerland

� 15 and 16 Sept. (leaving from Strasbourg) & 16 and 17 Sept. (leaving from Basel)

With the participation of chefs from the following establishments: Restaurant “Le Crocodile” in Strasbourg, France [www.au-crocodile.com] � Restaurant “Au Vieux Couvent” in Rhinau, France

[www.auvieuxcouvent.fr] � Hotel “Ritter Durbach”, Germany [www.ritterdurbach.de] � Restaurant “Teufelhof” in Basel, Switzerland [www.teufelhof.com]

CroisiEurope: The European leader in river cruises has a fleet of 26 vessels that navigate the most

beautiful rivers in Europe. These comfortable and spacious boats boast the latest technology with a

discreet, efficient crew. They are able to accommodate between 100 and 180 passengers depending on their size, and are well equipped to

organise cruises with ‘human proportions’. www.croisieurope.com

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On the programme: MS Modigliani / CroisiEurope “Strasbourg – Basel” route 17.00 Boarding in Strasbourg 18.00 Departure for Breisach am Rhein Arrival in Breisach at night 20.00 Gourmet dinner on board 8.00 departure for the trip “Escapade across the Rhine: the two Brisachs” Arrival in Basel around 16.00/Disembarkation “Basel – Strasbourg” route 17.00 Boarding in Basel Departure for Breisach am Rhein 20.00 Gourmet dinner on board Arrival in Breisach at night 8.00 departure for the trip “Escapade across the Rhine: the two Brisachs” Arrival in Strasbourg around 16.00/Disembarkation

Vieux-Brisach (‘Breisach am Rhein’ in German) is a fortress town in Baden-Württemberg,

Germany, situated along the River Rhine. The French call it ‘Vieux-Brisach’ (Old Brisach) to distinguish it from the Alsatian town of Neuf-Brisach (New Brisach), which was built by

Vauban in the 17th century on the French side of the Rhine.

Neuf-Brisach (France) Fortifications of Vauban, a UNESCO

World Heritage Site The stronghold of Neuf-Brisach, considered as Vauban’s masterpiece, is the second site in Alsace (after the Grande Ile of Strasbourg) to be inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Neuf-Brisach - of which Louis XIV himself said ‘of all the diamonds in France’s crown, the Rhine fortress is the most beautiful’ - is, in this context, a perfectly preserved and unique example of a fortified town. Built between 1698 and 1703 along the Rhine, Neuf-Brisach was the last stronghold constructed by Vauban and the sole illustration of Vauban’s third system of defence.

www.tourisme-rhin.com

Breisach am Rhein (Germany) Vieux-Brisach (in German ‘Breisach am Rhein’) is a

fortified town in Germany’s state of Baden-Württemberg.

Not to be missed: a tour of the St. Stephansmünster in Vieux-Brisach: an extraordinary jewel situated at the top of the Münsterberg hill, Breisach’s emblem towers over the houses of the old town and the Rhenish Plain. Its two towers guide visitors towards an interesting edifice that is home to numerous treasures. Owing to its Roman and Gothic elements, this cathedral is thought to have been built over the period spanning the end of the 12th century up to the beginning of the 15th century. www.breisach.de

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II. The Rhine… A gastronomic river New! The ‘Upper Rhine’ Red Michelin Guide With 60 Michelin-starred eating establishments and an array of legendary wine routes, the Rhenish region of humanism has acquired a unique identity and reputation in Europe over the centuries. Emile Jung, one of the greatest Alsatian chefs, evoked an image of this gastronomic River Rhine, which has, since the dawn of time, carried across the Alsatian Plain “spices from India, pasta from Italy, herrings from Scandinavia…unleashing the intense desire to blend and to cook…in short, to create”. Alongside the great names of European gastronomy, who relied on the best products to forge their famed reputations, taverns have also contributed to the renown of the Rhine Valley’s gastronomy. No other region brings together so perfectly the true nature of people: warmth, good naturedness, humour, a taste for good dishes, the best wines and a certain art of living… With a view to synergising all that this region has to offer and to promoting the travel destination, the Agence de Développement Touristique de Haute Alsace (Upper Alsace Tourism Development Agency) formed a partnership with Michelin in order to publish a cross-border Red Guide (Guide Rouge) covering the entire Upper Rhine territory, namely Alsace, South Palatinate, the Black Forest as well as Basel and its surrounding areas. [As a matter of interest, this area had already featured in an Upper Rhine Green Guide publication and a corresponding map, a project steered by France’s Tourism Development Agency (ADT) within the framework of Interreg in 1993.]

Available in shops from this coming 21 March, the brand-new bilingual Michelin guide -

GUIDE ROUGE MICHELIN - RHIN SUPERIEUR-OBERRHEIN (Upper Rhine Red Michelin Guide)

A completely new concept, given that it covers a region on both sides of the Rhine without taking national borders into account, this project was entered into jointly by Haute Alsace Tourisme (Upper Alsace Tourism), the Agence de Développement Touristique de Haute Alsace (Upper Alsace Tourism Development Agency), head of operations, and the partners of the INTERREG project, whose aim was to promote the ‘Upper Rhine Valley’ region in a manner transcending national boundaries, represented by the Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co.KG. The guide, like all the editions in the Red Guides collection that aficionados of good fare know and consult, lists and classifies in particular the best restaurants, distinguishing them from one another by means of ‘Stars’ for their degree of excellence, or ‘Bib’ symbols, which represent value for money. In addition, it lists and classifies accommodation in pleasant, peaceful or unique locations, while indicating establishments offering the most attractive wine menus. The guide is a fantastic digest of addresses that absolutely must be tried, tasted and remembered on both sides of the Rhine, hence containing all that is necessary to convey and to promote the region, facilitating exchange and discovery.

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III. The Rhine… A river that transcends boundaries ‘Upper Rhine Valley’: a European project The Upper Rhine Valley records 17,1 million overnight stays annually and may be compared to other tourism areas such as South Tyrol, Tuscany or the Basque Country. In the heart of Europe, the Metropolitan Region’s central location is reinforced by its high level of accessibility and its powerful embodiment of European cohesion. The ‘Upper Rhine Valley’ project is co-financed by the European Union within the framework of the INTERREG IV A programme. It incorporates 31 partners in Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Alsace and North-West Switzerland. The Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG (FWTM) in Freiburg, Breisgau, is the project carrier. The objectives of the project are, among other things, to increase the reputation and visibility of the Upper Rhine region. Over an area of 21.518 km², with more than 17 million annual overnight stays and 5.8 million inhabitants, the region is comparable to Tuscany (22,990 km², 19.7 million overnight stays). The Black Forest alone records over 8 million overnight stays per year, 1.2 million of which are in Freiburg and 800,000 in Baden-Baden and Karlsruhe. Alsace is ranked second, boasting 6 million overnight stays, of which 2 million are recorded in Strasbourg. Colmar and Mulhouse each register 600,000 overnight stays. The region of Basel records 2.4 million overnight stays, 1 million of which are in Basel itself, and the South Palatinate region, records just short of a million, with 900,000 overnight stays.

‘Upper Rhine Valley’: a distinct region UPPER RHINE VALLEY carries Upper Rhine tourism promotion to the world with a unique name and a common identity chosen by all 31 partners (French, German and Swiss), focusing on a new destination rather than a new brand. In the same way, working groups collaborate on common tourism products and programmes in the areas of training, innovation and a marketing approach suitable for this common destination. The partners are concerned with two main lines of work: TRAINING: the primary aim of which is to inform tourism service providers , as well as local government agencies within the 3 destinations, about the tourism potential of the region by means of a trinational exchange programme of apprentices, students and employees. Important work is carried out on formulating measures necessary for greater cross-border mobility and the integration of linguistic and cultural knowledge on the Upper Rhine region into courses of study on tourism, with different types of training relating to occupations in the tourism industry being analysed in order to facilitate the creation of a unique course of studies in the future.

PROMOTION – Targeting, as a matter of priority, Europe and the distant markets of China, India, Japan, South Korea, the United States and Canada, numerous tools have been put in place to promote the Upper Rhine Valley, which include: - a promotional film; - a sales manual aimed at tour operators, available soon; - a common internet site , soon to be launched; - a promotion stand for participation in events or trade shows; and - a panoramic map of the UPPER RHINE VALLEY .

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‘Upper Rhine Valley’: useful information and how to get here

FIVE TOPICS FORM THE MAIN FOCUS of the campaign to promote the Upper Rhine Valley, namely: ‘Art of Living: Wines and Gastronomy’; ‘Art and Living Culture’; ‘Urban Heritage’; ‘Traditions and Events’; and ‘Nature and Wellbeing’. In Europe, the Upper Rhine Valley enjoys a unique central location and a high level of accessibility, embodying the notion of European cohesion more than any other region. One of its distinguishing features is also its wide diversity regarding tourism, in addition to which the region is host to inestimable treasures: - Extraordinary landscapes, traversed right the way through by the Rhine and offering a wide range of natural environments that are subject to varied climatic influences. From the banks of the Rhine to the summits of the Vosges mountains and the Black Forest, the landscapes feature a succession of lush alluvial Rhine forests, the flood-prone grasslands of the Ried, open farmlands, divinely sketched criss-crossing vineyards and the sun-kissed slopes of the piedmonts. - An exceptional architectural heritage: Strasbourg, Karlsruhe, Baden-Baden, Freiburg, Mulhouse, Colmar and Basel all offer an exquisite range of urban treasures, just awaiting discovery, and a concentration of cultural offerings that is very rare in Europe. - A great number of cultural sites and art, technical, or history museums such as the Würth d’Erstein Museum, the Beyeler Foundation in Basel, and the 7 museums of technology in Mulhouse, to name but a few. - Legendary wine routes and 61 Michelin-starred chefs who feature in the first trinational gastronomic guide: the Upper Rhine Red Michelin Guide (le Guide Rouge Michelin/Rhin Supérieur/Oberrhein).

- Lively traditions with light-hearted, cultural or factually grandiose events: the Rhenish carnivals, with the most famous held in Basel and the Black Forest, the Advent festivities marked by five weeks of events and the magical markets for which Alsace in particular is renowned.

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GETTING HERE:

By air: • Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg airport • Strasbourg Entzheim airport • Baden-Baden airport • Frankfurt airport • Zurich airport By high-speed rail: • Paris -> Strasbourg -> Basel by TGV (direct) • Paris -> Strasbourg -> Karlsruhe by TGV (direct) • Frankfurt -> Freiburg -> Basel by ICE (direct) • Zurich -> Strasbourg by TGV (direct) • NEW: Frankfurt – Strasbourg – Colmar – Mulhouse from 2012 onwards

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The Rhine: linking people with friendship

Until not so long ago, it was customary to establish regional geographical programmes according to politically-defined national boundaries. The “Upper Rhine Valley” is a tri-national unity surpassing these boundaries, representing an open territory forging friendship and linguistic and cultural connections, and now it also offers a new discovery in the field of tourism…

The first tri-national “Wines & Gastronomy” cruise in the Upper Rhine Valley was made possible thanks to: Christian Schmitter, CroisiEurope / the network DEHOGA / Maurus Ebneter, Wirteverband Basel / the network « Etoiles d’Alsace », around the project « Region of Stars »…

The “Upper Rhine” Red Michelin guide (Rhin Supérieur-Oberrhein) results from the involvement of: Christian Delhaye, Michelin / Jean Klinkert, ADT 68…

This launch evening could not have been done without: Richard Schmitz, Deputy-President IHK Karksruhe and Andréas Foerderer, Tourisme Manager / Philippe Choukroun for the Alsace Tourist Board / Fernand Mischler, Emile Jung for the “Alsace” chefs / Danièle Schmitt Alsace Region Chamber of Commerce/ Dr. Bernd Dallmann and the Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co.KG. / Anne-Sophie Meyer and Didier Hartmann, Interreg / the 31 « Upper Rhine Valley » partners…

Special thank to François Frieh and Johann Cahueau. “UPPER RHINE VALLEY”: THE 31 PARTNERS

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Bel Etage im Teufelhof, Switzerland Leonhardsgraben 47 – CH-4051 Basel Tel. 00 41 (0) 61 261 10 10 www.teufelhof.com Chef: Michael Baader Owner: Raphael Wyniger

Hotel Villa Hammerschmiede, Germany Hauptstraße 162 – D-76327 Pfinztal Tel. 00 49 (0)7240 60 10 www.villa-hammerschmiede.de Chef: Patrick Spies Owner: the Schwalbe family

Hotel Talmühle Restaurant Fallert, Germany Talstraße 36 – D-77887 Sasbachwalden Tel. 0049 (0)7841 628 290 www.talmuehle.de Chef and owner: Marius and Gutbert Fallert

Brenner’s Park-Hotel & Spa, Park-Restaurant, Germany Schillerstraße 4 – D-76530 Baden-Baden Tel. 00 49 (0)7221 9000 www.brenners.com Chef: Andreas Krolik Manager: Frank Marrenbach

Hotel Ritter Durbach, Restaurant Wilder Ritter, Germany Tal 1 – D-77770 Durbach Tel. 00 49 (0)781 93 230 www.ritter-durbach.de Chef: Christian Baur Managers: Ilka and Dominic Müller

Hotel-Restaurant Adler, Germany Reichenbacher Hauptstraße 18 D-77933 Lahr-Reichenbach Tel. 00 49 (0)7821 90 63 90 www.adler-lahr.de Chefs: Otto and Daniel Fehrenbacher Owner: Otto Fehrenbacher

Colombi-Hotel, Germany Rotteckring 16 – D-79098 Freiburg Tel. 00 49 (0)761 210 60 www.colombi.de Chef: Alfred Klink Owner: Roland Burtsche

Appendix: contact details of the cruise’s partner establishments Au Crocodile, France 10, rue de L’Outre – F-67000 Strasbourg Tel. 00 33 (0)3 88 32 13 02 www.au-crocodile.com Chef: Ludovic Kientz Owner: Philippe Bohrer

Auberge du Cheval Blanc, France 4, rue de Wissembourg – F-67510 Lembach Tel. 00 33 (0)3 88 94 41 86 www.au-cheval-blanc.fr Chef and owner: Pascal Bastian

Hostellerie du Rosenmeer, France 45, avenue de la Gare – F-67560 Rosheim Tel. 00 33 (0)3 88 50 43 29 www.le-rosenmeer.com Chef and owner: Hubert Maetz

Au Vieux Couvent, France 6, rue des Chanoines – F-67860 Rhinau Tel. 00 33 (0)3 88 74 61 15 www.auvieuxcouvent.fr Chefs: Jean and Alex Albrecht Owner: Jeannot Albrecht

Rendez-vous de Chasse, France 7, place de la Gare – F-68000 Colmar Tel. 00 33 (0)3 89 23 15 86 www.grand-hotel-bristol.com Chef: Julien Binz Owner: Richard Riehm

Le Bistro des Saveurs, France 35, rue de Sélestat – F-67210 Obernai Tel. 00 33 (0)3 88 49 90 41 Chef and owner: Thierry Schwarz

Grand Hôtel Les Trois Rois, Switzerland Blumenrain 8 – CH-4001 Basel Tel. 00 41 (0)61 260 50 50 www.lestroisrois.com Chef: Peter Knogl Manager: Reto Kocher