Alsace is blessed with one of the lowest rainfalls in all of France. This means its grapes can grow undisturbed by heavy rains even during the winter. Humans should enjoy Alsace’s weather, too: the region’s Continental climate means all of the four seasons are desirable times to visit.

Alsace does get snow during the winter, but skiing is popular in the Vosges mountains, so tourists don’t let snowflakes keep them away. Also, the region’s villages are especially picturesque when the pointed roofs are covered in snow.

Spring and summer in Alsace are lovely; brightly colored daffodils replace the snow in April, and throughout the summer the countryside gets more and more colorful. The summer months can be quite warm, but the mountains provide a nearby escape from the heat. The end of summer is probably the least ideal time to visit since it is the hottest and most crowded.

The best time to visit is probably autumn, when the August tourists have gone home and temperatures have cooled off slightly. If you visit during September and October, you can enjoy the changing of the leaves and the grape harvest at the same time: two things you can’t get any other time of year.

To get an idea of what the weather will be like, check the ten-day forecast for Strasbourg , Alsace's main city.