Saverne on the Alsace-Lorraine border is one of the places set to benefit from the new high-speed rail link from Paris to the German border that opens tomorrow. The new TGV Est line will cut the journey time from Paris to just two hours.
Auberge d'Imsthal is near the village of La Petitie Pierre, 20 minutes from Saverne in the heart of the northern Vosges regional nature park. It's one of a number of hôtels au naturel that have committed to promoting conservation of France's natural parks. Expect a mixture of French and German food in the hotel's restaurant. There's a games room and spa (including massages), and you can swim outside in a spring-fed lake. Nearby there are 1,000km of signposted cycling trails in the nature park.
· 0033 3 8801 4900. petite-pierre.com. Doubles from €49 B&B. Breakfast €9. Massage from €50. Train from Paris to Saverne costs £11.50 one-way for travel before August 26 (raileurope.co.uk).
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