Colmar

The old market gardeners' quarter, where flower-decked half-timbered houses reflect in the Lauch, is explored entirely on foot along the quays. The Sweet Narcisse flat-bottomed boats accept dogs on board for the 30-minute narrated ride from Pont Saint-Pierre.

The city centre's green lung, a 19th-century park with long shaded alleys between the station and the old town. Dogs are welcome on a leash, waste must be picked up; free bags are handed out at the town hall.

A 1537 masterpiece adorned with frescoes and a two-storey oriel window, it is Colmar's most famous house. It is admired from Rue des Marchands, so perfectly doable on a leash, along a route that strings together the Koifhus and the collegiate church.

The former Dominican convent houses the Isenheim Altarpiece, one of the summits of European painting. Only guide and assistance dogs are admitted: plan a pet sitter or take turns visiting while your dog rests.

The great Gothic church of yellow sandstone dominates Place de la Cathedrale and its cafe terraces. The interior does not admit pets, but the walk around the chevet and the lively square are worth the leashed stop on their own.

Eguisheim, Riquewihr and Kaysersberg lie within 15 km, linked by wine-growers' paths through the vines. The cobbled, open-air villages are easy to visit on a leash, and many tasting cellars accept calm dogs if you ask before entering.