Alsace, Historical region and former région of France, incorporated since January 2016 into Grand Est. As an administrative entity, it encompassed the départements of Haut-Rhin (“Upper Rhine”) and Bas-Rhine (“Lower Rhine”) and was bounded by the régions of Lorraine to the west and Franche-Comté to the southwest. Switzerland lies to the south of Alsace, and Germany borders it to the east and north. Natural boundaries include the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine River. The economy is based on agriculture and manufacturing. Colmar is the principal centre of the wine-growing region, whose vineyards extend in a narrow strip along the lower slopes of the Vosges west of the city.
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