Surrounded by vineyards, this fortified town is a jewel. The village of Riquewihr is full of with beautiful colourful half-timbered residences and facades decorated with old shop signs. Some houses are decorated with pretty oriel windows. Omnipresent flowers and creepers add to the charm of the village.
Riquewihr has everything to seduce. Nestled at the bottom of a valley leaned against the mountain and the forest, the village is a pearl of the vineyards of Alsace. Essential of the wine route, Riquewihr cultivates vines on the heavy soils of slopes well sheltered from the North wind. The place is nice and verdant, which does not spoil anything with this postcard decor. But Riquewihr, it is also a medieval city, spared by both wars, possessing an unimaginable historical heritage composed of no less than 40 monuments classified to the Historical Monuments. The town itself seems straight out of the past with its beautiful half-timbered houses and picturesque alleys. Stone houses with gables on street and buildings with visible beams alternate with the cobblestones. The whole mixes with the scents rising from the cellars where the wine ages in barrel under the gaze of the passionate winegrowers. Its nickname, the pearl of the vineyards, speaks volumes about the landscaped landscape that awaits you, a nickname widely deserved in view of the architectural beauty of the place set in a green setting.
To discover the unique architectural heritage of Riquewihr, it is still best to walk around it to admire, at leisure, the innumerable monuments. As you walk along, you can discover the neo-classical town hall. The Württemberg Castle of 1539 now houses the Museum of Communication. Besides the remarkable building, you can follow the evolution of the post through the ages. The old court of the Abbey of Autrey of 1510 has an undeniable charm with its turret rising from the cellar to the attic and its vault with eight ribs supporting a terrace. You will pass by the Dolder Museum. This fortified gateway to the town has a 25 meter high belfry offering a bellicose face to the outside and a benevolent aspect inside the village. The tower of the Thieves of 1550 is the old prison. You can visit the torture rooms and the dungeons where the criminals were locked up. Finally, while strolling through the streets, you can admire the facades of the houses of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries inscribed on the inventory of Historic Monuments. Among them, to name but a few just for the pleasure of their names so evocative, the old house of coopers, the house called Au Button and the house of wine growers await you very wisely.
To perfect your Alsatian culture, you will have to go through the house of Uncle Hansi. Under this unusual name, there is in fact a museum dedicated to the Colmarist writer and watercolorist Jean-Jacques Waltz who has transmitted through his works his love of authentic Alsace.
Riquewihr would not be Riquewihr without its vineyards. You will not be able to pass in this city without immersing you in the culture vigneronne. An amateur or confirmed oenologist, Riquewihr invites you to push the door of his cellars to discover the work of the vineyard, from the planting of the vines to the fermentation of the wine. Of course, tastings are on the program of your visit.
Relaxation is also on the menu of your visit. You can therefore go hiking, mountain biking or horse riding in the surrounding woods to discover a particularly rich flora and fauna.
| Last name | Activity type | Rate | City | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Culture and education | 397 € | Riquewihr | Book |
 | Local flavours | 272 € | Riquewihr | Book |
| Information points | |
|---|---|
| Leisure centres | |
| Monuments |
Every Friday morning and the first Sunday of each month, local flavors await you on the market, Place Voltaire. You will be able to find the products of the soil and of what to fill your basket.
From late November and throughout the month of December, Riquewihr enters the Christmas fairyland and offers its Christmas market. The monuments illuminate, the streets come alive and the exhibitors invite you to discover the local crafts and the creations that will undoubtedly make sensation at the foot of your fir. Warm chocolate and pretzel are also a celebration for small and big gourmands.
