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Riquewihr- A Fairytale Village

posted on : February 16, 2020 posted by : Heather 90 Comments

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Riquewihr is a beautiful town located in the Alsace region of France. A medieval village with colorful half-timber houses dating back to the 15th and 18th centuries. Riquewihr is a member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (the most beautiful villages of France association). Surrounded by a fortress and overlooked by a castle, it was one of the few towns not destroyed in World War II.

Located 25 mins from the town of Colmar and the 45 mins from the city of Strasbourg, it makes for a wonderful day trip. We were on a river cruise down the Rhine, and Riquewihr was our first stop. I fell in love with this quaint village.

It is known for its Riesling and other wines, which is evident by the miles of rolling vineyards surrounding the town. Also, if you are a Disney fan, this village may remind you of somewhere. Riquewihr was one of two French villages that were the inspiration for Belle’s “Little Town,” in the movie Beauty and the Beast.

Can’t you just see Belle sitting by the fountain and reading a book?

So what is there to do and see in this storybook town?

1) Explore Old Town.

Stroll along the cobblestone streets and take photos of the colorfully painted houses. There are two main streets and lots of little alleys. One can find wineries, restaurants, bakeries, and plenty of little shops.

2) Grab some lunch or dinner.

We had a delicious lunch of meats and cheeses and, of course, wine at Relais de Moines. The restaurant has three dining rooms, plus an outdoor terrace. The décor was charming.

3) Musee du Dolder.

The museum houses 13th-century artifacts, such as weapons, guns, and fortification parts. It tells the story of Riquewihr. Housed in a tower, it is also a watch and a bell tower. We did not have time to go in, but I have heard it is quite impressive.

Part of the fort that surrounded the town.

Musee de Dolder – also a watch and bell tower.

4) Visit a Winery.

During our visit to Riquewihr, we visited Dopff au Moulin.

Taken directly from their website:

The fine art of Alsatian wine: since 1574, the Dopff family, from father to son, has dedicated themselves with fervor and enthusiasm to this divine alchemy born from the subtle union of native soil and vine. Wine growers, first and foremost, they uphold the rigorous ethics of their profession, which means that only natural wines from the best grapes are produced under their name ant that they are lovingly tended following the traditional methods.

We met with a team member and heard the story behind the winery. We learned the history of the family and the town. We learned how the grapes grow, the harvesting process and production. We tasted quite a few wines and had time to browse in the store. It was a lovely experience. One thing to keep in mine, tastings in Europe are not small. Each wine tasting was about half a glass. I was feeling good when we left and a bit tired on the bus ride back to the ship.