The top 5 most beautiful villages in Alsace

From half-timbered houses covered in flowers to grapevines as far as the eye can see and famous gastronomic specialities, we have selected our 5 favourite villages in Alsace. 

The best way to discover these villages is to take the train to Colmar, then rent a car through AVIS® or Budget®. You can also get a discount on your rental with the Ma Location AVIS service.

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Éguisheim is the Alsace of your dreams (and even better). Everything here is simply adorable. With its half-timbered houses, geraniums and storks, it looks like something straight off a “made in Alsace” postcard.

Nestled among the vineyards just 15 minutes from Colmar, Éguisheim is one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France, and was even voted France’s Favourite Village in 2013. What makes it stand out from the crowd? Its medieval city, which winds its way like a snail around magnificent monuments in the centre of town.

Half-timbered houses

Éguisheim is full of them, each one more beautiful than the last! Your tour begins in front of the village’s famous dovecote. As you walk through the cobblestone streets, you will see one timber-framed house after another, many with inscriptions carved above their beautiful doorways.

Feel like decoding them? They contain information such as the date of construction, initials, heraldry, the owner’s profession, or religious, moral or humorous texts. In Éguisheim, a village of winemakers, you will see many pruning knives included in these inscriptions.

Just 20 minutes from Éguisheim, you can find another one of France’s Favourite Villages, Kaysersberg (elected in 2017). Once again, you will be surrounded by the magnificent, colourful half-timbered houses typical of Alsace.

A river flows through the middle of Kaysersberg, and the fortified bridge that spans the water offers a perfect vantage point for some beautiful photos. Next, it’s time for a (not too tiring) climb up to the medieval castle overlooking the city. From atop the hill, you can take in the view of the beautiful valley of Kaysersberg.

Kaysersberg Christmas Market

Christmas in Alsace is quite something! It is an ancestral tradition that the Alsatians continue to embrace with enthusiasm! All of Alsace is lit up from the end of November to the end of December. In Kaysersberg, the Christmas market will transport you to an enchanting world filled with the smells of gingerbread and hot spiced wine.

The village is dressed up to the nines with its festive illuminations and other decorations! Discover the local savoir-faire and the flavours of Alsace in the small wooden shacks where artisans sell their wares. Don’t forget to taste the bredalas, small Alsatian Christmas cookies.

Another village along the Alsace Wine Route, Riquewihr, has its own unique charms. The rampartsof this village among the vineyards hide many treasures: half-timbered houses and exceptional monuments, most of which date back to the Middle Ages.

Start by visiting the town hall, then head up Rue du Général de Gaulle, which is lined with little architectural jewels, until you reach the Tour du Dolder. This tower is home to a museum dedicated to the fascinating history of this walled city.

Sparkling wine from Alsace

“A good sparkling wine always beats a bad champagne”. This is a common saying in Alsace, and especially in Riquewihr. Indeed, it was here, in another one of France’s most beautiful villages, that a winemaker named Julien Dopff first made the famous crémant d’Alsace.

You can meet his descendants at the Dopff Au Moulin estate and taste their best sparkling wines. S’gelt (cheers in Alsatian)!

Nestled in the foothills of the Vosges, Ribeauvillé, just 10 minutes from Riquewihr, is another picture-perfect Alsatian village! In addition to vineyards and half-timbered houses, it is home to no less than three castles! From the centre of Ribeauvillé, you can take a hike that follows in the footsteps of the lords who built the 14th-century castles.

Before or after your hike, take some time to lose yourself in the narrow streets of the charming city of Ribeauvillé and sample some of its culinary specialities, such as kougelhopf.

Kougelhopf

Do you know about kougelhopf, the uniquely-shaped brioche that Alsatians adore? Legend has it that this sweet or savoury speciality was invented in Ribeauvillé by the Three Wise Men!

Historians have neither confirmed nor denied this rumour, but the inhabitants of Ribeauvillé have no doubt about it. You can find kougelhopf in any bakery worth its salt in the village. It’s perfect for breakfast!

After exploring the villages of the department of the Haut-Rhin, it’s time to head to the Bas-Rhin (the department to the north), all while staying along the Alsace Wine Route. We’re off to Obernai, just twenty minutes from Strasbourg.

While the accent here may be noticeably different, the Alsatian charm is still well and truly present, as are the half-timbered houses! The symbol of the city? A 13th-century belfry that towers above the historic centre. The famous Obernai Christmas market takes place at the foot of this tower.

Sauerkraut, the speciality of Alsace

Obernai is located in a beautiful natural setting. It is surrounded by the Vosges, grapevines, and fields of cabbage used to make sauerkraut!

Obernai, an unmissable stop along the Wine Route, is also part of the Sauerkraut Route. You can follow this route to meet producers and restaurateurs who pay homage to this Alsatian speciality.