Riquewihr, in the Alsace region of France, is an enchanting town that truly surprised me. It’s argued to be one of the most beautiful villages in the country, and it’s easy to understand why.
With its colourful half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets and little alleys, Riquewihr looks like a town straight out of a fairytale. So I wasn’t surprised to learn that the village in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast was actually inspired by Riquewihr and the nearby town of Ribeauvillé!
You will find everything you need to know if you’re planning on visiting Riquewihr in this post. From the top things to see and do to some handy tips to plan your visit smoothly.
Riquewihr in France: Top Things to See and Do
1. Visit the Dolder Tower and Museum
Dating back to the 13th century, the Dolder Tower is part of the original fortifications of Riquewihr. This tower served as a belfry and watchtower during the olden days, and it’s the town’s most iconic monument.
The Dolder Tower houses a museum where you can learn more about Riquewihr’s history from the 12th to the 17th century. You will find plenty of artefacts here, and once you reach the tower’s upper floors, you will have a beautiful view of the surroundings.
Tip: Check out Fontaine de la Sinne (Fountain of Gauging) while you’re there. This is the place where winemakers gauged their barrels. The fountain was built in 1560 and it’s located right next to the Dolder Tower.
2. Admire the colourful half-timbered houses
The French Alsace region is famous for its beautiful half-timbered houses, and this is what I loved the most about Riquewihr.
You will find houses of nearly every colour here, after all, this is one of the most colourful places in France. If you’re visiting this village around Christmas (which is what I did), they will be decorated with beautiful ornaments.
Rue du Général-de-Gaulle is Riquewihr’s main street and the houses here are stunning. Make sure to explore the rest of the village too, though, as it’s full of little streets and alleys that will make you feel as if you’re walking through a fairytale.
Some of the most notable buildings in Riquewihr are:
- The Skyscraper (14 rue du Général-de-Gaulle): As its name predicts, this is one of the tallest half-timbered houses in Riquewihr.
- A l’Etoile (42 rue du Général-de-Gaulle): This Baroque-style house has one of the most ornately decorated facades in town.
- The Dissler House (6 rue de la Couronne): Built at the beginning of the 17th century, this wealthy home is argued to be one of the finest houses in Riquewihr.
3. Take a break in a “winstub” (wine bar)
You will find plenty of winstubs in Riquewihr. These are Alsatian restaurants, cafes and bars that specialize in wine – this is the perfect place for a drink in an authentic setting.
Winstub Au Tire Bouchon, for example, is a great place located on Riquewihr’s main street. It’s also one of my favourite houses in town (you will find a picture of it later in this post). But there are many other winstubs in Riquewihr, so don’t hesitate to try out other ones.
Tip: If you like wine, the Alsace region is the perfect place to go wine tasting. It’s affordable and there are many vineyards around Riquewihr. An easy way to visit them is by booking a wine tour with GetYourGuide, an online agency I can recommend.
>> Read: 27 Popular French Drinks & Beverages
4. Visit the Tour des Voleurs (Thieves’ Tower) and Maison du Vigneron (Winemaker’s House)
Located on a charming little square, the Tour des Voleurs was built in 1291. Back in the day, this was the place where criminals were interrogated and imprisoned.
Today, the Thieves’ Tower houses a museum where you can visit the torture chamber and guardroom. Unfortunately, it was closed when I visited Riquewihr, so it’s something I will have to go back for.
A visit to the Tour des Voleurs can be combined with the Maison du Vigneron, which dates back to the 16th century. Here, you will get to see how Riquewihr’s winemakers lived and worked.
5. See La Porte Haute (Upper Tower) and the fortifications
After passing the Dolder Tower, you will come across La Porte Haute and Riquewihr’s fortifications. These were built at the end of the 13th century and extended around 1500.
At La Porte Haute, you can see the remains of the drawbridge and portcullis, which were part of Riquewihr’s defence system.
6. Visit the Riquewihr Christmas Market
Starting from the end of November, many Alsatian towns will be decorated with twinkly lights, fluffy teddy bears, giant mannalas (Alsatian gingerbread men), and other beautiful decorations.
So if you enjoy visiting Christmas markets and if you would like to go shopping for holiday souvenirs, then you will love Riquewihr at this time of the year!
To be honest, I’m not very fond of Christmas myself, so I was surprised to notice that I actually loved visiting Riquewihr around Christmastime. The atmosphere was wonderful and I fell in love with all the decorations!
7. Taste the regional food
One of the things France is famous for is its food, and the regional food of Riquewihr is delicious.
The Alsace Region can be found close to the German border, and throughout history, it has been a part of both Germany and France. This can clearly be seen in the region’s unique cuisine, which has been influenced by both of these countries.
One of the best things to do in Riquewihr is to taste this region’s food. You will find some of the most popular traditional Alsatian dishes below:
- Choucroûte garnie: Like German sauerkraut, this dish is prepared with fermented cabbage, sausages or charcuterie, boiled potatoes, and white wine. Choucroûte garnie is a typical winter dish that you will find in nearly every restaurant in Riquewihr.
- Baeckeoffe: This Alsatian dish consists of a hearty stew made with potatoes, vegetables, wine, and three types of marinated meat (pork, beef and lamb). It’s perfect for the Winter!
- Tarte flambée: Known as “flammkuchen” in Germany, tarte flambée is a light meal that looks like a pizza (but doesn’t taste like one). It consists of flatbread topped with fromage blanc (creamy cheese), sour cream, onions, and bacon.
I also loved the Alsatian version of gingerbread: the mannala or mannele. This so-called petit bonhomme (meaning “little guy”) is traditionally made for Saint Nicholas’ Day, which is celebrated on December 6.
8. See the Place des Trois Eglises (Square of the Three Churches)
This square was named the Place des Trois Eglises because of the three churches that can be found here: the Church of Sainte-Marguerite, Saint-Erard, and Notre-Dame.
It’s interesting to note that during the Middle Ages, Riquewihr was known as “Drei Kirchen auf einem Kirchhofe”, meaning three churches over a cemetery in German.
Although the cemetery was relocated outside the city walls, the three churches can still be found on this square today. The largest one, called the Church of Sainte-Marguerite, was completed in 1849 and restored in 1996.
9. Hike the Alsace Wine Route
Apart from its picturesque towns and villages, the Alsace region is also home to some of France’s most beautiful landscapes. Hiking along the Alsace Wine Route is a great way to discover these.
This route starts in Strasbourg and ends in Colmar, and it stretches over a distance of 170 km (105.6 miles) in total.
Tip: A fun way to explore the region is by hiking between the villages. You will find plenty of vineyards, beautiful forests, and mesmerizing landscapes en route.
10. Visit nearby towns and villages
There are plenty of charming towns and villages to explore around Riquewihr.
Strasbourg and Colmar, two of the prettiest cities in France, are great options if you feel like exploring a city, for example. If you prefer small villages, on the other hand, you can head to Kaysersberg, Ribeauvillé, Eguisheim or Hunawihr.
I visited Colmar, Hunawihr, and Kaysersberg myself and loved all three of them. While Colmar and Kaysersberg are quite popular, Hunawihr is a more remote village where you won’t bump into many tourists.
🚌 How to get from Colmar to Riquewihr
Riquewihr can be found 12 km (7.45 miles) northwest of Colmar, in the Alsace region of France. From here, you can easily reach it by:
- Car: The easiest way to get from Colmar to Riquewihr is by car. Note that you will have to pay a fee to park your car in Riquewihr. However, if you don’t mind walking a bit, you can find free parking spots on the outskirts of the village.
- Bus: There’s a bus leaving from the Colmar train station. This bus goes both to Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé.
- Bike: Riquewihr is a 40-minute bike ride from the centre of Colmar, so renting a bike is an option that will give you some flexibility.
- Day tour: There’s a day tour on GetYourGuide that starts in Colmar and will take you to Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, Ribeauvillé and Eguisheim.
Tip: I highly recommend using Discover Cars if you want to rent a car in France. This company compares car rental companies so that you can get the best rates.
🌤 Best time to visit Riquewihr in France
Riquewihr can be visited all year round, however, the months of May, July, August, September and December tend to be the busiest months.
If you want to avoid crowds, then it’s better to visit this town on weekdays in the low season (January, February, March, April, June and October).
The Christmas Market season (November and December) is also a good time to visit Riquewihr. You will find plenty of beautiful ornaments decorating the houses at this time of the year. However, this is also one of the busier months.
When it comes to the weather in Riquewihr, you can find a handy overview below:
- Spring (March to May): Spring is one of the best times to visit Riquewihr. At this time of the year, the temperature will be pleasant (12°C to 20°C / 53°F to 68°F).
- Summer (June to August): If you prefer warmer weather, the Summer months are ideal. You can expect temperatures between 24°C and 28°C (75°C and 82°C).
- Autumn (September to December): While the weather in September and October is still mild (between 15°C and 21°C / 59°F and 69°F), the months of November and December will be a bit colder (6°C to 9°C / 42°F to 48).
- Winter (January to February): The Winter months are similar to November and December, with temperatures between 5°C and 7°C (41°F and 44°F).
Note that all temperatures are during the day, so it gets colder at night.
🏨 Where to stay in Riquewihr
Riquewihr is a popular tourist destination with plenty of places to stay. You will find my top recommendations below.
- Hôtel de la Couronne (⭐ 8.3/10): Located in the centre of Riquewihr, this is a charming, family-run hotel with beautiful rooms. If you’re looking for a hotel in an authentic setting, this might be the one for you!
- Hôtel le Saint Nicolas (⭐ 8.4/10): This is another charming hotel right in the centre of Riquewihr. It’s located in a beautiful 17th-century building and you will find a restaurant here as well.
- Le Chemin du Meunier (⭐ 8.8/10): If you would rather stay outside the city centre, Le Chemin du Meunier is a good choice. This guesthouse is just a 5-minute walk from the centre of Riquewihr and it has a restaurant as well as a kitchen.
Tips for visiting Riquewihr in France
- If you’re visiting Riquewihr in the busier months or around Christmas, it’s a good idea to start your visit early in the morning. I visited Riquewihr at the beginning of December and arrived around 9 am. Although there were some crowds, it wasn’t nearly as crowded as it got a few hours later.
- Park your car in the free parking spots on the outskirts of Riquewihr if you’re visiting by car and don’t mind walking a bit.
Map of the places to visit in Riquewihr, France
Things to do in Riquewihr, France: Final thoughts
It’s true that Riquewihr is somewhat on the touristy side, but it’s still one of the most charming villages I’ve ever been to.
The colourful half-timbered houses and cobblestone streets make Riquewihr incredibly charming, and the region around this village is well worth visiting as well.
All in all, Riquewihr is well worth visiting during a trip to the French Alsace region.
Have you been to Riquewihr? What was your impression? Let me know in the comments!
Read more about France:
- Reasons Why Paris is Called the City of Love
- A Guide to the Catacombs of Paris
- The Most Famous Paintings in the Louvre
- The Palace of Versailles: A Useful Guide
- Souvenirs from Paris
🇫🇷 France travel planning checklist
🛫 Find the cheapest flights to France on Skyscanner.
🏨 Find the best accommodation via Booking or Hostelworld.
🚗 Rent a car with Discover Cars to get the best rates.
💰 Get travel insurance via VisitorsCoverage, one of the best-reviewed travel insurance companies.
📋 Don’t forget to check if you need a visa to visit France.
🚌 Book a tour of the Alsace Region to save time.
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