Eguisheim
A circular wine village where streets wind concentrically around a castle, bursting with flowers and once named France’s favorite village.
Eguisheim lies about 7 km south of Colmar and is one of the birthplaces of Alsace wine. It is a member of the “Most Beautiful Villages of France” association, and in 2013 a French TV program voted it France’s favorite village. The layout is unusual. At the center stand the castle, dating from the 8th century and later rebuilt, and the Saint-Léon chapel, named after Pope Leo IX, who was born here. Streets encircle the center in concentric rings. The outermost one, Rue du Rempart, is lined with curving rows of colorful half-timbered houses, and it is the best spot for photos, especially the triangular Pigeonnier house where two lanes meet. A full loop of the village takes about 1 hour, and many family wine estates offer tastings. The village has earned the top rating in the “Villes et Villages Fleuris” flower-town contest several times, and it is especially lovely in flower season. It is small, so it gets crowded on holidays. Go early in the morning or before evening. From Colmar, a regional bus or taxi takes about 15 minutes, and driving takes about 10 minutes. You can also cycle from Colmar along vineyard paths, which takes about 1 hour. Nearby Kaysersberg, birthplace of Albert Schweitzer, is worth a stop on the way.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Turckheim
- Petite Venise, Colmar
- Maison des Têtes, Colmar
- Colmar Old Town & Unterlinden Museum
- Musée Bartholdi
- Maison Pfister, Colmar
- Koïfhus (Ancienne Douane), Colmar
- St. Martin's Church, Colmar