Riquewihr

Riquewihr is a fortified wine village in the Haut-Rhin department of Alsace, in France's Grand Est region, about 75 km south-west of Strasbourg on the Route des Vins. It is often listed among the most picturesque villages of France. Without a car, the journey combines the TER Fluo Grand Est train to Colmar, about 32 minutes, with a regional bus to the village, for a total of roughly 1 hour 30 minutes; bus lines and timetables change, so they should be confirmed at fluo.eu before travelling. Driving takes about 1 hour via the A35, leaving at Ribeauville or Colmar Nord, and paid parking is available at the village edge. The village centre is small and almost entirely pedestrian, centred on the Rue du General de Gaulle, which runs through the old gates. Visitors usually walk the main street to see the half-timbered and Renaissance houses, the Dolder tower, which houses a small museum, and the Tour des Voleurs, and look into courtyards where wine producers have cellars. Many family estates offer tastings of Alsatian riesling, gewurztraminer and pinot gris, and the surrounding hillsides contain grand cru vineyards that can be reached on short walks. A suggested day starts with a morning arrival, a walk through the village before day-trippers fill the street, a tasting at one or two cellars, and lunch at a winstub serving local dishes such as tarte flambee, choucroute or baeckeoffe. The afternoon can include a walk among the vines, a visit to a small museum, or a short drive to nearby Ribeauville or Kaysersberg. Trains and buses to Colmar run later into the evening, but the last bus back should be checked in advance. The best season is April to December. Autumn colours and the harvest in September and October are especially attractive, while December brings a Christmas market that makes the village busy and atmospheric. Rest stops include cafes, bakeries and wine bars along the main street, and drivers should note that tastings and driving do not mix.