Grands Crus : [ Schoenenbourg ] [ Sporen ]
History
The village was mentioned for the first time under the name " Rochovilare " in documents of 1049.
During the 11th century it belonged, as part of it, to the property of the Counts of Eguisheim.
Chief town in the 12th century of a seigniory belonging to the Lords of " Horbourg ", who fortified it in 1291 and conferred the status of town on it in 1320. In 1324, the " Horbourg " sold all their possessions to the Counts of " Wurtemberg " and died out little afterwards.
Riquewihr remained in the hands of the Counts, then Dukes of " Wurtemberg " until 1793. Their armorial bearings are omnipresent in the city.
In 1525, the inhabitants tired of undergoing the tyrannical treament which was inflicted to them by the Dukes, took part in the Peasants' War.
The Calvinism was introduced in 1534, and the Lutheranism little after in 1559.
The 16th century and the beginning of the 17th century marked the apogee of the city, enriched by the sale of its famous wines.
The Thirty Year's War set an end to this prosperity.
Riquewihr made new great strides in the 18th century after joining France in 1793.
Since the 20th century, Riquewihr knows a deserved tourist success and is currently one of the most visited places France, pearl of Alsace and the vineyard, is surely one of the most beautiful villages of France.
One rushes up from the whole world to discover its treasures.
Sightseeing
Remainders of a Roman villa.
The surrounding dry-stone wall of " Rutenbuckel ".
A Merovingian cemetery. Urban districts.
The fortified surrounding wall going back to 1291 with its " Thieves' tower " former prison, the " Obertor " or " Upper Gateway " or " Dolder " for the natives, dating from the 16th century.
The Town Hall of 1809 was set up on the site of " Untertor " or " Lower Gateway ".
The old castle, today Postal Museum, going back to 1540.
The ruins of " Bilstein's castle " of the 13th century, commonly called " Bilstein of Aubure " to distinguish it from the " Bilstein of Urbeis ", in the department (administrative division) of the Bas-Rhin, but indeed on the territory of Riquewihr.
Ruins of the " Reichenstein's castle " with its pentagonal tower.
Particularly rich and picturesque, the Main Street invites you to the saunter.
You shall stroll along at number 9, the " Irion's House " of 1606, with at number 12-14 the " Jung-Selig's house " of 1564, with at number 15 the " Liebrich' house " known as " Storks' courtyard " of 1535 with a well of 1603, with at numbers 16 and 17 the " Behrel's house " with oriel window of 1709, with at numbers 30 and 31 the " Berschy's house " of 1545 known as " of the Black Bear ", with at number 37 the " Berkheim's hostel " of 1523, with at number 40 the former hotel " The Star " of 1686, with at number 46 the " Zimmer's house " with its turret and its portal of 1613, the " Thalinger's house ".
The fountain of the " Sinne " formerly being used for the gauging of the barrels, goes back to 1560.
The street of the Stag with at number 2 the " Kiener's house " of 1574 with its well of 1576, at number 3 the " Dopff 's house " of 1566, the old hostelry of " The Stag ".
The " Lateral street ": the house at number 6 going back to 1551, at number 13 the " Abry's house " of the 17th century, and at numbers 10, 11 and 12.
The " street of the First Army ": the house called " To the Pike ", going back to 1471, at number 15 the house called " to the Buttercup ", going back to 1560.
Courtyard of Strasbourg going back to 1460, the " Hugel's house " of 1597.
The " Saint Nicolas' Street ": numbers 6, 8, 12.
The " Kilian's street " 4, going back to 1618.
The " Horse's street ", at number 4 the " Wurtz' house " of 1581, with a well of 1578.
On " Stables' Street ", at number 3, of 1577.
The " Rope-makers 'street ", at number 7, going back to 1672.
The " Crown's street " at number 6, of 1610; at number 18, of 1683.
The " Three Churches' square ": with the old " Midwife's House ".
" Vine Growers' Courtyard " and its former "Vine growers'corporation conference room".
The " Jews' Courtyard " of 1509.
Also the vestiges of the " Our Lady's Church " of 1337, today closed down.
The chapel of the " Saint Erhard's Hospital " built from 1441 to 1536.
The Protestant temple of 1846 with its organ case going back to 1781 and its platform. The catholic church of 1864, by Holz.
Miscellaneous Informations
The HANSI Museum.
The Dolder Museum (local antiques museum with old weapons).
The Thieves' Tower Museum (winery and local history.
The Museum of the Post and Telecoms of Alsace :
The Mail coaches Museum.
Situation sheltered within the hollow of hills at the foot of the Vosges mountains, authorizing many excursions, forest hikes.
Forest.
Ponds.
Vine: Route des Vins d'Alsace, production of Riesling, in particular Grand Crus of " Schoenenbourg " (quoted as of 1644), constituting the " pearl of the vineyard ", and " Sporen ".
Orchards.
Many festivals and weekly animations during the tourist summer season.
Music Festival the 4th Saturday of June.
Free Light and Sound at the Dolder from the last week-end of June until August 31st.
Free guided visit of the Old Town.
Degustation of wines with musical animation the 3 three first week-ends of September.
Sales of New Wine the 2 first week ends of October.
Camp-site.
Guided visits in the Little Touristical Train.
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