The small Alsatian town of Ribeauville is located just ten kilometres away from the larger community of Colmar, and is a popular day trip for visitors to the region. Famous for its picturesque medieval buildings and the ruined castles in the surrounding countryside, Ribeauville is an ideal destination for those who enjoy historical architecture. Located close to the Alsace wine trail, the town is also a haven for gastronomes and hosts its own wine festival every July. Make sure to spend some time in the Alsace countryside, which offers hiking, horse riding and some more unusual outdoor activities.
The buildings of the town itself have changed little over the centuries, with many of the medieval houses built in the typical Alsation style, with wooden balconies and colourful tiled roofs. Part of the town's fortified walls are still standing, along with two impressive Gothic churches. Alsace is famous for its wine, and Ribeauville is not only on the wine trail that attracts thousands of tourists every year, but is also home to a museum about wine making, particularly the methods used ay local vineyards. The local tourist office organises walking tours of the village in summer, or you can take it easy and enjoy a tour round the ancient streets on the tourist train.
Most visitors to the Ribeauville area are either there for the wine trail or to visit the three ruined fortress in the countryside around the town. Saint-Ulrich is situated on a hill top overlooking the town and the valley below and dates from the 11th century while the Girsberg fortress features architectural styles from different centuries, after the castle had to rebuilt several times. Finally, the Chateau de Haut-Ribeaupierre is the highest of all three, standing at an altitude of over 600 metres. It is also the oldest of Ribeauville's castles, and features an almost-intact circular keep, though the rest of the building is hidden underneath trees and bushes.
Along with the Alsace countryside itself, which has countless walking, cycling and horse riding trails, there are a number of more unusual natural tourist attractions in the Ribeauville area. The Magical Forest is a trail through a seemingly normal piece of woodland, but many of the trees have been carved and sculpted by local artists, while the Jardin des Papillons on the outskirts of the town features hundreds of different species butterflies. If you would rather spend a few hours relaxing after doing your sightseeing, then the town also has an outdoor pool which is open during the summer.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Ribeauville? Then below is a selection of gites in Ribeauville and villas in Ribeauville that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
