Village de Riquewihr

Name: Village de Riquewihr
Address: 57 Rue Dite Sébastopol, Riquewihr, Riquewihr, FR

Landmarks ·Riquewihr

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About

Village de Riquewihr is a fortified medieval wine village in Alsace, France, at the foot of the Vosges near Colmar.

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A largely intact 16th-century townscape, with medieval half-timbered houses and narrow cobbled lanes.
The 25-metre Dolder, Riquewihr’s landmark tower.

Dolder towerIts bell warned of danger from the plain, and the village watchman once lived inside. Its museum occupies three floors, with local history, folk traditions and weapons from the 15th to 17th centuries.At the old town’s original upper gate
Diebesturm (Tour des Voleurs)This 18-metre tower formerly housed the town prison and torture chamber. Its museum displays a historic kitchen, furnished room and wine press with cellar.By the town wall
Musée HansiDisplays work by graphic artist Jean-Jacques Waltz.
1563 winemaker’s houseA historic house beside the Diebesturm and town wall.Beside the Diebesturm, near the town wall1563

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220 metres
The fortified town measured 300 by 220 metres and could shelter people from several neighbouring villages.
Riquewihr - Wikipedia
A favourable climate encouraged grape growing, while steep slopes and heavy soils limited other uses.
Riquewihr - Wikipedia
Three of the original four corner towers survive: Diebesturm, Hellerturm and Turm der Anabaptisten.
Riquewihr - Wikipedia

Wine trading shaped Riquewihr’s notable houses.

8th c.A Frank named Richo founded the Richo villa estate, from which the village developed.
1049The village was first recorded as “Richovilare” in a donation to Sainte-Croix-en-Plaine monastery.
1291The Horbourg family enclosed the town with a wall, three gates and a deep moat.
1320Riquewihr received town rights.
1324The Horbourg family sold its lands to Ulrich III of Württemberg.

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around 1500A second wall and the Porte Haute strengthened the town’s defences.
1534Georges de Württemberg introduced the Reformation in the lordship.
16th c.Wine exports across the Empire and Hanseatic countries brought prosperity, reflected in notable houses built mostly in the 16th century.
1635, 1652Lorraine troops besieged, captured and looted the village.
1845An evangelical church and a Catholic church replaced the medieval Margaretenkirche.
World War IIThe village escaped serious damage.

The town is pedestrianized, so plan to explore on foot.
Rue du Général de Gaulle is the main street for cafés, restaurants, shops and wine merchants.

Where

57 Rue Dite Sébastopol, Riquewihr

Is Riquewihr one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France?

Yes. It belongs to the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France association.

Is there a museum about World War II in Riquewihr?

The village has a museum about Alsace during World War II.

What are Riquewihr’s two churches?

An evangelical church and a Catholic church were built in 1845, replacing the medieval Margaretenkirche.

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