Driving in the Alsace Wine Route, France to KAYSERSBERG Fourth (4th) Stop 31 December 2019

Weiss River, Kaysersberg, Alsace, France

Kaysersberg is in the Route des Vins d'Alsace (Alsace "Wine Route") between Riquewihr and Colmar.  It was formerly the town of the Holy  Roman Empire and was named Kaysersberg, a German name means Emperor's mountain. This beautiful town lies between the mountains and the vineyards. Kaysersberg was voted "favoured by France" in 2017

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Town's economy depends primarily on the production of wine.   Kaysersberg vineyards is one of the best in the Alsace Region.  Not only the wines are being visited but also the ruins of the Kaysersberg Castle dominating the small town of Kaysersberg which could be seen in many parts of the town.  More so,  the cobblestone medieval streets lined with timber framed houses from the 16th to 17 century and the facade of the 13th to 15th century Église Sainte-Croix (Church of the Holy Cross).

On our way to Kaysersberg from Riquewihr, at the Road D28, we got to see the Tour des Sorcières Kaysersberg (Witches' Tower ), part of the defensive wall of the city.  You could check this tower when in the town at 9, rue du Général-de-Gaulle, at the garden of the Chambord hotel.  You could start from there, walk its main street, rue du Général-de-Gaulle, to the Hôtel de ville de Kaysersberg (city hall),  all the way to the Weiss river at the Oberhof (Upper town) where you can see more of the remains of the city walls and the fortified bridge with the Kaysersberg castle dominating the town.

Kesslerturm

Kesslerturm, also known as Kessler Tour with storks nest was part of the defensive wall built aroun 13th to 15th century.  It was registered historic monument  from 1932.  The tower is located near the Weiss river at  52 Rue des Potiers

Château de Kaysersberg, Alsace, France

Château de Kaysersberg (Kaysersberg castle) sits on the hill  overlooking its town.  Since Kaysersberg was the town of the Holy Roman Empire, the castle is an Imperial castle.  It was built in 1200s for the bailiff of the Roman Emperor.  The castle was an important strategic site in the war that opposed the Holy Roman Empire.  It blocked the route coming from the Lorraine.  The cylindrical keep with its walls-4m thick offers the magnificent panorama view of  Kaysersberg and the vineyards from the top through 100 steps stairway.

Check out the video taken during our visit to Kaysersberg

Getting around Kaysersberg, here are the suggested buildings and houses to check out at the main street, rue du Général-de-Gaulle :

Hôtel de ville de Kaysersberg (city hall),   monument historique classé (1990–)

Église Sainte-Croix de Kaysersberg

Fontaine de Constantin (Kaysersberg)

Maison Bohn 49, rue du Général-de-Gaulle, registered historic monument (1946-)

Maison Loewert  65 Rue du Général de Gaulle

Immeuble (Building) au 42, rue du Général-de-Gaulle, registered historic monument (1946–)

Musée Historique De Kaysersberg   62 64 rue du Général-de-Gaulle, monument historique classé (1991–)

Immeuble (building)  au 66, rue du Général-de-Gaulle, registered historic monument (1995-)

Ancienne Maison des Bains (former bathhouse), 103, rue du Général-de-Gaulle, monument historique 1921

Maison Herzer

Ancienne boucherie publique, Kaysersberg   78, rue du Général-de-Gaulle  

Pont sur la Weiss (Fortified bridge over the Weiss river)

Oberhof Chapel

Maison Brief-Faller

Château de Kaysersberg is visible at the upper town.  

Going back, you could walk on the street of Rue des potiers and can check out more notable sights:

Kessler Tour at 52 Rue des Potiers

Ancien couvent de franciscains (former Franciscan convent), Kaysersberg‎   registered historic mounumber (1946-) 

Maison au 24, rue du Couvent à Kaysersberg registered historic monument (1946–)

Église Sainte-Croix de Kaysersberg (Holy Cross Church) and the tower

Église Sainte-Croix de Kaysersberg (Holy Cross Church) is the medieval parish church of Kaysersberg.  The church was registered historic monument (1932–) and monument historique classé (1985–).  Holy Cross church was built in the first half of the 13th century.  The dome was added in the 19th century.

Romanesque main portal,  Église Sainte-Croix de Kaysersberg (Holy Cross Church)
Kaysersberg, Alsace, France

The site of the church is part of the Romanesque Road of Alsace because of its ornate sandstone portal.from the 13th century.

Details of the portal,  Église Sainte-Croix de Kaysersberg (Holy Cross Church)
Kaysersberg, Alsace, France

Fontaine de Constantin (Kaysersberg)

Fontaine de Constantin (Kaysersberg) was registered historic monument (1932–), built in 1521

The house behind, at 47 rue du Général-de-Gaulle, was built in the 18th century

Rue du Général-de-Gaulle, Kaysersberg, Alsace, France

Kaysersberg cobbled main street,  rue du Général-de-Gaulle, lined with timber framed houses built from the 16th to 18 century.

Maison Loewert (18th century)

Maison Loevert at 65 Rue du Général de Gaulle appears to be  from the middle ages, actually built in the 18th century

Oberhof (Upper Town)

Ancienne Maison des Bains (former bathhouse) at 103, rue du Général-de-Gaulle, built in 1600, monument historique classé  from 1921

Maison Herzer at 101 rue du Général-de-Gaulle, built in 1592, was registered historic monument from 1932.

Ancienne boucherie publique (Butcher's shop) at 78, rue du Général-de-Gaulle, built in 1616, was registered historic monument from  1932.

Château de Kaysersberg could be seen at the Upper town.  

Maison Brief-Faller, monument historique classé (1913–), built in 1593

Weiss River, Kaysersberg, Alsace, France

Oberhof Chapel, monument historique classé (1946–), half-timbered houses, Weiss River and the ramparts in Kaysersberg, Alsace, France.

Pont Fortifié (Fortified bridge), Kaysersberg, Alsace, France

Pont sur la Weiss (Fortified bridge over the Weiss river), registered historic monument (1932-).  The bridge was built in  the 16th century.

View of the fortified bridge crossing the Weiss river in Kaysersberg and the Maison Brief-Faller.  The bridge is part of the main street, Rue du Général de Gaulle.

We so miss travelling.  Because of the pandemic, we have not travelled for a year and over.  

The next stop was in Colmar.  Our Colmar story was shared earlier.  You could check this link:

Visit to Colmar, France with Christmas Market Experience  29 and 31  December 2019

After the second visit to Colmar, we went back to Strasbourg and there we had waited the coming of the year 2020.  We had a simple family dinner in the apartment.  We did not stay out late, we went to Switzerland the following day, road trip to Basel and Bern.

I may continue blogging this 2019~2020 Europe tour much later.  I will go back to our May 2018 Europe tour

continued from Driving in the Alsace Wine Route, France to Riquewihr  Third  (3rd) Stop    31 December 2019

continues to Basel, Switzerland