Driving in the Alsace Wine Route to Obernai and Ribeauvillé as the first two stops 31 December 2019

View of the castle from the distance from the street of Grand'Rue,  Ribeauvillé 
in the Alsace Region, France

Ribeauvillé (Rappoltsweiler in German) is within the Alsace Wine Route located between the Vosges mountain and the vineyards.  The town was the seat of the Lordship of the   Ribeaupierre (Rappoltstein  in German) family  from the middle ages to their extinction in 1673.  The Lord was said to be the protector of the minstrels wandering in his land  in exchange for tax payment.

The stretch of the Alsace wine route is from Strasbourg to Colmar or the other way.  Alsace is an important wine and beer producing region.  Vin d'Alsace (Alsace wines), mostly white, produces the famous dry rieslings. The region is a mix of German and French culture.  It  had been disputed by France and Germany from the middle ages to after the World War II.  From 1945, Alsace is officially part of France.  The German influence is still strong especially in the religion.  Alsace has the greatest number of Catholics in France.  

We opted to stay in Strasbourg as our base.  We just spent the whole day in Strasbourg the day before.  The day before New Year 2020, we drove the stretch of the Alsace wine route to Colmar from our base visited the beautiful villages: Obernai, Ribeauville, Riquewihr, Kayserberg and Colmar.  Alsace is like an open museum.  Everywhere is gorgeous from the mountains, hills and valley along the highway to the majestic villages with the cobbled streets lined with colourful timber framed buildings and houses.

OBERNAI

Obernai was 10 minute drive from Strasbourg.  It was our first stop and was still early.  We drove around the a bit quiet streets lined with medieval half-timbered houses.  We did not get off the car, I don't have much to share about the town.  You may want to check the video we took while driving around the centre of Obernai.

Mairie d'Obernai (Town Hall) and the Chapel tower driving on the street of Rue du Général Gouraud.  The town hall and the Chapel tower (Kappelturm in German) are both monument historique classé from 1980.

Maison au 1, Rue Dietrich à Obernai (the house on right in pink colour) is a registered historic monumnet form 1929

Maison au 28, Rue Dietrich (the building on the right side) is registered historic monument from 1930.  Currently houses a  perfume store 

Ribeauvillé

Approximately half an hour, we had arrived Ribeauvillé.  Most of the must see in this town are on the main street,  Grand'Rue.  You could start from where the public bus from Colmar parks.  That parking area was very busy and fought over by the tourist coaches.  We parked near the street of Rue des Juifs for free. You can start the walking tour from  Fontaine du vigneron à Ribeauvillé.  The Tour des Cigognes (round tower of the ramparts)  is nearby.  We saw it while driving. I am not sure if could be visited.. Stop at the Maison Pffiferhus.  You could take a photo with the  town's oldest castle from the distance (the ruins of the Saint Ulrich castle).  Stay on the main street towards the Tour des bouchers (Butchers' tower) as you feast your eyes with the beauty of almost all the buildings lined on Grand'Rue.  These buildings houses wine shops, restaurants, coffee shops, patisserie, souvenirs, clothing shops and more.  You will pass a small square,   Place de la 1E Armée.  Chapelle Sainte-Catherine is also along the Grand'Rue.  The building currently houses a museum.  I suggest to go inside the streets of Rue des Juifs  and Rue Salzmann to see the lined picturesque medieval houses.  Back to the main street, just few more steps you'll be in the square of the Mairie de Ribeauvillé (town hall) and the Tour des bouchers (Butchers' tower).  It does not end there,  The street of  Grand'Rue continues after the tower.  More half-timbered buildings worth to view especially the Siedel house.  You could still continue to explore, there are more to see.  We ended though our visit here.  We still have three towns to go to.

You could check the video we took while walking around the stunning Ribeauville.

The ruins of the three castles of Ribeauvillé could be visited on foot and for free.

Ribeauvillé (Rappoltsweiler in German) is within the Alsace Wine Route located between the Vosges mountain and the vineyards.  It has three castles.  Their ruins could be visited on foot.

Le Saint Ulrich or Grand Ribeaupierre was founded before 1030. The castle was the main residence of the Ribeaupierre family.

The Girsberg  believed to be from the 13th century from its architecture.  It was the residence of the subjects of the Lord Ribeaupierre, also known as the Knights of  Guirsberg

The Haut Ribeaupierre is the one at the very top and was built in the 13th century.  It was like a watchtower to prevent the invasion of the French and of forest fires.

Tour des Cigognes, Ribeauvillé in the Alsace Region, France

Some of the ramparts of the medieval fortified walls were preserved, likewise, the round towers attached to the wall.   On our way to the parking area, we saw the 14th century Tour des Cigognes or the Stork Tower in English.  The very tip of the tower had become the nest of the Storks.

Maison au 7, Grand'Rue à Ribeauvillé

House No. 7 on the main street, Grand'Rue, is a registered historic monument from 1932.  Currently houses restaurants and an ice cream shop.

The house at No.14 on the main street, Grand'Rue , Maison des ménétriers (House of the minstrels)/ Pfifferhus, is registered a historic monument from 1927.  The building was designed with frescoes that tells the story of the minstrels during the middle ages.  Above the door were two statues the depict the Annuciation scene.   Within that area you could see the ruins of the Saint Ulrich castle from the distance.

Maison au 2, place de l'Ancien-Hôpital à Ribeauvillé

At 39 Grand'Rue is the Chapelle Sainte-Catherine.  The building is listed in the general inventory of cultural heritage.  Next to it, the house at No. 2 on the Place de l'Ancien-Hôpital (small square) is registered historic monument from 1932

Rue des Juifs

The street of Rue des Juifs lined with picturesque half-timbered houses. Our car was parked at the near to this street.

Timber framed buildings along the main street, Grand'Rue, houses shops and restaurants.

Panettone

Panettone is an Italian yeast breast that is the traditional alsace Kugelhopf is good for breakfast with your favourite morning hot drinks.

Only in Alsace the buildings and houses are decorated with animal stuffs during the holiday season.  Children could find this interesting as in they could bear hunt, count how many bears spotted while being dragged by parents exploring the city.

Place de l'Hôtel-de-ville, Ribeauvillé, Alsace, France

Situated at the Place de l'Hôtel-de-ville, still on the street of Grand'Rue, is the Mairie de Ribeauvillé (City Hall) and the Tour des Bouchers (Butchers' Tower).  You can also find a Renaissance fountain in front of the City Hall and the silver cups inside the building.  Both the city hall and the fountain are registered historic monument from 1932.

The Tour des Bouchers (Butchers' Tower) was from the 13th century and rebuilt in the 18th century.  It was a defensive tower assigned to the Butchers to prevent invasion of the town.  The tower, together with the ramparts of the city wall were registered historic monument in 1993.

Another interesting building along the main street, Grand'Rue, at the other side of the Butchers' tower is the House Siedel.

From this area, we could also view the ruins of the castle.  You could continue the walk to the Place de la République.  

continues to Driving in the Alsace Wine Route, France to Riquewihr  Third Stop    31 December 2019 

continued from Holiday Season in Strasbourg, France with Christmas Markets Experience  30 December 2019