COVID-19: Authorization to travel to Alsace, France
For the green zone, including the countries of the European Union, Australia, South Korea and Israel, there are 2 scenarios. “If I’m vaccinated and come from one of these green countries, I won’t be asked for a test. I come, I arrive and welcome to France. If I am not vaccinated, I will be asked for a PCR or antigen test of less than 72 hours and welcome to France ”, declared the Secretary of State, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Friday, June 4, 2021.

For the USA, it is enough to have completed your vaccination against covid (1 or 2 doses depending on the case) and to carry out a PCR or antigen test less than 72 hours before boarding your flight.

It is almost summer, the beautiful days are coming and we are delighted. Restaurants are open but you are probably wondering what you can do? which places to visit? We have selected a list of places to visit that we personally like. To visit everything, you will need at least 15 days of vacation in our beautiful region of Riquewihr.

The following places and attractions are listed in order of distance from Riquewihr, located a few kilometers from Colmar in Alsace.

Discover the countryside, the vineyards and the Vosges Mountain around Riquewihr

Riquewihr is nestled between the vineyard and the Vosges Mountains. Take advantage of your stay to take a walk and admire the magnificent view over the Alsace plain, or the lovely view over Riquewihr from the Grand Cru Shoenenbourg.

Eat a green sauerkraut in Riquewihr

In Riquewihr, you have to taste our famous “green sauerkraut”, the Riquewihrienne. It is an astonishing creamy and soft sauerkraut prepared with fresh herbs and accompanied by pan-fried charcuterie (with pork, goose and duck) invented 20 years ago by François Kiener, a Michelin star Chef at the time. You can taste this specific green sauerkraut in 6 restaurants in Riquewihr. Riquewihrienne sauerkraut is only found in Riquewihr. A real treat, especially for those who don’t like the acidity of traditional sauerkraut.

A meal in a gourmet restaurant

Alsace is well known for its good restaurants. In Riquewihr we have severals gourmet and even a one Michelin-star restaurant. It is always an incredible experience, for the taste and the eyes.

Cycling on the Alsatian wine route

You can rent a bike in Ribeauvillé (severals shops are providing this service), 5 minutes from Riquewihr. Do not hesitate to rent an E-Bike, it will be easier to ride the hills along the Alsatian wine route. Take the opportunity to stop by a winegrower and taste some wines.

Stroll through the other nearby Alsatian picturesque villages

Riquewihr is one of the gems of the vineyard. But all the nearby villages are typical and picturesque. Discover the medieval town of Ribeauvillé, but also the charming village of Hunawihr and its pretty fortified church perched in the middle of the vineyards. Further north, you will find Bergheim and Saint-Hippolyte under the Haut-Koenigsbourg.

Enjoy a gourmet aperitif at a selection of independent winegrowers

Friday aperitif at a winegrowers’ : the concept is simple and brilliant. Book with a winemaker who will propose the meal (in association with a local Chef generally) and will pair his wines with it. Take this unique opportunity to discover new and surprising food and wine pairings, but also to meet passionate winegrowers and taste unique terroir wines! Learn more about the gourmet aperitif at the independent winegrower by clicking here (Website in French). Price : 25 EUR /Pers

Visit Colmar, take a boat ride in “Petite Venise” and discover the famous Unterlinden museum.

Colmar is known all over the world, whether for its architectural beauty or its Christmas market. A few kilometers from Riquewihr, take advantage of a day in Colmar, enjoy a boat trip in the district of “Petite Venise”, discover the famous Unterlinden Museum where art and history lovers will admire the Altarpiece of Issenheim.

Visit the Haut-Koenigsbourg castle

The Haut-Koenigsbourg castle sits on top of a mountain at an altitude of 750 meters. Like a lighthouse in the middle of Alsace, it can be spotted for miles. This year, remember to book your visit online.

Discover the animal parks (Monkey Mountain, Naturoparc, Eagle Park, etc.)

You like animals? We too !!!!
We are spoiled in Alsace. Just across the vineyard of Riquewihr, discover the Naturoparc in Hunawihr (website in French) where you will see the way of life of storks as well as other animals like otters and raccoons (look up, they are often perched in the top of the trees).
Then at the bottom at the Haut-Koenigsbourg castle, you will find the Eagles Park (Volerie des Aigles) and its incredible show. A kilometer up towards the castle, you will find the Monkey Mountain (Montagne des Singes), where monkeys live in complete freedom. I am always amazed to see how the attitude and the gaze of the monkeys are often similar to ours.

Discover the city of Sélestat

In the heart of Alsace and the Rhine plain, the pretty medieval town of Sélestat keeps in its archives a very old (1521) written mention of the famous Christmas tree. The Humanist Library (Bibliothèque Humaniste) of Sélestat has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011 and preserves nearly 70,000 documents. Books, maps, prints and even coins, among which 460 ancient and modern manuscripts and 550 incunabula (books printed during the 2nd half of the 15th century).

A day trip on the “ill” river with the Batelier du Ried

“Ried” is the flat part of Alsace between the vineyard and the Rhine river. The Boatman “Batelier du Ried” (of one of the last Alsatian boatman) in Muttersholtz offers you several naturalistic, historical and discovery tours of the Ried in a traditional flat wooden boat. Patrick, the boatman, will show you the mystery of the waterland. Do not hesitate to check his site.

Discover the Vosges mountains and munster cheese

Riquewihr is located in the vineyard at the foot of the mountain. When temperatures rise, gain altitude and spend a day in the mountains. Picnic, mountain walk on the ridge route (route des crêtes), the landscapes are breathtaking and it is always a few degrees cooler than down in the Alsace plain. You can also stop for local delicacies in one of the many farm inns where they make the famous munster, a cheese that is eaten all over the region.

PRIVATE GUIDED TOUR – Follow us on this private and spectacular day-out dedicated to the traditions of the Alsatian Vosges and their delicacies. We will make you discover traditional Alsace, from the vineyard to the farms of the Hautes-Vosges.

A day-out, swimming and sunbathing in the Vosges

Heading to the Vosges mountains, an hour by car from Riquewihr, you will find several lakes where you can enjoy a relaxing day. Located in the Valley of the Lakes, Longemer is one of the three lakes in the valley with those of Gérardmer and Retournemer. When I was a kid, we used to go there on field trips with the school. During the hot summer days, I return to this haven of freshness. The lakes are squeezed between steep banks covered with fir trees where a nice breeze always blows.

A day-out at the Alsatian living museum (écomusée) to discover the Alsatian tradition (June 23)

The Alsace Living museum will start its new season on Wednesday, June 23, 2021! We visit it all year round. In this open-air museum, discover magnificent Alsatian houses as well as all the Alsatian traditions. Visit their website to discover the events planned this summer.

Vauban’s citadel in Neuf-Brisach

From Riquewihr, it will take you around 30 minutes to reach the tiny town of Neuf-Brisach. In the direction of Germany, Neuf-Brisach is a place surrounded by historical fortifications built by Vauban and listed as World Heritage by UNESCO since 2008.

The spectacular places of memories of the First World War

PRIVATE GUIDED TOUR – The testimonies of the 1914-1918 War in the Vosges are still very present. Discover the history of the Vosges front during the First World War. We will take you to the most famous battle sites and tell you some incredible stories. During this moving and spectacular day dedicated to the 1914-1918 war in the Vosges, you will walk the front line and visit the two most impressive battlefields.

Come spend a day with us: we will take you to these memorial sites and tell you incredible stories that happened in the region during WWI.

Mulhouse museums (City of the Trains and the City of Automobile)

Discover two extraordinary museums in Mulhouse an hour by car from Riquewihr. The City of Train (also called the French Railway Museum) in Mulhouse is the largest railway museum in Europe! The museum has the only and most important global collection in the history of French railways. The Cité de l’Automobile – National Museum – Schlumpf Collection in Mulhouse is the largest automobile museum in the world, with 500 vehicles, including 464 automobiles from 98 brands. It includes the famous collection of Fritz Schlumpf and traces the history of the European automobile from 1878 to the present day.