Riquewihr

Riquewihr lies in Haut-Rhin, among the vineyards at the foot of the Vosges. City walls and half-timbered houses define its historic centre. The Dolder, a thirteenth-century gate tower, now houses a museum concerned with the development of the fortified town. The Tour des Voleurs and an associated winegrower’s house provide another view of its social and domestic history. The nearby grands crus Schoenenbourg and Sporen connect the town to the Alsatian wine landscape. Riquewihr is a member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. Museum interiors, streets and vineyard paths offer different ways to understand a settlement where wine production and architecture have developed together.

The gates make the transition from vineyards to town especially clear. Inside, the façades attract attention; outside, rows of vines restore the economic landscape behind them. Riquewihr gains depth when those two views are connected. The museums can turn an attractive street walk into a more specific account of town life.