Visit Eguisheim in Alsace – Ideas to do
Eguisheim is a typical Alsatian village just outside Colmar, on the Alsace Wine Route. In this blog post, I give you my ideas and tips for your visit.
Why visit Eguisheim?
Eguisheim is notably famous for having been elected “Favorite Village of the French” in 2013, the famous show hosted by StĂ©phane Bern. But that’s not all, Eguisheim is also part of the very closed club of the Most Beautiful Villages of France. It is really a must during a stay in Alsace!
It is inevitably very popular with tourists, but we must admit that it is rightly so and that it really deserves a visit! It really is one of the most beautiful villages on the Alsace Wine Route. You can easily combine the visit of Eguisheim with that of Colmar: there are only 7km between the two, and Eguisheim is a small village.
I liked
- Walking in the pedestrian center
- Very flowery village
- The surroundings are beautiful and worth a walk!
I liked less
- Eguisheim is very touristic, so it can be quite crowded in season
How to visit Eguisheim
Eguisheim is a small town that can be discovered on foot. Park your car in one of the parking lots on the outskirts of the historic center and enjoy a pleasant stroll! Allow a few hours to stroll around and really take your time. For cars, there are two free parking lots, the Parking de la Tuilerie and Parking du Millénaire, and two paying parking lots (4€ per day), the Parking de la Mairie and the Parking des Marronniers.
1. Stroll downtown
Eguisheim is a very pleasant place to visit on foot. The walled city spreads out in concentric circles and it is very pleasant to walk around it. You can follow for example the circuit proposed by the Tourist Office, or stroll randomly through the colorful cobbled streets. There is no risk of getting lost, Eguisheim is not very big and the pleasure consists precisely in strolling and marvelling at the beauty of the discoveries you make at each step!
One can admire many Alsatian half-timbered houses with bright colors whose windowsills are richly decorated with flowers. Eguisheim has already won several prizes for its flowering, and you will quickly understand why when you walk around!
The civil and military buildings have been tremendously well preserved and the architecture of the village is fascinating. As for the remarkable monuments, you will be able to admire the Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul Church (Gothic building erected in 1220), the Saint-Leon IX Castle, as well as the Chapel and the fountain of the same name. You will see that Pope Leo is omnipresent in the names of the buildings and the central square of the village, and for good reason: Eguisheim is his birthplace. Eguisheim is also known for its five colonial courtyards, which you can discover during your visit.
2. Visit a winery and taste Alsace wines
You are on the Alsace Wine Route, so don’t hesitate to visit a winegrower and taste Alsace wines! In Eguisheim, I can recommend Emile Beyer or Pierre-Henri Ginglinger (organic). Otherwise, here is also my selection of other Alsatian domains.
3. Cycling through the vineyards
Eguisheim being nestled in the heart of the Alsatian vineyard, it would be a shame to leave without having done a little bike ride in the vineyards, especially since you have on the spot an electric bike rental company that I recommend: Alsa Cyclo Tours.
4. Walking in the vineyards
Do you prefer to walk? It’s a very good idea too, the vineyard lends itself very well. For example, you can take a nice walk in Eguisheim along the Grands Crus wine trail. If you want to make a longer walk, you can choose the 3 castles of Eguisheim (Dagsbourg, Wahlenbourg and Weckmund, all three built between the 11th and 12th century) as a goal for your walk.
My good addresses
Where to stay in Eguisheim?
I’ve put together a selection of hotels where you can stay in Eguisheim.
Restaurants
There are several good addresses, but I particularly appreciated theAuberge des Trois Châteaux for tasting good Alsatian food (special mention for the excellent Baeckeoffe).
Gourmet stores
Here are a few gourmet addresses that I particularly appreciate:
- To buy gingerbread: Bretzellerie du Rempart
- For mushroom lovers (I love their vinegar aperitif mushrooms!): La Boutique du Champignon
- To buy delicious bredele: Maison alsacienne de Biscuiterie
5. Visit the Eguisheim Christmas Market
The Christmas market of Eguisheim is very small, but the illuminated and decorated village is magnificent: it is worth a visit!
Practical information
Access
By car
Eguisheim is located in:
- 7 km from Colmar (about 15 minutes)
- 41 km from Mulhouse (about 35 minutes)
- 91 km from Strasbourg (about 1h05)
There are paid and free parking lots. You will find here the information on the different parking lots of Eguisheim.
By public transport
You can look at the Fluo website. You can also use the Kutzig bus, very practical to visit some villages of the Alsace Wine Route.