Four Wonders of Alsace Villages Day Tour from Colmar

Colmar, the starting point of the day

Colmar is the natural base for exploring the Alsace villages, and it is where our day begins. The town lies about 70 km south of Strasbourg, roughly 30 minutes by train, and its own old town is one of the best preserved in France: half-timbered houses painted in soft blues, ochres and pinks, the 15th-century Koïfhus customs house with its glazed-tile roof, and the canals of Little Venice along the Lauch river.

Pickup is at selected points in central Colmar, so there is no need to rent a car or work out how to reach the villages by local bus, which runs only a few times a day. Many guests stay two nights in Colmar: one full day for this Alsace villages day trip from Colmar and one evening for the lit-up old town. Halal options exist in Colmar but are more limited than in Strasbourg.

Riquewihr, the walled jewel of Alsace

Riquewihr is often called the jewel of Alsace, and it is easy to see why. Ringed by a double line of ramparts, the village came through the wars of the 20th century almost untouched, so its main street still climbs between Renaissance houses with carved oriel windows, painted shutters and wrought-iron signs. At the top stands the Dolder, a gate tower built in 1291, and nearby the Thieves' Tower recalls the village's old prison.

Riquewihr is busiest from late morning in summer and throughout the Christmas market season, so our guide plans the day to give you the lanes at a quieter moment, with time for photos at the upper gate and along the ramparts. Expect around an hour to an hour and a half here, often including time for lunch at your own expense in one of the courtyards.

Kaysersberg, castle keep and fortified bridge

Kaysersberg, whose name means the emperor's mountain, sits at the mouth of a valley that leads up into the Vosges. Above the rooftops rises the round keep of a 13th-century castle, reached by a short, steep path that rewards you with a wide view over the town and the valley. Down below, a fortified stone bridge crosses the Weiss river beside some of the most photographed half-timbered houses in Alsace.

Is Kaysersberg worth visiting? For many guests it is the surprise of the day: a little quieter than Riquewihr, with a real mountain feel and a lively main street of bakeries, gingerbread shops and craft stores. It is especially lovely in spring and summer, when flowers spill from every balcony, and in December, when its small Christmas market fills the old streets.

Eguisheim, the village built in circles

Eguisheim, just south of Colmar, is built in concentric rings around a castle and a central square with a Renaissance fountain. Following its ring lanes, you pass leaning half-timbered houses in bright colours, wooden balconies heavy with geraniums and courtyards that have barely changed in centuries. Storks often nest on the rooftops, and the village belongs to the association of the most beautiful villages of France.

On the hill above stand three square ruined towers, the remains of medieval castles that once guarded the plain. Eguisheim is compact, so about an hour is enough to loop the outer lane, see the central square and take the classic photographs. It is one of the best places to see storks in Alsace, especially from March to August, when the birds are nesting and feeding their young.

Ribeauvillé, towers and three ruined castles

Ribeauvillé stretches along one long main street at the foot of the Vosges, with three ruined castles watching from the wooded hills above. Halfway along rises the Butchers' Tower, a 13th-century gate tower that once divided the town's quarters, and small squares with Renaissance fountains open up on either side. Storks nest on several rooftops, and the town has a lively, lived-in feel.

Every September the town holds a medieval minstrels' festival with a costumed parade, among the oldest folk festivals in Alsace. On a normal day, our guide gives you time to stroll the main street and enjoy the views of the castle ruins. With the other three villages, Ribeauvillé completes a full Alsace countryside day, the drives between stops usually taking only 10 to 20 minutes.