How to spend one day in Ribeauvillè France, fairytale town in the Alsace

Last updated: August 25, 2020

Another storybook town to discover in the Alsace Region of France is the medieval town of Ribeauvillè.

Surrounded by ancient walls, vineyards, mountains, and picturesque streets, Ribeauville is another one of those towns in the Alsace that will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a fairytale.

If you’ve read my Alsace Road trip, Ribeauville is another town we visited which took us from Strasbourg to Colmar and a few towns in between.

On the blog, I will share the best things to do in one day in Ribeauvillè France and how to make the most of your visit.

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Top things to do in Ribeauvillè France

Discover Ribeauvillè France on a stroll through Main Street

Ribeauville is such a picturesque town, the first thing you notice as you enter the gates is how vibrant and colorful everything is.

The Alsace is known for their colorful half-timbered houses with flowers dripping from every window sill, cobblestone streets, and charming alleyways.

What puts Ribeauville over the top is the castles perched up on the hill overlooking the town, which is just to stunning!

Since you’re practically walking around a fairytale town, one of the best things to do is to admire everything around you! Everything here is so pretty, just pure eye candy galore!

Visit the Ribeauvillè Castles

Overlooking the town of Ribeauville are the ruins of three famous castles, Saint-Ulrich, Girsberg and Haut-Ribeaupierre, which formerly belonged to the lords of Ribeaupierre.

You definitely can’t miss them, as they are pretty much one of the first things you see as you drive into town.

The castle ruins in Ribeauville are a fine example of the military architecture of the Alsace during the Middle Ages, and you can hike up to the castles.

If you plan to hike the trails up to the castle ruins, make sure to plan accordingly.

Discover Ribeauvillé France and its history

One thing you will discover on your stroll though Ribeauvillè is it’s history.

From its medieval fortifications, the town has preserved a part of its town walls and some of its defensive towers.

One in particular is the Butchers’ tower, which is the tallest structure in town, and dates back to the 13th century.

Nearby is the Town Hall which houses a collection of silver goblets gifted by the Counts of Ribeaupierre.

If you want to get to know more of Ribeauville’s history, free guided tours of the Old Town, and Town Hall are organized daily from May to October except on Mondays and Saturdays.

Sample the Alsatian Cuisine

Since Ribeauville is surrounded by vineyards, make sure to sample some of the local wines.

Some of these vineyards have been in existence since the Middle Ages, and it’s one of the best souvenirs to take home from your trip.

Make sure to visit the little shops and purchase some Alsatian novelty items, they sell some of the coolest merchandise.

Of course you can’t miss sampling the Alsatian cuisine, such as the tarte flambee, which is a sort of pizza made with white sauce and ham.

We had an amazing visit to Ribeauville France. The main pleasure comes from simply strolling through the picturesque streets. You can easily explore Ribeauville on a day trip, but it would be nice to experience the town at night and have it all to yourself!

READ MORE: Alsace Road Trip through France

Book your stay in the Alsace region here:

Fun day trips from the Alsace Region

Discover Metz, France in the Grand-Est Region of France!

Another one of France most underrated city, Visit Nancy France and explore this regal city!

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