Ribeauvillé

A charming village on the Alsatian Wine Route

Nestling between the vineyards and the mountains, Ribeauvillé is a charming little town of just 5000 inhabitants which has successfully preserved its historical heritage. The village is typical of those to be found along the Wine Route, with its attractive old houses, charming narrow streets and its wealth of local wine producers. Miraculously spared during the last war, the village's most distinctive feature is its tower which once separated the upper town from the lower town.

A musicians' village

During the 14th century, a number of powerful landowners set about building the village's outer wall and also laid the foundations for its castle. They offered protection to travellers, wandering artists, acrobats and travelling musicians known simply as "ménétriers". As a result, these musicians developed the habit of paying tribute to their new-found protectors and of praying to the virgin at Notre-Dame de Dusenbach, accompanied by the music from their instruments. Today, this custom is continued in the form of the "fête des ménétriers" (musician’s festival) also known as the Pfifferdaj. Almost 25000 people take part in this exciting event each year.