La Maison du Vin

Eguisheim is a wine village of a few hundred inhabitants on the Alsace Wine Route, a few kilometres south-west of Colmar, and the name Maison du Vin attaches to the kind of place where visitors learn about the local wines and taste them. The village has a great deal to offer. Eguisheim is classified among the most beautiful villages of France, and it is arguably the most photographed village in Alsace, thanks to its unusual layout.

The village grew in concentric rings around a medieval castle, so that its streets curve in circles instead of running in straight lines. The inner ring, around the castle, has the oldest houses, and outer rings are lined with half-timbered houses in soft pinks, yellows and blues, with flower boxes at every window, carved beams and arched gateways. The cobbled lanes lead to small squares with fountains, among them the Place du Château and the Place du Marché. At the centre stands the castle, a building associated with the counts of Eguisheim, one of the most powerful families of the Middle Ages, and with Pope Leo IX, who was born here as Bruno of Eguisheim in 1002. A small chapel, dedicated to Saint Leo, stands on the castle grounds, and a statue of the pope looks over the square. Tourists wander through the circular streets, and the experience of following them is a pleasure in itself.

The wines of Eguisheim are among the best in Alsace. The slopes above the village, with the grand cru sites of Eichberg and Pfersigberg, grow Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Muscat on limestone and marl, and many family estates open their cellars for tastings along the village streets. The area also has a long cooperative tradition, and a cooperative cellar in the village is one of the oldest in Alsace. A visit can be arranged with an estate or a cellar, and many offer commentary on the grape varieties, the soils and the winemaking, in several languages. Other places to see include the Musée de la Poupée, a doll museum, and the Église Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul. The vineyard trails start from the edge of the village.

The village is crowded in high season and at Christmas, when a market fills the streets, and it is quieter in spring and autumn. Plan to arrive early or stay the night.

It suits wine lovers, couples and photographers. Remember not to drink and drive, and check which cellars are open before you go.