Sentier des Vignes (Vineyard Trail)

Ribeauvillé is one of the most attractive towns on the Alsace Wine Route, in the Haut-Rhin department, with a long main street of half-timbered houses at the foot of the Vosges, and the vineyards that climb the hillside behind it are part of its character. The Sentier des Vignes is a walking route through those vineyards, one of the ways to see the landscape of Alsace on foot and to understand the link between the town and its wine. The exact route and its markers are best confirmed at the tourist office.

The vineyards of Ribeauvillé produce some of the best wines in Alsace. The vines grow on steep south-facing slopes, sheltered from the rain by the Vosges, in a mix of granite, limestone and sandstone soils, and the sunny, dry climate favours the ripening of the grapes. The wines are named after their grape variety, as is the custom in Alsace, and the classics are Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Muscat and Pinot Blanc. Ribeauvillé has several grand cru vineyards, among them the Osterberg, the Kirchberg de Ribeauvillé and the Geisberg, whose names appear on bottles of the highest quality. Walking through the rows in late summer, with the grapes ripening, or in autumn at the harvest, when the leaves turn gold and red, is a beautiful experience. Several estates in the town offer cellar visits and tastings.

Above the vineyards, the ruins of three medieval castles stand on the ridge: the Saint-Ulrich, the Girsberg and the Haut-Ribeaupierre, which belonged to the lords of Ribeaupierre, the powerful family that ruled the area from the Middle Ages. They can be reached by paths through the woods, and the view from the top over the plain of Alsace, the villages in the vines and the line of the Black Forest in the distance, is worth the climb. The paths may be steep and uneven, so wear sturdy shoes, bring water and a hat, and expect to take a few hours if you go as far as the castles.

The town below has a lively Grand'Rue, with fountains and towers such as the Tour des Bouchers, and the Église Saint-Martin, as well as a well-known festival, the Pfifferdaj, held on the first Sunday of September in honour of the minstrels.

The trail is free to walk and suits wine lovers, hikers and families with older children.