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Eguisheim Travel Guide: What to See and do in this cute village

Eguisheim is a charming town in the Alsace region of France. We show you why it’s interesting and what to see while you’re there.


Although our time in Eguisheim was brief, we were able to understand the reason why this town has the award of one of “the most beautiful villages in France“. In this article, we show you what we to see in Eguisheim in a few hours.

The wine route to Eguisheim

And after the storm, calm came. Since it wasn’t raining anymore we took the car and started exploring Alsace with its pretty half-timbered houses. Instead of walking on the highway, we went along the small roads that pass between the towns, in fact we took the wine route.

When we saw the names of the places, we wondered if we were in Germany or France, but yes, it was still France. What happens is that Alsace is a region that has been “changing” country over the centuries, so in this place the two cultures mix to give a special one that only exists there.

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A bit of history about Eguisheim

And we arrive at Eguisheim, a charming town located in the French region of Alsace. This award-winning town is home to a number of historic buildings and monuments, making it a popular tourist destination.

The history of Eguisheim dates back to the Celts and then to Roman times, it was there that the cultivation of vines began to develop in Alsace. The grandson of the 3rd Duke of Alsace, Count Eberhardt, was in charge of ordering the construction of the first of the fortresses that surround the town, this around the 8th century. In addition, he rebuilt the castle in the center of the town. In the 13th century, Eguisheim was granted to the Bishop of Strasbourg.

The architecture of Eguisheim is dominated by half-timbered houses, many of which date from the 16th and 17th centuries.

The city’s name means “habitation of Aegino”, a Germanic name. 

What to see in Eguisheim?

The picturesque streets and half-timbered houses

It is very pleasant to walk around Eguisheim and find its narrow streets, colored houses with intersecting wood, as well as flowery balconies. Despite the fact that we had had a cloudy day, the color of the place made us happy as if it had been sunny.

It looked like a fairy tale: the houses were so beautiful and charming. The town itself is small and you can see it all in one day.

Obviously, it is a place that invites you to take many photos.

Stork nests

In Eguisheim, as in several places in the region, something that you will not be able to miss are the huge stork nests. In fact, the white variety became the symbol of the region, but in the 70s they almost became extinct. For this reason they were successfully reintroduced, and now they do not migrate, so they can be seen all year round.

As in many other places, in Alsace legends and popular tales associate the stork with a symbolism of fertility and fidelity, bringing babies to families.

We arrive at the chapel of Saint Leo IX, prodigal son of Eguisheim. Born into a prominent family, his father was a Count of Alsace, he was devoted to religious study from an early age. At the age of 47, in the year 1049, he was appointed Supreme Pontiff. He lasted only five years in office.

There was no one in the enclosure, there was really tranquility and the fountain in his honor is very beautiful, surrounded by houses of all colors and the castle of Eguisheim, the place where the Pope from that town was born.

Do not leave without trying the wines of Alsace

What else should you do in Eguisheim? Stroll through the town, visit a local winery and taste their wines.

As we were in an area of vineyards, we did not want to waste the opportunity to purchase some bottles. For this reason, and to say hello, we went with some friends of Vincent’s family. They are dedicated to the wine industry and we were able to enjoy a meal with them. They even gave us a tour of his cellar.

The typical costume of Alsace

Here I show you what the typical costume of the Alsace region is: the headdress in the form of a papillon or butterfly wings stands out. Enormous.

Butterfly in the hair

From here we headed to Colmar, an Alsatian city where the creator of the Statue of Liberty is from. At the entrance to the city, there is a replica of the famous statue to welcome visitors. Something to see.

Eguisheim, don’t miss it!

As you could already see, this town is an opportunity to get into the storybooks. Eguisheim has a lot of charm that you should not miss, so if you are near this region, do not miss it! You can explore the cobblestone streets, visit the local wineries, or enjoy the local festivals. Eguisheim is an ideal stop.

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Olga Grijalva

Olga is a traveler and travel content creator with 17 years of experience. Her goal is to share useful information to help you plan your adventures. She has visited more than 40 countries and is excited to share her experience with you.

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