Free walking tours in Eguisheim and what to see

Must-sees

Eguisheim is a few kilometres south of Colmar, right on the Alsace Wine Route. The village is laid out in rings of streets around the counts’ castle, which sits in the centre. On the castle square are the chapel of Saint-Léon, dedicated to Pope Leo IX, who is linked to the village, and a fountain with his figure. From there, the circular streets are lined with colourful half-timbered houses with flowers in the windows, and the street that follows the line of the old walls loops right round the village.

The walk is rounded off by the church of Saints Peter and Paul and, for children, the stork park. On the hills to the west, above the vineyards, stand the ruins of the Three Castles of Eguisheim, three reddish stone towers you can reach by car or on foot through the vines. Wine is part of the visit: the village has many family cellars where you can taste Riesling, Gewurztraminer and other local whites.

Free tours and guided visits

Civitatis has no free walking tours or dedicated tours of Eguisheim. The only thing listed is a tourist card for the whole of Alsace, giving access to museums and visits around the region and useful if you are touring the wine route or Colmar and Strasbourg. The village is small and easy to explore without a guide. The cellars that welcome visitors offer tastings, and wine route trips leave from Colmar.

How long to spend

Two or three hours is enough to explore the village at a relaxed pace, including a tasting or two. If you climb to the Three Castles or walk through the vineyards, allow half a day. Many travellers combine it in the same day with Colmar or other wine route villages. Staying the night is worth it: in the evening, once the day visitors leave, the circular streets are far more enjoyable.

Where to stay

In the village there are small hotels, chambres d’hôtes and apartments in traditional houses, many linked to family wineries. It is the best option for experiencing the village at night and early in the morning. If you can’t find anywhere, Colmar, close by, has much more choice and a train station, and the nearby wine villages offer gîtes and country cottages.