Are you searching for a small, quaint region that mixes old-world charm with luscious green countryside? Then Alsace is the region for you! Rich in history and with endless verdant scenery, it’s one of our favorite (and most underrated) French regions.
Check out our top 25 Alsace villages that you can’t miss if you plan on visiting the region. From witchcraft to vintage cars, there’s something for everyone!
History of Alsace and its Villages
Alsace is a region in the northeast corner of France which has a distinct culture. Exchanged several times with Germany, all the villages in this quaint region wear both personalities. Everything is a little bit German, and a little bit French! As a result, the towns have a unique character that we adore. Paired with incredible endless countryside views, it’s one of our favorite regions to go exploring!
The best way to get around Alsace Villages
The best way to get around Alsace is by car. It’s easy to access the region by the A 35 motorway. However, Alsace also has a very efficient railway system. You can purchase the Alsa+ ticket which gives you the ability to move between Haut-Rhin and Bas-Rhin areas.
So if you want to explore Alsace using a bike, you have two major entry points in the region. With over 2500kms of bike paths, the train and biking option is a very popular way to travel around this pretty region!
25 best villages in Alsace
Colmar
With its meandering streets and tiny canals, Colmar is one of the most enchanting villages in Alsace one of the main landmarks of France. The center is mostly pedestrianized, which makes it great for exploring onfoot. It’s France’s very own little Venice (and even has been coined ‘Petite Venise!’). With over 400 years of history existing on its canals, all of it has been preserved from WW2. You won’t run out of things to explore in this picturesque town!
Riquewihr
Surrounded by vineyard hillsides and marked with a medieval old town. Riquewhir is one of the prettiest villages in Alsace. The Old Town is without a doubt its biggest attraction. The cobbled streets and colorful houses have existed since the 16th century.
It’s easy to feel a unique sense of timelessness when wandering through its backstreets! It’s a great base for lots of scenic hiking routes that lead out to the forest and mountains.
Obernai
Obernai is an architectural marvel. It has a mix of neo-Gothic, Renaissance, and periodic architecture. We love wandering the old town to experience such unique heritage! The town center is decorated with half-timbered houses all painted with unique colors.
The church of Saint-Pierre-et-Paul is a sight you can’t miss! The building dates from 1872 and has one of the most beautiful organs inside its walls.
Kayserberg
Kayersberg is a medieval village with a single-standing hilltop castle surrounded by gently sloping vineyard hills. One of the great marvels of this small town is its 16th-century fortified bridge that towers over the River Weiss.
The edge of the river is decorated with brightly painted half-timber houses. The design is a common architectural marvel you will spot in these small towns! A short amble along the riverside offers some of the most charming views!
Ribeauvillé
Ribeauvillé is a medieval town located approximately 16 km from Colmar. The most impressive part of this tiny village is its 18th century Town Hall. It used to be a wheat storage hall, and its history has been remarkably well-preserved.
Another sight you must explore is the Sanctuary of Notre-Dame de Dusenbach. It’s a unique grand stone building and one of the most stunning in this small town! We’ve never seen anything like it before!
Eguisheim
Eguisheim is full of winding, cobbled streets, and half-timbered buildings. The town is most famous for its storks and fountain squares that decorate hidden corners. Most unique about Eguisheim is the award it holds, the 4* Ville Fleuri.
The award identifies the town for its beautiful flowers planted in the summer. It makes the experience all the more colorful whilst exploring!
Sélestat
Selestat is one of the less frequented towns in the Alsace region. It is full of a variety of impressive architectural sights. One of our favorites is the clock tower ‘Chateau d’Eau’ which has an almost ‘Moorish’ stature- a unique style to the region!
You can’t miss the Witches Tower which dates back to the Middle Ages. It was believed the tower acted as a prison to those charged with witchcraft!
Munster (Valley)
Munster Valley is one of the most peaceful places in Alsace. Rollings hills and flowering rivers with the background framed by mountains. It is part of the Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park.
Credits: Visit Alsace
You can find multiple hiking routes that take you up over the hills and through its vineyards. The most famous about the small town of Munster is its cheese! It’s been piqued as one of the world’s stinkiest cheeses. You can find many small producers here with open doors offering you a sample!
Dambach-la-Ville
Dambach-la-Ville is located 30 km from Colmar. It’s a popular castle-route for those visiting the region thanks to its fortress which is one of the oldest in Alsace. During the Second World War, it was one of the villages occupied by German forces.
You can certainly see an eclectic mix of French and German culture here as a result of its multiple changeovers! It’s got some great hiking routes just outside the city, where you can explore the green, vine-littered hills.
Rosheim
Rosheim is a town most famed for its Romanesque architecture. Most notable is the Church of Saints-Pierre-et-Paul made with a distinct sandstone yellow. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful Romanesque churches in the region.
The town is rich in historic culture, possible to explore as you stroll around. Keep your eyes out for the Pagan House. It is considered to be one of the oldest civil constructions in Alsace! You can have a guided tour inside.
Molsheim
Molsheim is unique in that its history exists as a former Episcopal City. After the French Revolution it became a hotspot for industry and craftsmanship. The most famous being the car designer, Ettore Bugatti!
The Medieval village still retains a lot of its charm. Our favorite place is the town hall square. You can’t miss the Metszig building. Dating back to 1525, it’s one of our favorite Renaissance buildings in the region!
Turckheim
Turckheim is a small town located just 6 km from Colmar. It has an old town center to reflect its historic past. Most impressive is the red-coloured Guardhouse which has been standing since 1667.
We also love wandering down the street called ‘Grand’Rue.’ It’s full of beautiful Renaissance-style mansions lined with pretty shop windows selling local artisans. It’s a great town for exploring!
Mittelbergheim
Mittelbergheim has been classified as one of the most beautiful villages in Alsace. The most unique about this place is that the buildings have been left in the natural color instead of being painted.
Wandering through this town is one of the most authentic experiences! It’s got some greatly marked footpaths outside the village. You can wander through the vineyards to marked spots such as Andlau Castle, or to neighboring towns.
Andlau
The most important feature of Andlau is its castle, Chateau d’Andlau. Located on a rocky hill surrounded by woodland, the tricky location was picked for its remarkable defensive position to the valleys beyond.
Unlike most castles built in the region, it is made from solid granite and has two towers guarding its post. You can’t miss visiting the castle during your visit, it has one of the greatest views out to the valleys!
Guebwiller
Guebwiller is located just 8 km from the highest point of the Vosges mountains. It has a small medieval square decorated with pretty fountains and 19th-century architecture.
Credits: Vitaly Titov
If you love ceramics, then you can’t miss the Theodore Deck Museum. Theodore was an influential ceramicist in the 19th century and was born in Guebwiller. The museum’s collection is one of the most impressive, telling the history of the town through ceramics.
Bergheim
Bergheim is a town rich in history and has certainly had a turbulent past. It is the village in Alsace that has changed hands more than anyone else, so its culture is one of the most unique!
The small town is still enclosed in a fortified wall. You can’t miss the small Town Museum. Here you will find history dedicated to the practice of witchcraft that existed in the small village in the 16th century.
Hunawihr
Hunawihr has been classified as one of the ‘most beautiful villages in France.’ One of our favorite buildings is the Town Hall, which is a 16th-century renaissance-style building. If you hike up to the church of St-Jacques-le-Majeur it offers one of the best panoramic views down to the town.
Here you can spot the maze-like cobbled streets decorated with flowers. You can even see out to the forest-covered hills of Vosges. Colorful shades of verdant green stretch endlessly for miles!
Kintzheim
Kintzheim is one of the less frequented villages of Alsace. If you’re into off-beat exploring you can’t miss this spot! The most impressive thing about Kintzheim is its wildlife.
Just outside of the village it is possible to visit the Montagne des Singes, also referred to as the ‘Mountain of Monkeys.’ Here you can find over 200 barbary monkeys living in a woodland habitat. You wouldn’t expect that in France!
Saint-Hippolyte
Saint-Hippolyte is a town offering a variety of historical architecture and charm. From 16th century Renaissance buildings to Baroque 18th-century-style houses, you certainly won’t tire of exploring its streets!
The fountain that stands in the main square is one of the most impressive. Dating back to 1555 it’s still well maintained and one of the most picturesque features of the town!
Beblenheim
Located at the foot of the Sonnenglanz hills, the half-timbered houses of Beblenheim date back to the 18th century. It’s a beautiful little village that exists in the valley. One of its most impressive features is the former castle where a defense tower still remains.
The remains date back to 1461, one of the oldest you will discover in the region! Most unique about Beblenheim is the 8 tomb slabs you can find fixed onto the wall by its church. They are dedicated to previous notables of the region.
Hunspach
Hunspach might have the same half-timbered charm that you can find in most Alsace villages. But there’s something very different about these beautiful little villages… Unlike the others, all houses are painted with the same distinct white color. It gives the picturesque village a completely different feel!
You also can’t miss the Fort de Schoenenbourg located just outside the town. It’s one of the largest forts of its type in Alsace and was an important defense post for France during the Second World War. It’s possible to tour its winding tunnels under the ground.
Ottmarsheim
The biggest attraction for visiting Ottmarsheim is its impressive Abbey-Church. The Church of Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul has a unique octagonal design that can be spotted for miles! We also love this pretty little village for exploring.
It’s one of the most well-maintained villages in the Alsace region, and its small size means it’s possible to explore for hours! We love getting lost in its half-timbered colorful houses. If you’re lost, just look for the church, you won’t miss its dominating structure!
Ungersheim
Ungersheim is a small town located in the north of the Haut-Rhin area in the Alsace region. The town is home to the Alsace Ecomuseum. Here over 72 buildings have been restored to recreate a village before industrialization. It’s the largest Ecomuseum in France.
Wandering through the streets you truly feel as though you have stepped back in time. The village has been enhanced by decorating the streets with flowers. It’s a truly beautiful experience!
Murbach
What we love about Murbach is its location. Hidden deep inside a verdant green valley, it’s a true hidden gem of Alsace! The town is most famous for its Abbey.
Founded in 727 it was one of the most important in the region, and it’s possible to see some of the 12th Century Roman influences in its design today. Paired with a wooded valley setting, it’s a unique experience that you can’t miss in Alsace, especially if you love exploring!
Mulhouse
Mulhouse is a slightly larger town very close to the border of Germany and Switzerland. We couldn’t miss it off this list as it’s home to some impressive museums if you decide to visit. One of our favorites is the National Car Museum, which has the most impressive vintage selection!
The Train Museum is also rich in history. It features collections from when this mode of transport was first introduced into the country over 150 years ago!
Final Thoughts about Alsace Villages
With so much to see in such a small region, we bet you can’t wait to start exploring Alsace. Rich in culture, nature, and a unique heritage, it’s one of our favorite regions in France. So what are you waiting for, get planning and arrange your special tour of one of France’s most stunning and underrated regions!
