10 October 2023 Riquewihr

 

10 October 2023        Riquewihr

After sailing through the night, we arrived in Strasbourg about   lunchtime.  Following lunch on board our ship, we travelled by bus along the Alsace Wine Route to Riquewihr. This route is considered one of the most scenic routes in France, with its beautiful vistas of lush green vineyards and charming little country villages with their medieval churches and castle ruins that sit on a hill overlooking the towns.  Each of these quaint little villages have their own unique little quirk that sets them apart from the other towns, while they all vie against each other to see who can plant the most flowers and earn the coveted “4 Flowers” by the name of their town.  In one town you see hearts or wine bottles on the peaks of their roofs.  The heart denotes a single woman lives there, while the wine bottle tells people that a bachelor resides there.  If you see a house with an empty glass, it means the resident is no longer a bachelor.  Another town is known for the storks that return each year to nest and raise their young.  On many roofs and towers you see large stork nests just waiting for the storks to return in April.

Half-timbered Home

House with a Heart on Top

Castle Overlooking a Town

Half-timbered Home

A Church in one of the Small Towns

House with Flowers

Stork Nest on Top of a Tower

Considered the most beautiful city in the Alsace, Riquewihr is also one of the best-preserved medieval towns in France.  It is also a mecca for tourists and the small narrow streets were filled with visitors.  A quaint little town with half-timbered homes, it is nestled between Vosges mountains and vineyards.  In addition to its picturesque buildings, it is also known for its wine, especially its Reisling.  Today it looks as it did in the 16^th century (except for the number of tourists) when it served as a wine village and trading hub for Alsatian and German wine.  Fortunately, it was one of a few towns that were not badly damaged during WWII.  It is still surrounded by its medieval walls (now covered with vines) and a castle (now a museum) that sits at the opposite side of the town from the Dolder, the belfry, watch tower and upper gate of the town.  After a very brief walk from our buses to the center of town, we were turned loose to discover the town on our own.  Bill and I found a little outdoor café and sampled some of their delicious wine.

Pictures of Riquewihr

 

 Returning to the ship, it was once again time to eat – you will not starve on this ship!  After a leisurely dinner with more wine than we needed, it was time for bed.  These beds are very narrow, and it is taking some time to adjust to them.  Thank goodness we have not fallen off them, but we have lost the covers several times.