Voted
#1 (2013)
“Village préféré des Français”
Village · Haut-Rhin
Eguisheim
“Village préféré des Français” 2013 — concentric lanes ringing a castle, and the birthplace of Pope Leo IX.
Layout
Concentric
Rings around the count's castle
From Colmar
~10 min
Popular day trip
Grands Crus
Eichberg · Pfersigberg
Fruit, honey & wood
The village
Eguisheim is one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France and a favourite stop on the Alsace Wine Route, with strikingly intact half-timbered houses and a unique concentric layout — streets arranged in rings around the castle of the Counts of Eguisheim (source: The Ultimate Alsace Wine Route Itinerary ⭐️ 2026 Map.md; Alsace Wine Route by Car – Itinerary & Map.md). Don't miss the central square with its stone fountain and the colourful Saint Léo Chapel; it's a ~10-minute drive from Colmar (source).
It won “Village préféré des Français” on 4 June 2013, ranking #1 nationally — distinct from the official Plus Beaux Villages association (see Most Beautiful Villages of France (and "Village préféré")) — and is the birthplace of Pope Leo IX. Its Grand Crus are Eichberg and Pfersigberg (Alsace Grand Cru); standout cellars include Domaine Emile Beyer (17 generations) and Maison Léon Baur. The easy Three Castles hike climbs Schlossberg Hill (~1.5 hr) (source: compass_artifact_wf-755602f0...).
What to see
- 01The concentric lanesRings of houses around the castle.
- 02Saint Léo ChapelColourful chapel by the central square.
- 03The stone fountainOn the central place.
- 04The Three CastlesSchlossberg ruins, ~1.5 hr uphill.
Eat, taste & stay
Taste · domaine
Domaine Emile Beyer
17 generations
Taste · winery
Maison Léon Baur
Old Town cellar
Wine · Grand Cru
Eichberg & Pfersigberg
Eguisheim crus
Our notesA day-trip favourite
Ten minutes from Colmar and small enough to circle in an hour, with cellar tastings on the central rings and the Three Castles hike for the view. Combine it with a half-day on the southern route.
Walk the rings; climb for the view.
§From the wiki
Eguisheim is one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France and a favorite stop on the Alsace Wine Route, with strikingly intact half-timbered houses (source: The Ultimate Alsace Wine Route Itinerary ⭐️ 2026 Map.md; Alsace Wine Route by Car – Itinerary & Map.md). It has a unique concentric layout, with streets arranged in rings around the castle of the Counts of Eguisheim; don't miss the central square with its stone fountain and the colorful Saint Léo Chapel (source: Alsace Wine Route by Car – Itinerary & Map.md). It is only a ~10-minute drive from Colmar and a popular day trip (source). Visitors in late August can catch the Fête des Vignerons (winegrowers' celebration) (source: The Ultimate Alsace Wine Route Itinerary ⭐️ 2026 Map.md).
Wine
Recommended local Grand Crus are Eichberg and Pfersigberg (aromas of fruit, honey, and wood); many cellars in the Old Town offer tastings (source: Alsace Wine Route by Car – Itinerary & Map.md). Winery: Maison Léon Baur (source: The Ultimate Alsace Wine Route Itinerary ⭐️ 2026 Map.md).
Three Castles hike
An easy hike through vineyards and forest leads up Schlossberg Hill to the Three Castles (~1.5 hr uphill), built in the 11th–12th centuries by three local families and ruined in 1466 during the War of the Six Oboles; great views from the top (source: Alsace Wine Route by Car – Itinerary & Map.md).
More from the fall guide
Eguisheim won "Village préféré des Français" (France 2's televised vote) on 4 June 2013, ranking #1 nationally — distinct from the official Plus Beaux Villages association (see Most Beautiful Villages of France (and "Village préféré")). It is the birthplace of Pope Leo IX. Its Grand Crus are Eichberg and Pfersigberg (Alsace Grand Cru). A standout family domaine is Domaine Emile Beyer (17 generations; cellar visit + tasting and a lunch-in-an-inn) (source: compass_artifact_wf-755602f0...).