Castles above
3 ruins
Saint-Ulrich, Girsberg & more
Town · Haut-Rhin
Ribeauvillé
The “Town of Fiddlers” — three castle ruins above, Trimbach and the oldest co-op in France below.
Nickname
Fiddlers
Town of the Ménétriers
Festival
Pfifferdaj
Alsace's oldest, first Sun. of Sept.
Benchmark estate
Trimbach
13 generations · Clos Sainte Hune
The town
Ribeauvillé is a picturesque medieval town on the Alsace Wine Route, with well-preserved architecture, colourful half-timbered houses, and narrow cobblestone streets (source: The Ultimate Alsace Wine Route Itinerary ⭐️ 2026 Map.md). Historic landmarks include the Château de Saint-Ulrich and Château de Girsberg, offering views over the countryside (source).
Known as the “Town of Fiddlers,” it has three castle ruins above and a lived-in feel; its famous Pfifferdaj (Fête des Ménétriers) — Alsace's oldest festival — falls on the first Sunday of September (see Alsace Festivals). The benchmark estate is Trimbach (13 generations since 1626; Clos Sainte Hune), and the Cave de Ribeauvillé is the oldest co-op in France (see Alsace Wineries) (source: compass_artifact_wf-755602f0...). It also makes a polished base (~25 min from Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines (Val d'Argent)) for day trips into the Val d'Argent (source: jerry-alsace.md).
What to see
- 01Château de Saint-UlrichLargest of the castle ruins above town.
- 02Château de GirsbergNeighbouring ruin with countryside views.
- 03The fiddlers' old townColourful half-timber and cobbled lanes.
- 04PfifferdajAlsace's oldest festival, first Sunday of September.
Eat, taste & stay
Taste · since 1626
Trimbach
13 generations · Clos Sainte Hune
Taste · oldest co-op
Cave de Ribeauvillé
France's oldest cooperative
Taste · estate
Louis Sipp
On the wine route
Our notesFiddlers & castles
A lived-in medieval town under three ruins, with a benchmark estate and France's oldest co-op. It doubles as a polished base for the Val d'Argent.
Come for the wine; stay for the fiddlers.
§From the wiki
Ribeauvillé is a picturesque medieval town on the Alsace Wine Route, with well-preserved architecture, colorful half-timbered houses, and narrow cobblestone streets (source: The Ultimate Alsace Wine Route Itinerary ⭐️ 2026 Map.md). Historic landmarks include the Château de Saint-Ulrich and Château de Girsberg, offering views over the countryside (source).
Wineries
- Louis Sipp (source)
- Domaine Bott Frères (source)
- Maison Jean Huttard (source)
See Alsace Wineries for the full list. (From: The Ultimate Alsace Wine Route Itinerary ⭐️ 2026 Map.md)
More from the fall guide
Ribeauvillé is the "Town of Fiddlers," with three castle ruins above and a lived-in feel. Its famous Pfifferdaj (Fête des Ménétriers) — Alsace's oldest festival — is held the first Sunday of September (see Alsace Festivals). The benchmark estate is Trimbach (13 generations since 1626; Clos Sainte Hune), and the Cave de Ribeauvillé is the oldest co-op in France (see Alsace Wineries) (source: compass_artifact_wf-755602f0...).
Base for the Val d'Argent
Ribeauvillé (~25 min from Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines) is recommended as a polished Wine Route base for day trips into the Val d'Argent — the heritage valley for Jerry's Bernese-Anabaptist ("Wohlust") branch (source: jerry-alsace.md). See Bernese-Anabaptist Resettlement in Alsace (the "Wohlust" research question) and Jerry's Alsace–Saarland Heritage Research (source summary).