Riquewihr (French pronunciation: [ʁikviʁ] ; Alsatian: Richewihr; German: Reichenweier [ˈʁaɪçn̩vaɪɐ] ) is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Grand Est in north-eastern France.

Riquewihr
Richewihr (Alsatian)
Reichenweier (German)
Main street
Main street
Coat of arms of Riquewihr
Location of Riquewihr
Map
Riquewihr is located in France
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Riquewihr is located in Grand Est
Riquewihr
Riquewihr
Coordinates: 48°10′02″N 7°17′52″E / 48.1672°N 7.2978°E / 48.1672; 7.2978
CountryFrance
RegionGrand Est
DepartmentHaut-Rhin
ArrondissementColmar-Ribeauvillé
CantonSainte-Marie-aux-Mines
IntercommunalityPays de Ribeauvillé
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Daniel Klack[1]
Area
1
17.04 km2 (6.58 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
1,032
 • Density61/km2 (160/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
68277 /68340
Elevation230–936 m (755–3,071 ft)
(avg. 295 m or 968 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

A popular tourist attraction for its historical architecture, Riquewihr is also known for the Riesling and other wines produced in the village. Riquewihr looks today more or less as it did in the 16th century. It is located on the Route des Vins (The Wines Road), close to Colmar.

Geography

edit
 
Old map of Reichenweyer / Riquewihr

Riquewihr is 11 kilometres (7 mi) from Colmar and close to other Alsatian villages such as Ribeauvillé, Hunawihr, Eguisheim and Kaysersberg.

History

edit

Originally the property of the Dukes of Württemberg, the town was converted to Protestantism in the 16th century. Historically, Riquewihr served as a Winzerdorf or "wine village" as a trading hub for Alsatian and German wine.

Sights

edit

Riquewihr was one of the few towns in the area not to be badly damaged during World War II. The town is surrounded by its medieval fortifications and is overlooked by a castle from the same period that is today a museum.

There is a museum about Alsace during World War II and a torture chamber (La salle de torture).

The village is a member of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France ("The most beautiful villages of France") association.

People

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
edit

  Media related to Riquewihr at Wikimedia Commons