Fortified city Kayserberg

A shining milestone on the Wine Route, it is one of the most charming cities in Alsace, with its cobbled alleyways, its richly decorated half-timbered houses and its elegant restaurants. Many of these attractive features were acknowledged when the French chose it as ‘France’s Favourite Village of 2017’.

Markers

Located on an ancient Roman road which linked Alsace to Lorraine, the town was mentioned for the first time in 1227. Emperor Frederick II bought a castle there to control the Weiss Valley. On 18th March 1293, Kaysersberg became a city of the Empire, like its neighbour Colmar. Since then, no lord could claim any more rights over it. A spirit of freedom ensued, which led to it joining the Decapolis, a league of ten Alsatian cities. Kaysersberg developed mainly due to the enhanced value of the Tokaj grape variety, whose plants would make its reputation. A prosperity ruined by the Thirty Years’ War, but which eventually recovered, despite the ups and downs of history and the wounds of the Second World War.

History

Lord of Hohnack’s daughter was in love with a knight from Ribeaupierre, who went to make his fortune in the service of the King of Sicily. Time passed, so much so that the young girl, desperate to find her knight alive, decided to enter into religious life at the Abbey of Alspach. Returning too late, the knight, in turn, withdrew from the world. He built a hermitage in order to stay united to his belle in prayer. The overhanging chapel which faces Kaysersberg Castle would be witness to this.

Key points

Kaysersberg is surprising with the beauty of its medieval sites grouped around the church (with the Romanesque portal and the sculpted altarpiece) and the fortified bridge overlooked by the castle (vestige of the former free city of the Decapolis). The fun walk or the treasure hunt enable you to explore the city in an original way. The magic of its Christmas market is not to be missed!

Practical informations

Address


68240 Kaysersberg Vignoble

Nearest tourism office
La Vallée de Kaysersberg
39 rue du Général De Gaulle - Kaysersberg
03 89 78 22 78 - info@kaysersberg.com
www.kaysersberg.com - Facebook @vallee.de.Kaysersberg
GPS coordinates
Lat.: 48.13893968 - Long.: 7.26425886

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