A Perfect Day Trip To Eguisheim: One of France’s Most Beautiful Village
Are you looking for the most beautiful villages in France? Then you need to plan a day trip to Eguisheim; this French village is straight out of a fairy tale.
Located in the northeast of French in the popular Alsace region, near Colmar and Strasbourg, Eguisheim is a must-see if you visit Alsace. This adorable village is also part of the “route des vins” itinerary.
Plenty of tour guides and agencies also organise tours of all the most beautiful villages in Alsace and vineyards wine tasting tours if you don’t feel like planning your own day trip and would like to visit more.
Read more: A Perfect Day Trip To Eguisheim: One of France’s Most Beautiful VillageA Perfect Day Trip To Eguisheim: One of France’s Most Beautiful Village
it is very popular to take a day trip to Eguisheim from Colmar or Strasbourg as those two cities are very close to the village.
Of course, Eguisheim isn’t the only cute village you can find in Alsace. There are plenty of top-rated Alsace villages and medieval towns around. If you’re visiting the area by car, it’s a great tour idea as it is difficult to do by public transportation, but not impossible. Still, you’ll be quickly blocked by the limited timetable of the buses.
Here is a list of all the best villages in Alsace:
- Riquwihr
- Ribeauvillé
- Molsheim
- Obernai
- Bergheim
- Kaysersberg
- Sélestat
- Dambach-la-Ville
- Rosheim
- Turckheim
- Guebwiller
- Hunawihr
And many more beautiful villages in Alsace but these are the most popular.
Visiting Colmar is a must if you’re in Alsace, famous for its timbered houses, Christmas markets and decorations in winter. Colmar also looks like it is straight out of a fairy tale; check out the best things to do in Colmar in my travel guide.
You may have already noticed, but many villages in Alsace have German-sounding names. While Alsace is part of France, it wasn’t always like that,
→ Things To Know About Eguisheim
Fun fact: legends have it that Eguisheim is the birthplace of Pope Leo IX (1049-1054)
Eguisheim is part of the “Les plus beaux villages de France” (most beautiful village of France) committee, and rightfully so; this village is straight from a fairy tale, full of flowers, coloured timbered houses and history. In 2013, it was also voted “Village préféré des Francais” (Favorite French Village).
→ How To Get From Colmar To Eguisheim
Eguisheim is close to Colmar; it is easy to reach if you travel to Alsace by car. It is also doable on the bike.
Public transportations, such as buses, are also an option for a day trip to Eguisheim. However, be careful if you look up bus itineraries.
- Ligne R030 : Colmar – Eguisheim – Rouffach
- Ligne R031 : Wintzfelden – Rouffach
- Ligne R040 : Guebwiller – Rouffach – Colmar
Things To Do Eguisheim
Eguisheim is on the smaller side so you can see the village centre in one day.
Walk Through the Former Rempart of the Village (Fortified walls)
The medieval town of Eguisheim layout is still very much visible when you visit; the city’s fortified walls and main entrance can be noticed when you walk around the city.
There is also a proper train you can follow that will show you 8 points of interest in the city. It’s
Saint Pierre et Paul D’Eguisheim Church
Saint Pierre et Paul d’Eguisheim church has been part of the historical monument since 1933 has been part of is located close to St Leon Square.
The church was nearly destroyed in 1787 when part of it collapsed during a mass, a new Nerf was built in 1809 to replace the old one, and the inside of the church furniture was added all throughout the XIXth century. The church is not as opulent as many churches in Europe.
Saint Leon Square
Saint Leon Square is the heart of the old town and one of the city’s most beautiful spots, with all the landmarks dedicated to Saint Leon around the Square.
The narrow cobbled streets of this wide-open square are perfect for a stroll or to rest and admire this bright and pleasant area.
During the winter vacation, you can also find the magical Christmas market of Eguisheim there.
Saint Leon of Pflaz Castle
Built on the remains of a former medieval castle of the XIIIth century, the remains of the former fortified castle have been completely reshaped with the addition of the neo-roman chapel and the building of a neo-renaissance-style turret.
An octagonal wall surrounds Saint-Léon castle; there are only a few remaining elements of what was once supposed to help protect the castle.
Saint Leon Fountain
Saint-Léon fountain can be found at the centre of the square, just below the chateau and the chapel. You can see a well-executed statue of St Leon in the middle of it, surrounded by beautiful flowers; it’s a perfect spot to get a photo.
Or relax and enjoy a drink on one of the benches nearby.
Saint Leon IX Chapel
This quaint Chapel is located on St Leon Square and is free to visit.
Saint Leon IX Chapel was built at the place of the former dungeon of the city; the neo-roman chapel was dedicated to Saint Leon in 1894.
The inside of the chapel is stunning, you might be expecting something rather grand due to the exterior of the chapel, but it’s much smaller than one would expect.
The 6 tainted windows inside the chapel each represent 2 saints of Alsace.
Check out Popular Eguisheim Popular Photos Spots
Being one of the most beautiful villages in France, Eguisheim has no shortage of amazing photo spots or, should I say, “instagrammable photo spots”. All of Eguisheim is amazing to take photos, but here are the most popular photo spots in Eguisheim:
- Pigeonery in Rue du Rempart
- Saint Leon Square
- Rue du rempart Nord
- St Leon Fountain.
Spot The Storks
While wandering around Eguisheim, you’ll quickly notice nests on top of many buildings across the village.
You can find storks stuffed toys and more objects with storks on them in all souvenir shops around Alsace!
Have you ever heard a stork’s noise before? I had no before my visit to Eguisheim, and I can tell you it’s a pretty odd experience; it’s not quite the noise I’d have pictured them to do in my mind!
You can also find a Storks Park close to the city!
If you’d like to explore Eguisheim differently, you can also book a segway tour of the village. They are plenty of activities you can book in advance to tour Eguisheim.
Final Thoughts: Day Trip To Eguisheim
A day trip to Eguisheim is amazing if you visit Alsace; it is great for kids and adults, so don’t worry if you’re travelling with kids.
Eguisheim in one day is more than doable, the village is rather small, and everything is within walking distance. You can take your time to enjoy all the landmarks and learn about the city’s history while you enjoy some wine or pretzels!
You don’t need a full day in Eguisheim; an afternoon is perfect for exploring the village fully and enjoying lunch there.
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A Perfect Day Trip To Eguisheim: One of France France Cutest Village
✈ Best Travel Ressources To Plan Your Next Trip
✈ How To Find Flights?
– Skyscanner; it is a good comparator for finding the cheapest flights.
– Google Flights is also a good help when comparing flights.
✈ Where To Book Accommodations?
– Booking.com: plenty of options and ways to get discounts the more you book.
✈ Best Sites To Book Activities
– GetYourGuide when I can’t get a ticket directly on the website or if it’s easier to go through them.
– Klook if you need to book more than just activities and would like to get everything from the same website or different day trips—(i.e. transport cards, car rental, hotel…).
✈ Other helpful travel resources
– Radical Storage: If you need a place to keep your luggage for an extended period when you travel, I recommend using them.
– TheTrainline: If you love to travel by train like me, then TheTrainline needs to be your go-to website for train travel in Europe.
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Disclaimer: This resources box contains affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you book anything through my links at no additional cost. These links help me support the blog and generate more content. Happy travels!
I have been to Colmar and Riquewihr, but apparently I missed out on the perfect day trip to Eguisheim. Guess I’ll have to go back!
I don’t know how I have never heard of this charming little beauty. Will save this because we will be in France again next year. Great photos!! Thanks for the info.
This is the first I have heard of Equisheim. I have been to Alsace for the Christmas markets but looks like I need to plan a separate trip to this gorgeous town.