i 🏘️ Picturesque villages
Most beautiful villages in Alsace and the Grand Est: the Plus Beaux Villages de France
The “Les Plus Beaux Villages de France” (Most Beautiful Villages of France) label is awarded by the association of the same name according to strict criteria: fewer than 2,000 inhabitants in the candidate village, at least two heritage protection zones and an on-site assessment against more than thirty criteria. In the Grand Est, the official list includes nine villages: Eguisheim, Riquewihr, Bergheim, Hunawihr, Mittelbergheim and Hunspach in Alsace, Rodemack and Saint-Quirin in Moselle, and Hierges in the Ardennes. Beware of confusion: Kaysersberg and Obernai, often mentioned, are not on this list.
The Alsace villages are concentrated along the Alsace Wine Route, between Barr and Colmar: half-timbered houses, ramparts, fortified churches and grand cru wine cellars, easily combined in one or two days. Hunspach, in the north, stands out with the white houses of the Outre-Forêt. In Moselle, Rodemack plays the medieval card with its ramparts and citadel, while Saint-Quirin is all about forest and religious heritage. To choose, ask yourself whether you are after the bustle of the wine villages or the calm of lesser-known villages, where people also come to walk.
How to choose?
If you are discovering wine-growing Alsace
The concentric layout of Eguisheim and the medieval town of Riquewihr are the two star stops on the Alsace Wine Route, to combine with a cellar visit.
If you have a pushchair or reduced mobility
Hunspach and Rodemack are listed as accessible for pushchairs and people with reduced mobility, with free parking.
If you are travelling without a car
Bus and coach routes from Colmar serve Eguisheim, Riquewihr and Hunawihr.
If you are looking for peace and walking
Saint-Quirin is best explored along its forest trails and Mittelbergheim along its vineyard trail, away from the crowds of the best-known villages.
ComparisonData taken from each listing, checked against official sources
| Place or activity | When | Time needed | Who it suits | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eguisheim📍 Haut-Rhin (68) | All year; spring to autumn for the flowers and the vineyards | 1 hour 30 minutes to walk round the village, half a day with a wine cellar and the surroundings | All ages; Randoland fun trail for 4–12-year-olds | A35 exit 28 from Strasbourg; bus line 830 Colmar–Eguisheim–Rouffach; nearest TER station in Rouffach |
| Riquewihr📍 Haut-Rhin (68) | All year round; museums from April to early November; Christmas Market from 27 November to 20 December 2026 | Half a day for the old town and a museum; a full day with the Grands Crus trail | All ages; cobbled, sloping lanes | A35 then the Alsace Wine Route; Fluo coach line 16 Colmar–Riquewihr–Ribeauvillé, stop opposite the post office |
| Hunspach📍 Bas-Rhin (67) | All year; Folklore Festival in August, Christmas windows trail from late November to early January | 45 min for the heritage walk, a full day with Fort Schœnenbourg | All ages; village accessible to people with reduced mobility and to pushchairs | By car: 55 km (50 min) from Strasbourg via the CD263, free parking. By train: Soultz-sous-Forêts station, 6 km away |
| Bergheim📍 Haut-Rhin (68) | All year; Maison des Sorcières (Witches’ House) open mid-June to late October | Half a day (rampart circuit: about 1 hr) | All ages; history buffs and Alsace wine lovers | Car: close to the A35, between Sélestat and Colmar; car parks at the foot of the ramparts. Coach/bus: Fluo network |
| Hunawihr📍 Haut-Rhin (68) | All year; free guided tours on Wednesdays from July to mid-September | 1 to 2 hr for the village and church; half a day with an animal park | All ages; a 2.4 km fun trail for children | Alsace Wine Route between Ribeauvillé and Riquewihr; Fluo 68 R016 bus from Colmar (Place de la Fontaine stop) |
| Mittelbergheim📍 Mittelbergheim · Bas-Rhin (67) | All year round; Bredelmarik in December | Half a day for the village and the vineyard trail | All ages, families, wine lovers and EuroVelo 5 cyclists | By car: on the Alsace Wine Route, 1.2 km from Barr; Zotzenberg car park at the start of the vineyard trail |
| Rodemack📍 Moselle (57) | Village accessible all year round; events mainly from April to September | 1 hr 30 min to 2 hrs for the village and citadel; half a day with the Pelt trail | Families, heritage lovers; the village is described as accessible for pushchairs and people with reduced mobility | A31 exit Hettange-Grande, then the D57; nearest station: Thionville. Free parking |
| Saint-Quirin📍 Moselle (57) | All year; May to September for walking, June for the Festival Silbermann | Circuit des 7 Roses: 15 km, about 5 hr, moderate difficulty | Everyone for the village; fit walkers for the circuit des 7 Roses | Sarrebourg TER station, then by road; walks start outside the town hall, 170 rue du Général-de-Gaulle |
Map: Most beautiful villages in Alsace and the Grand Est: the Plus Beaux Villages de France
When to go?
- JanPossible
- FebPossible
- MarPossible
- AprPossible
- MayPeak season
- JunPeak season
- JulPeak season
- AugPeak season
- SeptPeak season
- OctPeak season
- NovPossible
- DecPossible
Peak season Possible Off season
📅 May–June and September–October combine flowers, vineyards and manageable crowds. In December, the Christmas Markets in Eguisheim and Riquewihr draw big crowds: go on a weekday.
Tips & insider advice
- Arrive early in high season
The Alsace villages are very busy in summer and in December. Arriving in the morning makes parking and wandering easier.
- Check the car parks
Some villages have pay-by-the-day car parks, others free parking, such as Rodemack or Hunspach. Find out before you arrive.
- Plan a tasting
Eguisheim, Riquewihr and Mittelbergheim are surrounded by grands crus. A cellar visit rounds off the stroll nicely, in moderation.
- Head out of the village
The vineyard trail at Mittelbergheim, the 7 Roses circuit at Saint-Quirin, the Jean-Marie Pelt trail at Rodemack: the surroundings are worth the detour.
- Beware of fake labels
“Village préféré des Français” (the French public’s favourite village) is a TV competition, separate from the label. Only the association’s official list counts.
- Shoes suited to cobbles
Cobbled, sloping lanes are common, especially in Riquewihr, as are rampart walkways. Avoid smooth soles.
Frequently asked questions
Which are the Plus Beaux Villages de France in Alsace?
The association’s official list includes six Alsace villages: Eguisheim, Riquewihr, Bergheim and Hunawihr in the Haut-Rhin, and Mittelbergheim and Hunspach in the Bas-Rhin. The first five are on the Alsace Wine Route; Hunspach is in the Outre-Forêt, in the north of the department.
Is Kaysersberg one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France?
No. Kaysersberg was voted “Village préféré des Français” (the French public’s favourite village) in 2017, a separate TV competition, but it is not on the official list of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France association. The same goes for Obernai.
How does a village get the label?
The candidate village must have no more than 2,000 inhabitants, have at least two protection zones (historic monuments, listed sites or remarkable heritage sites) and submit a resolution of the town council. It is then assessed on site against thirty-two criteria: architecture, enhancement, environment and welcome.
Are there Plus Beaux Villages de France in Lorraine or Champagne-Ardenne?
Yes. In Moselle, Rodemack, the “Little Carcassonne of Lorraine”, and Saint-Quirin, deep in the forests, are labelled. In the Ardennes, Hierges is also on the official list. No village in the Marne, Aube or Haute-Marne is included.
Information checked in October 2026. Opening hours, prices and conditions may change: check the official website before you travel.