December 26th, 2007 
Sheila Simkin A great buffet breakfast at the Hotel Le Riquewihr, bags left at reception, admired the very old stove displayed in the lobby…View image… maps in hand, it was back through Riquewihr, out the Dolder Gate and on the road. Through the vineyards, we met two Chicagoans from the Lincoln Park area bicycling the wine route. They too had an organizer that took their bags from town to town and we’re all having a great time on this very sunny day.
In one of the vineyards there were placards telling about the grapes, Riesling, grown in this particular vineyard. You could see the three ruined fortified Chateaus built by the Lords of Ribeaupierre in the distance, Ulrichsburg, Girsberg and Haut-Ribeaupierre, our destination later on.
Walked through Hunawihr founded in the 7th century by Hunon, the “Seigneur des France” and Hune (Hunna), his wife, the Saint of Washerwomen. Did you know there is a Saint of Washerwomen? Why not…they certainly deserve it! Saint Hunna was canonized in 1520 and grew up around the fountain by the village. Tradition claims that she came there to wash clothes of the poor. Hunawihr is surrounded by vineyards…and we walked past another winery with a most unusual display…
Into Ribeauville (pop. 1,999 – I told you these were all small villages), again taking time to walk around and visit. Ribeauville is another town surrounded by ancient walls, with medieval houses, fine Gothic buildings…View image… Ribeauville is known for Riesling and Gewurztraminer white wines. (I prefer the Riesling — drier.)
The Grand Rue, main street of Ribeauville, led straight through town. With the map, I started shooting photos like crazy, with #1, the Pfifferhuss or Minstrel’s Inn. The Brotherhood of Minstrels, mentioned since 1390 was under the protection of the Lords of Ribeaupierre. The most interesting Ribeauville history refers to these minstrels. Ribeauville was known as Rathaldovilare in the 8th century and passed from Bishops of Basel to the Lords of Rappoltstein. The Lord was considered to be the King or protector of wandering minstrels who paid a protection tax. (I wonder if they broke knee-caps or fingers if the minstrel didn’t pay up on time.)
The Butchers’ Tower, built in 1290, is Ribeauville’s emblem. The Tower separated the old town from the middle town. It was so named the Butchers’ Tower because of the abattoirs and butchers stalls beside it.
The Meyer house had a yellow sandstone oriole window and was definitely leaning on a crazy angle. I was not drunk while taking this picture…
…and don’t you love this iron sign? If only it had been for sale…
Naturally, there was food all over the place…beginning with the biggest bread I’ve ever seen (samples? of course) on the Rue des Boulangers (street of bread bakers), …a mouth-watering charcuterie window (cold cuts, etc.)….a storefront selling pizza bread….
…and some of the most scrumptious desserts I’ve ever seen…irresistible… I need a bakery/pastry shop like this in my neighborhood…
More ancient sights: The Napoleon fountain in the middle of the old prison square;
The Old Corn Market, mentioned in 1431, used to store the cereals paid as a fuedal fee. (Most of the towns had a corn market.) There was even a secret passageway on the main level.
Gosh…golly gee…drats…damn…I’m starving…and hated to leave Ribeauville…almost as cute as Riquewihr. Right now, it was Riquewihr, Colmar and Ribeauville in the quaint rankings…but we still had to make that climb past the three chateaus up the hill…
Posted in 
Tags: 
