Tour to Haut-Koenigsbourg Chateau, some wine villages.

We decided to take a tour in a small bus to Koenigsbourg Chateau and some wine villages. We had a terrific, well informed guide Chloe, and as it turned out we were the only two had booked, so it ended up being a private tour.

The turreted Koenigsbourg Chateau sits strategically high on the hill.

Originally built in the 12th century, it was in tatters when it was faithfully restored by the German Emperor Wilhelm 11 to it's former glory at the beginning of the 20th century. It's pink sand stones were quarried from the surrounding Vosges Mountains.

 

Through the portcullis.

The draw bridge. The fortification at this castle are very serious indeed.

 

Inside many of the rooms are decorated.

 

A Duch oven for heating.

 

An enclosed spiral staircase.

 

This chap really means it!

 

On another draw bridge.

 

A gorgeous view from the top tower. You can see across the Rhine plain as far as the Black Forest in Germany and on a clearer day, the Alps.

 

 

Looking down on one of the wine villages.

 

 

This is the entrance to our guide Chloe's village, Bergheim.

Wine tasting at the area's oldest winegrowers' co-operative founded in 1895, the Cave de Ribeauville. The wines in the Alsace area are mainly white, especially Reisling. The one red is Pinot Noir. Joy liked their sparkling Cremant.

We also stopped at Riquewihr, another beautifully preserved medieval village enclosed by ramparts and the most popular with tourists. By now we were a bit perfect chocolate box villaged out and were looking around for a bit of graffiti or even a bit of rubbish. Not to be found.

A happy wine maker.

Chloe makes friends with a stork.