Ribeauvillé (German: Rappoltsweilen) is one of the prettiest towns in the Alsace. It was first mentioned in 768 AD. It was the property of the Dukes of Alsace, the Counts of Equisheim, the Emperor of Germany and the Bishop of Basel. The last lords of the town were the Counts of Ribeaupierre. There are three ruined castles in the mountains above the town. You can do a fun hike and visit them all. Best of all Ribeauvillé has an annual festival of the pipers the first weekend in September.
All three castle ruin sites are located northwest of the town centre and can easily be combined in one hike.
- Girsberg Castle ruins.
- Haut-Ripeaupierre Castle ruins.
- Saint-Ulrich Castle ruins.
Girsberg Castle ruins.
Haut-Ripeaupierre Castle ruins.
Saint-Ulrich Castle ruins.