Ribeauvillé


Ribeauvillé is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Grand Est in north-eastern France.
Its inhabitants are called Ribeauvillois.

Geography

The town is located around north of Colmar and south of Strasbourg. It lies at the foot of the Vosges Mountains.

History

Known in the 8th century as Rathaldovilare, the town passed from the Bishops of Basel to the Lords of Rappoltstein, who were among the most famous nobles in Alsace. The Lord of Rappoltstein was the King or Protector of the wandering minstrels of the land, who purchased his protection by paying him a tax.
When the family became extinct in 1673, this office of "King of the Pipers" passed to the Counts Palatine of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld. The minstrels had a pilgrimage chapel near Rappoltsweiler, dedicated to their patron saint, Maria von Dusenbach, and here they held an annual feast on 8 September. Ribeauvillé was commonly known as Rappoltsweiler until the 19th century.

Sights

Ribeauvillé is in part surrounded by ancient walls, and has many picturesque medieval houses, and two old churches, of St Gregory and St Augustine, both fine Gothic buildings. The town hall contains a valuable collection of antiquities. The Carolabad, a saline spring with a temperature of 64 F., was re-discovered in 1888, and made Rappoltsweiler a watering-place.
Near the town are the ruins of three famous castles, Saint-Ulrich, Girsberg and Haut-Ribeaupierre, which formerly belonged to the lords of Ribeaupierre.
The forest of Ribeauvillé is home to the largest giant sequoia outside of the United States.
The former synagogue of the Jewish community is located on the Rue de la Synagogue and is currently used as the town's cinema.

Economy

The economy of Ribeauvillé is mainly based on: