Saint-Hippolyte is a wine village on the Alsace Wine Route, right below the Haut-Koenigsbourg castle. It lies at the foot of the Vosges, south-west of Sélestat, and for centuries was a Lorraine enclave in Alsace. Its old centre is still enclosed by a rectangular town wall, with half-timbered houses along three parallel streets and the church on an oval terrace at its heart.
Why stay in Saint-Hippolyte
It is a calm base for the castles and wine villages of central Alsace, with the vineyards on the doorstep and Colmar and Sélestat a short drive away.
Things to see in and around Saint-Hippolyte
The old village
Walk the lanes inside the old walls, past half-timbered houses, the church on its terrace and the town hall.
The vineyards
Saint-Hippolyte is known for its red wine from pinot noir, a rarity in mostly white-wine Alsace. Paths lead up through the vines with views over the plain.
Haut-Koenigsbourg castle
The restored medieval Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg crowns the hill above the village – one of the most visited sights in Alsace.
The Wine Route
Bergheim, Ribeauvillé and Riquewihr are a short drive south; Sélestat and its humanist library are to the north-east.
Best time to visit
April to October for the vineyards and walks, September–October for the grape harvest, and December for the Christmas markets of the region.
Getting there
The village is reached from exit 18 of the A35. Sélestat and Colmar stations have regional and TGV trains; the nearest airports are Strasbourg and EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse. A car or bike is best for the Wine Route.
What to eat
Alsace classics: flammekueche, choucroute, baeckeoffe, kougelhopf and Munster cheese, with the local pinot noir.
FAQ
Is Saint-Hippolyte close to the Haut-Koenigsbourg?
Yes. The castle stands on the hill directly above the village, a short drive up the road.
What is Saint-Hippolyte known for?
Its walled old centre, its location below the Haut-Koenigsbourg and its red pinot noir wine.
