Riquewihr, el pueblo que inspiró La Bella y la Bestia 🏰 | Guía para viajar a Alsacia

Riquewihr, el pueblo que inspiró La Bella y la Bestia 🏰 | Guía para viajar a Alsacia

Did you know that the town where Beauty and the Beast lived was inspired by a real place in France? Welcome to the Alsace region, one of the most beautiful in France. Today, we’ll join you on an adventure through this beautiful region. And well, if you don’t follow me on my social media, you can follow me here. I’ll leave it here, where you’ll find the information on YouTube first. But now, let’s get started with the video. Today, I’m taking you on a tour of the magical town of Riquewihr and the King’s Castle, with everything you need to know to plan your perfect visit: how to get there, where to eat, what to do, where to sleep, and secrets that almost no one tells you. To get there, you can do so by public transport or by car. The ideal base is Colmar. From there, it’s only about 20 minutes by car or bus. But if you want to experience it like we did, get ready for an unforgettable road trip. We left from Basel to reach the castle. I’ll also leave you a couple of route options here , both by car and public transport. It’s very important to mention that there’s a Navette, a special type of transportation for getting around these Alsatian villages. If you’re coming on a road trip, you’ll have to leave your car in the parking lot, which is quite spacious. It’s busiest between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. , but I do recommend driving around to see if you can find a parking spot so you don’t have to walk so far. Parking is free, and once you reach the top, you’ll have a panoramic view of the surrounding Alsatian villages . To one side, there’s a kiosk where you can buy a couple of snacks or drinks, and across the street from the castle entrance, you’ll find a restaurant. This castle was founded in the 10th century and was restored by William II in 1900. To reach the entrance, you have to walk along a path for about 5 minutes, but with tremendous views of the castle. It was built primarily to reflect a medieval defensive style. For this reason, the robust and heavy materials used for its construction are particularly noteworthy. If you don’t have a pass or an online ticket, you can also buy it here. It’s in the section where there are lockers and bathrooms. Everything is clearly marked so you know where to go to buy tickets. Here you can also grab a free written guide or hire an audio guide. And now, with your ticket in hand, you can head to the entrance where they’ll check it so you can begin the adventure. The entrance cost us €12 per person and it’s open until 6 p.m. We arrived around 1 a.m. The weather was pretty good, and it wasn’t too crowded. You do run into people from time to time, but this castle is enormous. Before continuing, I want you to see it from another perspective. Built on a cliff at almost 800 meters high, it looks more like something out of a fairy tale or a medieval film. For more than 900 years, it has silently watched over the Rhine Valley, surrounded by vineyards and villages that look like miniatures from up here. It is located 757 m above sea level. It is 270 m long and the main tower measures 162 m. This castle is one of the most famous in all of France. It is said to receive more than 500,000 people each year. After centuries of neglect, looting, and neglect, the castle was restored so precisely that even its defensive walls function as they did 600 years ago. A visit to the King’s castle immerses you in another world, another era: the Middle Ages. Although the restoration work did not take place in the Middle Ages, but in the 20th century, it is important to note that this is what Wilhelm II, the last German Emperor and King of Prussia, wanted the castle to be: a museum showing what a castle was like in the Middle Ages and, at the same time, a place where the extent of his power and prestige could be demonstrated. Some of the rooms are furnished with furniture from the Middle Ages, others with more modern furniture from the Kaiser’s time. One of the rooms that will most catch your eye is the Kaiser’s Room. This has the highest ceiling in the Middle Ages. enhance the emperor’s prestige and allow visitors to focus on the vault, where they can see an eagle, the quintessential Germanic imperial symbol. Another fact that blew my mind was that just three years ago, they added these six suits of armor that had been stored away for 30 years. It wasn’t until they restored them that they were put back here. Throughout this room, you’ll find different details in the paintings, murals, windows, figures, and even in the stoves, of which there are quite a few throughout the castle, some more detailed and more colorful than others. They’re something that really caught my attention. Other rooms you can tour are the banquet hall, the trophy room, the armory where some of the artillery pieces are displayed, the empress’s bedroom, and across a small drawbridge , which was designed to divide the castle into different sections and also separate the great bastillon, you’ll find the upper garden. I highly recommend taking a moment to sit here and admire the views, as they are breathtaking. This area of ​​the garden had an aesthetic purpose, but also a defensive one. There is another well here, and remains of Romanesque-era buildings have been found. This garden connects with the Grand Bastille, which played a very important role. If the main building was conquered, the castle’s inhabitants could retreat to the building and enjoy a breathtaking 360-degree view from its two towers. It’s estimated that there are between 40,000 and 45,000 castles and fortresses in France. Of these, 8,000 are listed as historical monuments. Many of these are in ruins, but several have been rescued, rebuilt, and converted into Airbnbs or hotels. We quite enjoyed this visit. Now, let’s head to the city. We couldn’t leave the castle without trying some of these period activities, but we also couldn’t leave without telling you these facts. The castle has been the setting for several films, and illustrator John Howe, who wrote many sketches for the Lord of the Rings film, was inspired by this castle to create the Mines of Tirit in the trilogy. At the end of the tour, you’ll return to the starting point where you’ll find various souvenir shops. Also outside the castle is the medieval garden. Various species of medicinal plants were grown here , as well as others used in the castle’s cuisine. To head to the village that inspired the creators of Beauty and the Beast, you have to take a short road trip through hills, vineyards, and gentle curves— perfect for leisurely strolls and perhaps with a few photogenic stops. Or you can take the same public transportation that brought you to the castle , which connects the castle with Rickevir and other villages along the wine route. It’s very affordable, and you’ll also enjoy beautiful views. Before diving into Rickevir, let me briefly tell you about Alsace, the surrounding region. This gem in northwestern France, almost on the border with Germany and Switzerland, is a place where the villages seem like living models. Its history has oscillated between France and Germany, and that’s evident in everything: in the architecture, the language, the food. Alsasi is a perfect blend of culture, tradition, and beauty. Remember the cobblestone streets where Belle walked with a book in her hands? The colorful houses and the pointed roofs? Well, many experts and fans point to Riquewihr as one of the main inspirations for this French village where the story of Beauty and the Beast begins. And when you walk here, you understand everything. It’s as if at any moment you might run into Gaston at the tavern, or see Belle coming out of the bakery singing. And if you look up, surprise, on many of the rooftops you’ll see enormous storks’ nests. Riquewihr has been an official part of the list of the most beautiful villages in France since 1982 , which catapulted it onto the world tourist map. Today, it receives between 600,000 and 800,000 visitors a year, especially in summer and Christmas, when it becomes a tourist destination. An authentic fairytale Christmas market. Despite its fame, it still retains its calm and intimate feel, especially if you visit early during the week or at dusk. If you’re wondering why Riquewihr looks so authentic, it’s because it is. This town was one of the few to survive the wars, including World War II, so its medieval architecture from the 16th and 17th centuries is fully preserved. As a fun fact, the bright colors and crisscrossed latticework indicated the social status of the person who lived there. The stops I recommend are the main street, which is full of artisan shops, facades, and meeting houses; the Dolder Tower, the old entrance gate and defensive tower that is now also a museum; and the Christmas shops, which are also open even in summer. The most famous is this one, which reminded me of a very famous one in Colmar. If you love Christmas, you’ll love this store. You’ll be able to lose yourself for hours because they have so many themed Christmas decorations, with different colors and shapes; it’s gorgeous. And if you want to stay here, Riquwihr has options for all budgets, from boutique hotels in 10th-century houses to family-run bed and breakfasts. I’ll leave a couple of options in the description so you don’t have to search, but remember that Riquwihr is very popular in December for the Christmas market and in the summer, so book in advance. It seems that people only concentrate in certain areas, the most popular ones, because you’ll find many streets and alleys completely empty, giving off the vibe of a magical village just for you. And if you don’t want to walk the entire town, there’s an adorable and super-comfortable option: the Petit train. This little train travels through the most beautiful spots in the town and its surroundings, including parts of the vineyards surrounding the city. Perfect for taking a break and continuing to enjoy the charm without missing a thing. This tour lasts approximately 35 minutes and you can take it in front of the main parking lot at the entrance to the town, next to the tourist panel. And what would France and Alsace be without their food? We just bought a croissant and a pain au chocolat, something like that, chocolate bread. And we’re going to try them at a bakery nearby. Here it is. It’s delicious, it’s sweet, it has the layers, it has everything, and it cost us about €1.40, and the pain au chocolat, there you have it. It’s delicious. I loved it. And you can eat this and walk around the city, or you can also stay there and eat. But we ‘re going to go to another place that seems special because we’re going to eat super-typical food from around here and taste some local wine. And if you’re looking for an authentic place with a traditional flavor, local service, and reasonable prices, I wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant. One of the must-haves here is the wine, which we asked the waitress for a recommendation, and the flavor was delicious, sweet, and ideal for sharing. Although David only tried it, since he was driving, so I had most of it. And we also ordered one of the specialties, a tarte flambé, which is like an ultra-thin pizza with cream, onion, and bacon. There are different flavors, but we ordered the gratin. You can end the day like we did, eating ice cream and walking through its streets. And maybe I’ll share a special anecdote with you, like we did with some ladies who were on a bachelorette party. Riquewihr and the Castle aren’t just beautiful; they’re a trip back in time. They’re full of history, flavor, and soul. And the best part is, they’re much less crowded than other famous destinations in France. If you enjoyed this tour, subscribe to the channel, leave a like, and share this video with the person you’d take on a fairytale trip. Because yes, Belle’s village exists and you can visit it. Tell me in the comments which is your dream village in Europe. I’ll leave the links for transportation, accommodations, and tickets in the description. See you at the next destination. Bye bye.

🎥✨ Sabías que el pueblo donde vivía Bella en La Bella y la Bestia existe de verdad? Se llama Riquewihr y está en el corazón de Alsacia, Francia.

En este video te llevo a Riquewihr, una joya medieval en el corazón de Alsacia, y al imponente Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg, uno de los castillos más visitados de Francia.

Te comparto cómo llegar, qué hacer, dónde comer, dónde hospedarte, y muchos datos curiosos que harán que te enamores de esta región con esencia francesa… ¡y alma alemana!

Esta es tu guía completa para vivir la magia de Alsacia como nunca.

En este vídeo descubrirás:

📍 Itinerario completo
🏰 Cómo llegar al castillo y a Riquewihr
🍷Recomendaciones para beber buen vino 🍷
🥨 Platos típicos alsacianos que debes probar
🛏️ Dónde hospedarte (¡hasta en castillos!)
🎫 Consejos de transporte y ahorro
✨ Datos curiosos de la región y sus tradiciones

👉 Guarda este video si estás planeando un viaje a Francia o si sueñas con recorrer pueblos de cuento.

🔔 Suscríbete para más viajes mágicos por Europa.

💬 Cuéntame en los comentarios: ¿irías al pueblo de Bella o al castillo primero?

🔗 Links útiles

➡️ Tickets Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg: https://www.haut-koenigsbourg.fr

➡️ Navette Vignoble: https://www.navettevignoble.fr

➡️ Hoteles recomendado en Riquewihr

Hotel Au Cerf: https://www.booking.com/Share-r26sCD
Au Cep de Vigne: https://www.booking.com/Share-khAzHd
La Maison Bleue: https://www.booking.com/Share-m1upuF

➡️ Château d’Isenbourg (hotel de lujo): https://www.chateaudisenbourg.com

📲 Sígueme en redes para más tips y aventuras:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathsalinas__/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nathsalinas_
YouTube Shorts: / @nathsalinas

📽️ Capítulos del video:

0:00 Intro mágica
0:48 Cómo llegar al Castillo
1:59 Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg
3:07 Costo de Entrada
3:25 Dron Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg
4:03 Salas e Historia
05:27 Kaiser’s Room
06:37 Jardin Superior
7:22 El gran Bastillon
8:31 Datos curiosos Y Jardin Medieval
8:58 Como llegar a Riquewihr
9:32 historia de Alsacia
10:02 Riquewihr
11:40 Imperdibles de Riquewihr
12:24 Dónde hospedarse
13:16 Petit Train Touristique
11:43 Gastronomía y vino
15:56 Consejos finales