Basel to Ribeauville and Riquewihr: Private day trip

Dating back to the ancient Romans, Riquewihr flourished as a fortified village in the Middle Ages, and miraculously escaped World War II unscathed. Now listed as one of the 'most beautiful villages of France', the village looks much as it did in the 17th century, complete with fortified walls, colorful half timbered houses, and lots of flowers. On Rue du General de Gaulle, the main street, visitors can stop at the Tourist Office for a map. However many of the most interesting buildings are on the same street. Attractions not on the main street include the 13th century Dolder tower, part of the town’s original fortifications. In front of the Dolder is ‘the fountain of gauging’, which was used to check the capacity of wine barrels. The Thieves Tower is pentagonal on the outside and square on the inside, and still has a torture chamber inside.