Les Trois Châteaux de Ribeauvillé

Three crumbling medieval castles perch dramatically above Ribeauvillé, connected by a well-marked forest trail that climbs steadily through beech and oak woods. You'll hike past Saint-Ulrich (the most intact with visible living quarters), Girsberg (basically just walls now), and finally Haut-Ribeaupierre at the summit. The Ribeaupierre lords built these strongholds to control the lucrative wine trade routes, and their strategic positioning becomes obvious once you're up there surveying the valley.

The 3-hour circuit feels like a proper adventure, with stone steps carved into cliffsides and narrow passages between crumbling walls. Saint-Ulrich retains the most atmosphere: you can explore the great hall, climb the keep, and imagine medieval life in these chambers. The trail between castles winds through dense forest with occasional clearings that frame the ruins beautifully. At Haut-Ribeaupierre, the payoff is enormous: the entire Alsace plain spreads below, dotted with wine villages and stretching to the Black Forest.

Most guides don't mention that Girsberg is barely worth the detour, just foundation stones and low walls. Focus your energy on Saint-Ulrich and Haut-Ribeaupierre instead. The trail is free but gets muddy after rain, so bring proper hiking shoes. September offers perfect weather plus the medieval Pfifferdaj festival atmosphere drifting up from town.