Strasbourg · Petite France

Caves Historiques des Hospices de Strasbourg

Beneath Strasbourg's Civil Hospital lie medieval wine cellars that have stored Alsatian wines for over 600 years.

About Caves Historiques des Hospices de Strasbourg

Beneath Strasbourg's Civil Hospital lie medieval wine cellars that have stored Alsatian wines for over 600 years. You'll walk through vaulted stone chambers dating to the 14th century, past massive wooden barrels including the famous 1472 Riesling that's never been opened. The 90-minute guided tour includes tastings of current hospital-produced wines from their own vineyards, plus fascinating stories about how wine sales funded patient care for centuries.

The tour starts in the hospital's courtyard before descending into surprisingly cool cellars with thick stone walls and arched ceilings. Your guide explains the medieval wine trade while you examine enormous oak barrels, some still in use today. The atmosphere feels genuinely historical rather than touristy, with dim lighting and the musty scent of aging wine. The highlight comes in the final chamber where the 1472 barrel sits behind protective glass, its contents a mystery that will never be solved.

Most tours cost around 15 EUR including three wine tastings, though prices vary by season. Skip this if you're not interested in wine history, as the tour focuses heavily on winemaking rather than general medieval history. The Saturday morning slots fill up quickly but offer the most intimate experience with smaller groups. The cellars stay at 12°C year-round, so bring a light jacket even in summer.

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The place

Getting there

Address

1 Pl. de l'Hôpital, 67000 Strasbourg, France

Neighborhood

Petite France →

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Good to know

Tips, answered

Enter through the main hospital courtyard and look for signs to 'Caves Historiques' near the pharmacy entrance, not the emergency room side most tourists try first

The guide only mentions the hospital's current wine production briefly, but you can buy bottles at reception after the tour for half the price of local wine shops

Position yourself near the front of the group when entering the final chamber, as the 1472 barrel viewing area gets cramped and most people miss the detailed carved inscriptions on its sides

Plan for about 1h 30m.

Caves Historiques des Hospices de Strasbourg is in the Petite France neighborhood of Strasbourg. The address is 1 Pl. de l'Hôpital, 67000 Strasbourg, France. The area is well-served by metro.

This works well at any time of day, though mornings tend to be quieter. Weekdays are less crowded than weekends.

Comfortable shoes are recommended. Parts are outdoors, so bring a light layer.

Closed on Sunday. Check the official website for holiday closures and special hours.

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Viewpoint

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