11-07-2025
The tiny European town that people say is like a real-life Disney village
NO, this isn't the fictional town from Beauty and the Beast, it's a real and charming village that you can actually visit.
With brightly coloured timber houses and window boxes full of flowers, Riquewihr in France has been compared to looking like something from a Disney film.
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Riquewihr is a village in the Alsace region known for having a blend of French and German culture resulting in picture perfect communes.
These have half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, and vineyards.
Unlike surrounding towns like Colmar, Riquewihr is much quieter when it comes to high season.
While it doesn't have the canals that Colmar does, the town of Riquewihr has been called just as beautiful by visitors.
One visitors wrote on Tripadvisor: "This town is so cute you'll think it was made for a Disney movie. we were here at Christmas and it gets EVEN CUTER with the decorations. you won't believe it. i think it's the cutest of all the Alsatian towns."
Another added: "Picturesque would be an understatement. It's a fairy tale village that doesn't seem real."
You'll find the town between the Vosges mountains and the Alsatian vineyards, which only adds to its beauty.
During spring and summer, the village is decorated with colourful flowers.
And for Christmas it looks like an advent calendar, set up with seasonal markets and lights hanging between the houses.
Venturing around the village, you could take a picture around every corner and admire the 82 foot high Dolder Tower, which is the village's iconic monument.
The beautiful French town with Venice style canals
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As it's surrounded by vineyards it would be a shame to not try the wine.
There are lots of organised vineyard tours around the village, and plenty of wine cellars that sit underneath Riquewihr.
Scattered around the village are restaurants, cafes, and shops selling traditional Alsatian pottery, linens, and souvenirs.
Another similar village is Eguisheim which has more than once been named as One of the Most Beautiful Villages in France since 2003.
Travel Blogger Full Suitcase wrote: "Visiting this pretty little town is like taking a trip back in time.
"As you walk its picturesque cobbled streets admiring colourful houses, with pointed roofs and timber-framed facades, you feel like you stepped into a real-life fairytale."
For those wanting to visit both Riquewihr and Eguisheim - the villages are just 10 miles apart.
Here's another hidden waterfall village that looks like a fairytale and has been named one of the most beautiful in Europe.
And check out the world's most beautiful village that has classic car tours, fairytale vibes and cheap Ryanair flights.
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