Naturally, a stay in Alsace is unimaginable without following the Alsace Wine Road. Did you know that it begins to the north of Strasbourg, that it extends as far as the Couronne d’Or before winding its way between Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin, through the most beautiful villages in Alsace?
But here you are in Strasbourg… wanting to know more about the wines of Alsace and understand the richness of the traditions related to the vine. That’s why we would like to share this unusual destination with you, which the people of Strasbourg themselves are sometimes unaware of, and describe the tour of the Hospices de Strasbourg’s historic wine cellar.
Place de l’Hôpital
Here we are in Place de l’Hôpital. A staircase that runs along the side of the building leads you down into this exceptional cellar. Let’s pause for a moment to look at its history.
Here, from 1395, the Hospices, which were run by monks, helped to keep the hospital self-sufficient in food, giving it the means to fulfil its function by offering bed and board to the poorest and the needy.
Financed by donations and legacies from visitors and patients anxious to ensure the salvation of their souls, the hospital began to build up real property assets. At the time, it was not uncommon to pay for one’s care in kind, with a share of the harvest or the transfer of land throughout the country. Via its hospices, the hospital became a stakeholder in the vineyards of Alsace.
Time passed, but in 1996, Alsatian winemakers decided to reconnect with tradition to showcase the savoir-faire, the wine store and treasures of the cellar of the Hospices Civils. Here, great harvests are vinified and the finest wines are produced. What’s more, you can visit it…
A wine dating back to 1472
There are treasures to be discovered! Including a wine dating back to 1472, a press from 1727 and some exceptional casks. A 26,000-litre cask takes pride of place there. Other casks house today’s wines, wines that a welcoming shop allows you to try for yourself and give as gifts.
This is a rare moment and the visit is an intense experience.
Useful information
Open Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 12:00 noon and from 1.30 to 5.30 pm and on Saturday from 9:00 am to 12:30.
CAVE HISTORIQUE DES HOSPICES DE STRASBOURG
1, Place de l’Hôpital
67091 STRASBOURG Cedex
Tel. + 33 3 88 11 64 50
