A medieval town nestled in the Alsace region of France has retained its historical beauty, labelled as one of the most beautiful places in the country.
However, December is a month which locals dread, as 450,000 tourists flock to the area each year.
The town of Riquewihr looks like it has stepped out of a fairytale book, with its vibrant timber-framed houses nestled among hills blanketed in vineyards.
However, its magical Christmas charm attracts nearly half a million holidaymakers each December, all eager to see its famous market, leaving residents at a breaking point.
“It is a stressful time for the locals,” says Daniel Klack, the mayor of Riquewihr. “Christmas season requires a lot of patience.”
To help tackle the overcrowding of the town, a limit for the size of its annual Christmas market has been imposed by Mr Klack, seeing a maximum of 43 stalls spread around the town. The local hall has also organised a car park a few kilometres away, with shuttles bringing visitors into the centre.
Riquewihr houses just 1,050 permanent residents who have to prepare each year for the 450,000 visitors who come in the month of December, Euronews reports.
However, this is not the only place in the region to see an influx of tourists, as Alsace recorded over five million overnight stays in the last five weeks of 2023.
A local tour guide lecturer in the city said “there are times when you physically can’t move through the crowds at these Christmas markets,” adding that “there are long queues everywhere. I’ve even seen fights break out in the bathroom queues”.
The tiny town of Riquewhr is lined with half-timbered houses dating back to the 15th – 18th centuries, built very close together. The untouched architecture makes Riquewihr one of the crown jewels of the Alsace region in France.
Being one of the few towns which was not greatly damaged in World War II, it had retained its original medieval charm, and was even the inspiration for the village in the Disney film Beauty and the Beast.
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