Discover Turckheim through its medieval town gates, its Second World War history and its wine landscape. The town has preserved three gates and significant remains of its town walls. There is also a memorial museum, wine-related activities and trails with different themes. If you would like to combine culture and wine during your stay, you’ll find several specific ways to do so here—from historic buildings to walks through the vineyards.
Town gates with different purposes
The three gates tell different stories. The Porte de Munster was built in the 14th century. Its windows, decorated with scallop shells, suggest that it may have been a stop on the route to Santiago de Compostela. This is one possible interpretation of the design, not a confirmed designation as a pilgrim route.
Of the three gates, the Porte du Brand had the most pronounced defensive function. Its original features included a drawbridge over a moat and a portcullis. The Porte de France represents a different focus: its lower section dates from 1330, and the gate originally served primarily to facilitate Turckheim’s economic exchange with Switzerland. Taken together, the three gates offer a clear picture of three aspects: architectural history, defense and trade.
Turckheim’s church also has a historical feature: it houses a Silbermann organ built in 1755. Anyone interested in architecture and historic furnishings can include it alongside the gates.
A museum about the battles of the Colmar Pocket
The Musée Mémorial des Combats de la Poche de Colmar is housed in an 18th-century vaulted cellar. During the Second World War, this cellar served as a shelter for the people of Turckheim. The collection of objects tells the story of the battle for the Colmar bridgehead. The historical focus thus shifts from the town’s medieval fortifications to the fighting of the 20th century.
The Turckheim night watchman offers another historical experience: from May 1 to October 31, he makes his rounds every evening at 10 p.m. Check the 2026 schedule if you would like to plan around this event.
Wine tastings and seasonal activities
The Turckheim area has a wide variety of terroirs where Alsatian grape varieties thrive. At wine tastings in the Cave de Turckheim, knowledgeable advisors explain the wines. The seasonal program also includes themed wine tastings and exhibitions; vineyard walks are offered in summer. This gives you the choice of exploring the wine theme at a tasting or outdoors on a walk. Check the current arrangements and dates for these activities before your trip.
Two trails, two different themes
The Sentier du Dragon is a vineyard trail in Turckheim; it takes two hours to walk. Free parking is available for cars. As this offer may change, it’s best to check the situation locally.
The Sentier des Toits has a different focus: it follows Turckheim’s town walls and climbs uphill to a viewpoint. This makes it easy to compare the trails: the Sentier du Dragon combines vineyard scenery with a stated walking time of two hours, while the Sentier des Toits focuses on the town walls and the climb to the viewpoint. Both add a trail to the historic sites, with its theme clear from the description.
Discover more destinations: Brunstatt, Orschwihr, Wegscheid, Morschwiller-Le-Bas, Niederhergheim, Village-Neuf, Stosswihr, Riedwihr
For the full regional travel overview: Haut-Rhin.
