Bergbieten

Perched in a valley surrounded by vineyards, Bergbieten stretches along the wine route. This village of about 700 inhabitants is renowned for its grand cru Altenberg, already mentioned in 1050 in archives related to Pope Leo IX. The first written record of the village dates back to 1120, when it belonged to the bishops of Strasbourg. Its fate changed in the 17th century with the destruction of its castle during the Thirty Years' War, likely leading to the current settlement. Once protected by fortifications with three gates – the Obertor (1580), the Undertor, and a third towards Molsheim – Bergbieten also retained ditches dug in 1478, called Dorfgraben. The village was under the bailiwick of Dachstein and housed emblematic buildings such as the Saint-Laurent church (19th century), the presbytery (18th century), and the tithe house, known as the commandery, which gave its name to a street. In 1895, a major archaeological discovery was made here: two terracotta vases containing 7,000 13th-century coins, whose origin remains unexplained. These treasures, now exhibited in Berlin after being acquired by German museums, add a touch of mystery to this charming village, ideal for exploring the riches of Alsace's wine country.