category of places

Cave historique des Hospices de Strasbourg

About

The Cave Historique des Hospices de Strasbourg is a remarkable wine cellar founded in 1395 within the city’s historic hospital complex. Created to support patients through the production and sale of wine, it has endured for centuries as both a medical and cultural institution. The cellar houses vast oak barrels and stone vaults where Alsatian wines mature, including Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris. Its most famous treasure is the world’s oldest barrel of wine still preserved, dating back to 1472. Today, the Cave continues its charitable mission, with profits from wine sales benefiting the hospital. Visitors can explore its atmospheric halls, learn about winemaking traditions, and taste wines that embody Alsace’s rich terroir. The Cave Historique is more than a cellar—it is a living monument to Strasbourg’s heritage, blending history, philanthropy, and viticulture in one extraordinary site.

Strasbourg France

Location

The Cave Historique des Hospices de Strasbourg, dating to 1395, is located at 1 Place de l'Hôpital within the grounds of the Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg civil hospital, in the city center near the Ill River. Access the underground 1,200 m² cellar via external stairs on the yellow building in the hospital complex, a 10-minute walk from the Cathédrale Notre-Dame or tram lines A/D at Porte de l'Hôpital stop. Nearby attractions include Petite France quarter with canals (short stroll), Musée Historique de la Ville, Alsatian Museum along Quai Saint-Nicolas, Place Kléber, and riverside promenades, all in the UNESCO-listed Grande Île district.

Cave historique des Hospices de Strasbourg

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