The Cave Historique des Hospices de Strasbourg: a wine journey through time

Looking for an enriching cultural visit in the Alsatian capital? Discover the Historical Cellar of the Hospices of Strasbourg: an unusual place steeped in history. The Strasbourg hospital has an impressive gallery of tuns bringing together fifty wine barrels, the oldest of which date from the 16th century. Grape varieties, wine maturation, vintages, learn more about this atypical cellar and Alsatian wine traditions.

A place steeped in history and Alsatian wine traditions

It is difficult to imagine that by taking the stairs of the city hospital of Strasbourg, we find ourselves in the heart of a huge and magnificent historical and vaulted cellar of 1,200 m2. This cellar takes us back to the Middle Ages. It allows its visitors to experience a timeless moment.

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In the past, the Strasbourg hospital was much more than a simple place of care, it also provided lodging and food to pilgrims and the needy, more than to the sick. Hospital fees were often paid in kind: part of the harvests or agricultural land, including vines. Over time, the hospital built up a considerable land heritage. A cellar was therefore essential for the conservation of wines, grains and other perishable goods. This is when this historic Strasbourg cellar was born in 1395.

Beyond its religious vocation, wine was used as a medicine. Wine therapy was common in the Middle Ages. At that time, patients could receive up to 2 liters per day, produced by the monks.

However, advances in medicine gradually put an end to the medicinal use of wine. The cellar could have become a pharmaceutical reserve, but in 1995, Philippe Junger, head of the cellar, the oenologist Pierre Spach and 37 families of Alsatian winegrowers decided otherwise. They restored the vat room and raised their best wine there, in the form of a SICA cooperative (Société d'Intérêt Collectif Agricole).

A heritage cellar and a wine museum

Over the centuries, the civil hospital of Strasbourg has acquired a considerable heritage, becoming the largest landowner in Alsace.

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The Historical Cellar of the Civil Hospices of Strasbourg is a true witness to the history of the city, its conflicts and its developments in the field of medicine. Today, it is no longer just a place for storing wines, it has become a museum, offering its visitors a unique experience through time. The cellar, formerly reserved for hospital staff, has opened to the general public, who can now explore its secrets.

The wines, aged in the tuns, are now treasures. The storage capacity is 2,400 hectoliters, or 360,000 bottles. This majestic cellar offers an ideal setting to discover the typicality and personality of Alsace vintages. The secular wine tradition is carefully perpetuated by a new generation of Alsatian winegrowers. Only a privileged few taste the wine that has already fermented. Once selected, the wine ages and is stored in oak barrels for several months, under the attentive vigilance of experienced cellar masters. It will then be sold with the prestigious Hospices label. This meticulous approach guarantees the exceptional quality of the wines offered by the historic cellar of the Strasbourg hospital.

The treasures of the Strasbourg Hospices cellar

The cellar houses several treasures, masterpieces of cooperage and exceptional wines. Among them, we find the oldest white wine in the world, carefully preserved in a barrel dating from 1472 and protected behind a gate. It is no longer drinkable today, as its pH is too high. But these 300 liters of a legendary vintage have not turned into vinegar, analyses have proven it!

This precious beverage has been served 3 times in the last 5 centuries, including to General Leclerc in November 1944 when he liberated Strasbourg.

In addition to these exceptional wines, the cellar contains a royal barrel offered to Louis XVI. It was preserved from the Revolution thanks to the concealment of its rich ornament, as evidenced by its only two sculpted fleur-de-lis.

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In addition to admiring the historic tuns, you can also observe an immense barrel from 1881 with a capacity of 26,080 liters of wine. It was also presented at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1900. Also discover a small press from 1727 or the start of a mysterious medieval underground passage, which once allowed anatomy to be taught to students. The corpses were actually convicts from the Pont du Corbeau.

Practical information for visiting the Historic Cellar of the Strasbourg Hospices

To visit this historic cellar in Strasbourg, go to 1 place de l'hôpital in Strasbourg. It is located in the heart of the city center, just a 10-minute walk from the Cathedral and 15 minutes from the Vauban dam.

You can also reach the museum by public transport:

tram A or D - Porte de l'Hôpital stop;
bus line 10 - St Nicolas stop.

Opening hours and days are available on the website of the Historic Cellar of the Strasbourg Hospices directly.

The visit is free and you can rent an audio guide on request

The historic cellar of the Strasbourg hospital offers a tasting during open days.

The shop is also open. It is possible to buy wines from the cellar as well as other vintages from member winegrowers and surrounding regions. Discover a selection of wines on the dedicated page of the cellar's website.

Once the treasures of the Historic Cellar of the Strasbourg Hospices have been explored, don't miss other interesting museums in Strasbourg, such as the Alsace Museum and the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Strasbourg.

And after this day rich in cultural activities, enjoy a moment of relaxation in our B&B HOTEL Strasbourg Sud Geispolsheim! We look forward to welcoming you!

* Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health. Consume in moderation.