L’Abbaye d’Alspach

At the heart of the charming timbered village of Kientzheim, L’Abbaye d’Alspach is like a village within a village—the hotel rambles through three different buildings, with guestrooms accessed across old wooden bridges, down creaking timbered hallways, or up old stone stairwells. This is a charming, family-run hotel where you are assured the traditional Alsatian warm welcome. The reception is located off the interior cobbled courtyard through a door in the distinctive tower. The entry salon is very inviting, with antiques set on old tiles under dark, heavy beams. Guestrooms are found off the tower or in a wing of rooms on the other side of the old wooden bridge. We saw number 14, one of the more expensive rooms, at the top of the old stone staircase—it was very commodious, with small windows overlooking the rooftops of town. In the building on the other side of the courtyard, number 16, a middle-priced room, was very appealing, with windows on both sides giving natural cross-ventilation in summer. The family has also recently added a new building which houses five exceptional suites and a fitness center. Number 1, a family suite, is gorgeous in rich fabrics and has an entry salon with steps up to a twin bedroom and bath and then a stairway up to a loft, double bedroom, and second bath.