Cobblestone alley with Christmas decorations and colorful timber-framed houses in the medieval old town of Kaysersberg, Haut-Rhin, Alsace, Eastern France. - stock photo

Kaysersberg is a town located in the historical region of Alsace in northeastern France, on the eastern slopes of the Vosges mountains. The name means Emperor's Mountain in German. The town was first mentioned in 1227, when the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II refortified the castle. During the Middle Ages, the city prospered and was a member of the Décapole, an alliance of the most important cities in Alsace at the time. In 1648, the city became a part of France. As a results of the wars, the city became part of Germany from 1871 to 1918 and from 1940-1944. The town is a popular tourist destination, famous for its medieval streets lined with timber-framed houses, a well-preserved medieval heritage (including a 13th century church, several chapels, historic houses and the ruins of a castle), and as a winemaker town on the Alsace wine road. The town is also known for its beautiful annual Christmas market, spanning the entire town, when the timber-framed houses are illuminated and decorated.