Lane of Eguisheim

Alsace (French: Alsace [al.zas] ( listen); Alsatian: ’s Elsass [ˈɛlsɑs]; German:  Elsass (help·info), pre-1996: Elsaß [ˈɛlzas]; Latin: Alsatia) is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area (8,280 km²), and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km² (total population in 2006: 1,815,488; 1 January 2008 estimate: 1,836,000). Historically and in identity one of the most vital parts of Lorraine (duchy), Alsace is located on France's eastern border and on the west bank of the upper Rhine adjacent to Germany and Switzerland. However, as far as the division of France into official politically administered "regions" goes, historical decisions, wars, and strategic politics, resulted in Alsace now being administered separately as its own "region" within the Republic of France. The political, economic and cultural capital as well as largest city of Alsace is Strasbourg. Because that city is the seat of dozens of international organizations and bodies, Alsace is politically one of the two important regions in the European Union.

Eguisheim (German: Egisheim) is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.

Eguisheim produces Alsace wine of high quality. The commune is largely German-speaking.

Les Plus Beaux Villages de France ("The most beautiful villages of France") is an independent association, created in 1982, that aims to promote small and picturesque French villages of quality heritage. As of 2008, 152 villages in France have been labelled as the "Plus Beaux Villages de France".

There are a few criteria before entering the association: the population of the village must not exceed 2,000 inhabitants, there must be at least 2 protected areas (picturesque or legendary sites, or sites of scientific, artistic or historic interest), and the decision to apply must be taken by the town council.

Similar associations have been set up in Belgium (Les Plus Beaux Villages de Wallonie), Quebec (Les Plus Beaux Villages du Québec) and Italy (I Borghi Piu Belli d'Italia).