Hôtel Les Remparts

We spent two nights here during a seven-day road trip around Alsace. The family-run Hotel Les Remperts sits on the edge of Kayserberg and made a good base for seeing the area. Parking was plentiful, which was a real bonus. There’s no restaurant in the hotel, but several are an easy walk away, and La Veille Forge was a real treat. The public areas also have lovely artwork. The WiFi was patchy at times, though.

The location is walkable from the old town, and the stay included plenty of free parking. The front-of-house staff were welcoming and friendly. But the hotel feels badly in need of refurbishment, with a dated 1980s or 1990s style and signs of poor upkeep. It made the price feel far too high for what felt like a student dormitory. The mattress was good, but the patterned imprints in the duvet made it rough to sleep under. The extra blankets smelled distinctly when we opened the wardrobe, so we couldn't use them. The bathroom and bedroom were particularly uncomfortable. There was a bathtub instead of a shower, with no curtain, so shower water went all over the floor. Limescale and mould covered the taps, tub sealant, and showerhead holder, and there was hair left in the tub from previous guests or housekeeping. The lobby had a musty smell, seemingly embedded in the carpet, and it carried into the stuffy bedroom. There was no air conditioning or other ventilation in the room. Even with the bathroom door shut and the supposedly running bathroom fan silent, the bedroom window steamed up easily. The toilet was in a separate room from the bathroom, and there was no bidet, which seemed odd for a European country. We could hear people in the neighboring room moving around, using the toilet, and showering because the sound insulation was poor. Before checkout time, while we were getting ready with the door locked from inside, housekeeping unlocked it and came in, asking if we were leaving. We hadn't told reception we were checking out, yet housekeeping kept pressing us to leave, even though there were vacant rooms along the corridor they were still cleaning. I don't know why they needed to bother us. We arrived on a motorbike on a Thursday and left Friday. Kayserberg has plenty of parking within walking distance, and street parking is free outside 1 pm to 6 pm. The hotel's parking is not gated and is open to the public. Had I known, I wouldn't have booked this hotel. Its secure garage costs extra per night, even for a motorbike that takes much less space than a car. The rest of Kayserberg seems to have brought its traditional buildings into the modern era, while this hotel still feels stuck in an older kind of hospitality.

We stay here every year on our way through to Italy, and the staff and management have always treated us perfectly. Parking has never been a problem, and we always sleep well. We also enjoy chatting with the friendly people at the front desk. There are lovely rooms in different buildings and layouts, including some almost apartment-like ones with kitchens and often balconies. Highly recommended, as long as you don't book the last room on the nights we need!

The bed was incredibly comfortable, and the room was clean and had everything we needed. I loved the French doors opening onto the patio. Everyone we met was warm and pleasant, and they speak English if you need it. The hotel is beautiful and charming, right in the center of a storybook city, with great rooms and a good breakfast. I highly recommend it. Thank you so much Madame Keller for your hospitality, you're amazing! We'll be back soon.