"City of Street Musicians " a Ribeauvillé Travel Page by traveloturc

Occupied under all the times since the Neolithic era, " Ratbaldo vilare " or " farm of Ratbald " appears in 759.
This same name gave in modern German " Rappoltsweiler ", in Alsatian dialect " Rappschwihr " and in French " Ribeauvillé ".
The borough belonged to the lords of " Rappoltstein " or " Ribeaupierre " who, since the 11th century resided at the castle of " Rappoltstein ", renamed later " Saint-Ulrich ", name of the owner of the castle vault.
Two districts of the upper city and those of the lower city often belonging to two different branches of the family, each one their own castle in their part of the city...
A branch of Palatines' Count, recognized French sovereignty, but kept the seigniory until 1801. A this time, the last among them, " Maximilian of Palatinat Deux Ponts ", was named King of Bavaria by Napoleon.
The " Rappoltstein " and their successors were " Kings of the street musicians ", i.e. they had in stronghold of Empire the protection and the jurisdiction of all the itinerant street musicians and wandering entertainers of Alsace.
The street musicians' brotherhood met each year in Ribeauvillé on September 8th . Nowadays, the " Pfifferdaj " or " Street musicians' day " is celebrated again with great splendour.

The symbol of the city should be something realted with storks because they are everywhere but they choose this one

I am used to see dogs and cats in the streets of my country ..but storks !!! this was too much and unexpected