Original message by Tanulya
This is truly beauty! How much effort was needed to create it and, probably, even more to preserve and maintain it. Now I have a great desire to see all this with my own eyes!

On the Loches (Lauch) River in the Upper Rhine, in the very center of the Alsace wine road, there is one very beautiful city that looks like a fairy-tale settlement. This city is called Colmar and is located in Alsace (France). French writer Georges Duhamel called Colmar "the most beautiful city in the world" and he was not the only one who honored Colmar with such sincere love.

Thanks to the richness of its architectural and historical heritage, Colmar remains an extremely unique place. With a population of 67 thousand, the city retains a provincial atmosphere that certainly carries its own charm.

Not every European city can boast of architecture that has survived to our time almost in its original form. The pedestrian zones in the historic center of Colmar allow guests to admire the beauty of an innumerable wealth of cultural heritage, remarkable in every way.

The Middle Ages left stunning buildings of Gothic architecture in the old town, including the Church of St. Martin and the Dominican Monastery. Next to the Dominican Monastery is the Unterlinden Museum, which is one of the most visited art museums in France. The museum building is also in Gothic style, and the internal collections contain masterpieces from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Baroque, as well as some interesting archaeological artifacts.

Here you can also find a permanently open exhibition of contemporary art. In the central square there is the Pfister House and the House with Heads - a special favorite of the locals. In general, in Colmar you can find all types of architecture - Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Rocco, Classicism and Empire, Art Nouveau and Modernism, Electrical and Postmodernism.

Walking through the streets, guests can admire the beauty of the buildings and the brightness of the roofs, and relax on the Quai de la Poissonnerie. Colmar has its own Little Venice - an area that was previously a quarter of fishermen and gardeners, now a fairly popular walking river for tourists.

Neat houses from the 14th to 18th centuries give this place a special charm. The most beautiful views will be seen from rue des Tanneurs and Quai de la Poissonnerie. Plus, everywhere you look, there are stunning, vibrant, colorful flowers being grown.

Colmar is considered the driest city in France in terms of precipitation, which has a positive effect on winemaking. In local traditional restaurants you can find many delicious dishes of Alsatian cuisine.

The city also has an amazing lighting system; it would be fair to say that Colmar exudes the magic of light and color. 900 computer-controlled light sources are distributed throughout the city and connected by optical cable, which allows you to organize original light shows throughout the year. Like a magic thread, lighting draws the entire city, emphasizing contours and reliefs, focusing attention on thousands of architectural details. The city is illuminated at night on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the year, as well as during special events dedicated to the life of Colmar: International Festival, Regional Wine Fair of Alsace, Christmas.

Colmar is the hometown of sculptor Frédéric Bartholdi (he designed the Statue of Liberty) and painter/printmaker Martin Schongoer.

It's not worth mentioning to locals, but Colmar is a French city with a German past. In 1648, after the signing of the Peace of Westphalia, Colmar, along with most of Alsace, ceded to France. Before this time, based on various references to the city, the history of Colmar dates back at least 11 centuries.

67,260 inhabitants

The largest center on the Alsace wine road, a real gastronomic paradise, brilliant works of art in museums and in the open air, canals, fountains, half-timbered houses decorated with geraniums - all this is Colmar, without a doubt, the main city on the Alsace wine road.

A little history

The name of the city comes from the word "dovecote", which in 823 sounded like "Columborium" and is mentioned in the annals in connection with the Emperor Louis the Pious, who often stopped here during trips to his vast lands.

At the beginning of the 13th century, Emperor Frederick 2, the grandson of Barbarossa, granted the city the rights of an imperial trading city. At the same time, the main monastic orders came here: Franciscans, Dominicans and Augustinians and began to build their churches.

Quai Poissonnières

In the middle of the 13th century, the bishop of Strasbourg tried to appropriate the rich city and the lands around it, but was defeated thanks to the brave son of a tanner, Resselman, and at the end of the 13th century, the city acquired the status of a free imperial city with the right to administer justice. In the 14th century, Colmar became a member of the league of cities of Alsace, the so-called Decapolis, which united the 10 largest trading cities into an alliance aimed at defending against external enemies and resolving disputes within. The city began to print its own coins.

In the 15th century, the luck ran out. First, the plague broke out, then the city and part of Alsace were pledged to the Duke of Burgundy (the German emperor urgently needed money). The Burgundians sent such a cruel governor, Pierre de Hagenbach, that the Alsatians themselves tried to pay off the debt as quickly as possible, and when he tried to stay, he was captured and beheaded, and the sword is still kept in the Unterlinden Museum.

In the 16th century, the time of the Reformation came, which, not the first time, managed to gain a foothold in the city. And in the 17th century, Colmar could not escape the destruction and horrors of the Thirty Years' War. After its end, according to the treaty, part of the territory of Alsace was transferred to France, but the city tried several times to return to the empire and get back its rights as a free city. After one of these attempts, the city fortifications were destroyed, and Louis 14 personally came to look at the defeated city. When the Germans came again at the end of the 19th century, more than 3,000 residents chose to leave for France, since this right was granted to them.

Be that as it may, all these historical “squiggles” left their mark on the image of the city, which can safely be classified as an open-air museum.

Walking around Colmar

Usually, an acquaintance with Colmar begins from the square near the museum Unterlinden: There is a tourist office nearby where you can get maps and materials, and a large parking lot where you can leave your car.

Museum Unterlinden, literally “under the linden trees”. Previously, there was a monastery here (from the 13th century), which was dissolved during the Revolution, and since 1848 the premises have been given over to a museum. The museum has a fairly large collection, especially since in January 2016, after restoration, it was solemnly opened by French President Francois Hollande himself. Everything from the Stone Age to modern times is collected here. It is worth paying attention to the wonderful Gothic building, a collection of medieval art (paintings by Cranach the Elder, Holbein the Elder, Schongauer), tapestries, and stained glass windows. The former chapel houses the main masterpiece - Isenheim Altar, created by Master Matthias Grunewald for the Antonite monastery in Isenheim. The folding altar, or folding, consists of 24 panels telling the Passion of Christ and the story of St. Anthony, the patron saint of the monastery, where patients were treated with “Anton’s fire” (a common disease at that time associated with ergot poisoning, which led to hallucinations and gangrene).

Part of the museum is dedicated to the history of the city; here you can see the famous sword with which the executioner of Colmar cut off Hagenbach’s head, as well as reconstructions of some historical premises.

And another interesting part is the painting of the 20th century, where Renoir, Picasso, Nicolas de Stael (Polyakoff) are represented.

Not far from the museum is the most beautiful house in Colmar, built in the Renaissance style: house with heads. It got its name from the 106 grotesque masks decorating the façade. The house was built in 1609 by order of the merchant Anton Burger, decorated with a three-story bay window and an impressive pediment. From the mid-17th century, the house changed hands until, at the end of the 19th century, a wine exchange was located here, created to promote Alsatian wines. According to her order, a native of the city, Auguste Bartholdi, made a metal figure of a winemaker decorating the building. There is also a restaurant serving local cuisine. Over time, the exchange left the house, but the restaurant remained.

Dominican Church - another iconic route in Colmar. Construction began at the end of the 13th century and continued for several decades. The result was one of the most beautiful temples belonging to a mendicant order in the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation. Do not look for a high tower here: it is not reserved for humble mendicant orders. But the church can boast of real masterpieces, some of them are now in the Unterlinden Museum (Schongauer Altar), and the main work, “ Madonna in a rose bush ", is exhibited here.

Martin Schongauer. Madonna in a rose bush. Photo from the Internet.

Nearby, a few houses away, there is another temple: Collegiate Church of St. Martin, which in the city is lovingly called “Münster”, that is, the cathedral. Indeed, the church, built in the 13th-14th centuries, was a cathedral for 12 years (1790-1801). With the advent of the Reformation in the city, the Protestant church was located here. The church is beautiful in appearance, with its flying buttresses and towers.

St Martin's Church

Literally a couple of steps from here is Auguste Bartholdi Museum . The world-famous sculptor was born and lived in Colmar. Here you can look at the models of his works (a significant number of them can be seen while walking around the city), and, of course, at the model of his most famous work: Freedom, illuminating the world.

There is another beautiful house nearby, challenging this title to the house with heads. This Pfister house, named after the owner's surname at the end of the 19th century. The building itself, in the Gothic style, was built in 1537 by a hatmaker from Besançon, who became rich not only from trade, but also from income from his share in silver mines near his hometown. And yet, for financial reasons, he had to sell the house to the new owner, a silk merchant from Savoy, Claude Sisan, who ordered work on the decoration of the house, characteristic of the Renaissance: the facade is decorated with biblical and secular scenes, portraits of 16th century emperors and evangelists. Turrets decorate the corner bay window and the staircase tower.

House Pfister

One of the most impressive architectural monuments of the city - former customs building. In Alsatian it is also called “Coifhus” - a symbol of the economic power of Colmar at the end of the 15th century. There was once a customs office here, where duties were collected for goods brought by water to Colmar, there were warehouses, and on the second floor there was a hall in which representatives of the Decapolis gathered to discuss important issues. The magistrate was also located here. Nearby there were other buildings that can be considered part of the “business center” of medieval Colmar: a mint, a slaughterhouse, and a market not far from here.

Former customs house

Opposite the former customs house stands fountain by Bartholdi . This is a tribute to Baron Schwendi, who, according to legend, brought the Tokaj grapevine to Alsace in the 16th century from Hungary. They say it's a fairy tale because it's simply pinot gris, sometimes called Alsatian tokay.

Schwendi Fountain

Colmar is often compared to Venice: the city stands on two rivers, and a stream that was previously used for mills flows through the historical center. Just next to this stream, behind the old customs house, the most famous quarter of old Colmar begins: “ little Venice ". Here, by the way, not everything is so simple. Located near the customs tanners' quarter , who needed water in the canal and river to wash skins, which were then dried in the attics of tall buildings. Please note that the attic floor is the highest: precisely because of the skins. So first it's the Tanners' Quarter.

View of the tanners' district

Where the city market used to be, where vegetables, fruits and fish were brought from the surrounding area, where the stream flows into the River Lauch, there now stands a covered market from the end of the 19th century. At that time, such structures appeared throughout France. And this is where it begins Quai Poissonnières (that is, the fishing embankment). As strange as it may sound, until the beginning of the 20th century, Colmar was a city of fishermen who brought here fish caught in the river, stored and sold it right there. The boatmen who transported goods along the river also lived here.

Covered Market and Quai Poissoniere

And only when we see that the road has disappeared and houses stand on both sides of Lauch, then we find ourselves in “ Venice". In fact, this is the region of Krutno (Krutenau), where peasants once lived, grew vegetables and fruits that supplied the city, and, of course, cultivated vineyards.

Returning to the old city from “little Venice”, we again see Bartholdi’s creation: this time Resselmann fountain , the son of a tanner who saved the city from possible dependence on the Bishop of Strasbourg in the 13th century.

Speaking about the works of the main sculptor of Colmar, there are many of them. You can take a walk in park on the Champ de Mars, where the statue of General Rapp is located, near the Unterlinden Museum there is a monument to Martin Schongauer, who lived almost his entire life in Colmar and most of his works were written here. And at the entrance to the city from Strasbourg, Freedom greets us, lighting the way for the world. Famous The Statue of Liberty, the original of which greets visitors to New York and is included in the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage, was conceived as a gift from France to America and Bartholdi won the competition.

Statue of Liberty

He worked for a long time; 15 years passed from the moment he received the order to the opening of the monument. And not just one: such a huge structure required the knowledge of specialists, who turned out to be Gustav Eiffel. He was responsible for the frame on which the entire structure rests. According to various sources, either his wife or mother served as the model for the sculptor. Whoever it is, freedom has the face of an Alsace woman. The copy that stands in Colmar was erected in 2004 to mark the centenary of the author's death. At 12 meters high, this is the tallest Statue of Liberty in France, and there are plenty of copies. I marked it on the map for you, it is far from the center. There is also an original monument to infantrymen along the road, "Red Devil" , called.

Monument to the Infantry

There is another monument in the city that deserves attention. More precisely, a copy donated by the sister city of Brussels. It is located on the right side of the high court tribunal, not far from the old customs, I don’t mark it, the quest will be empty for you. You already understand the name of the fountain monument. Pissing boy.

Museums

Unterlinden. Open daily except Tuesdays, 10:00-18:00, Thursdays until 20:00. Entrance ticket 13€.

Dominican Church. Every day, except Tuesday, 10:00-17:00, Friday and Saturday until 19:00. Entrance ticket 6€.

Bartholdi Museum. Open daily except Tuesday, 10:00-12:00 and 14:00-18:00. Entrance ticket – 5€.

There are several other museums in the city, but these are the main ones.

By the way, they ride boats along Lauch along Little Venice, urging passengers to bend down when passing under the bridge. The path there is not long, from the Turenne Bridge (the beginning of Venice) to the market, in a straight line. Whether it is necessary? You decide.

Colmar's old town is a tangle of streets lined with charming houses, many of which have survived from the Middle Ages and are true masterpieces of German Gothic and Renaissance architecture, with more recent French influences. You will hardly see a new building in the center of Colmar, and this fact inspires and makes you want to take a closer look at the history of some buildings in “the most beautiful city in Alsace.”

Sights of Colmar that are worth paying attention to

St Martin's Church Built between 1235 and 1365, it is an impressive example of Alsace Gothic architecture. Throughout history, it was damaged several times, but was quickly restored. Residents perceived the Church of St. Martin as the cathedral (bishop's) cathedral of the city, but in reality it remained in this status for only 10 years - from 1790 to 1801. Today, the medieval temple looks just like a feast for the eyes: fresh and clean facades literally glow in the sun after the latest restoration. Pay attention to the Gothic “little animals” on the façade, and inside the cathedral – to the Baroque organ from 1755.

Dominican Church(1283 - first half of the 14th century). Here is one of the most interesting museums in Colmar - Unterlinden Museum, which presents an impressive collection of art objects (paintings, sculpture, religious objects) from the 12th century to the 16th century (Middle Ages - Renaissance), as well as exhibits from more recent times.

"Little Venice"- the most beautiful quarter of Colmar, located along the banks of the La Lauch river in the southeast of the city. In the main city of Alsace - Strasbourg - there is a "Petite France" quarter, and Colmar is proud of its own "Venice", which you can see for free if you just walk, or for a small fee from the water - taking a ride along the river on a small boat.

Quarters of fishermen and boatmen And tanners also deserve a mention, you don’t have to look for them too much, you will probably see them during a leisurely walk around Colmar. They are located along the river, next to Little Venice. Many half-timbered houses from the 17th and 18th centuries in these neighborhoods were destroyed by fire during the great city fire of 1706, but today they have been carefully restored and delight tourists with their bright facades.

One of the most famous natives of Colmar in the world - sculptor and architect Frederic Auguste Bartholdi(1834 – 1904), famous for creating the American Statue of Liberty. However, this French sculptor created much more during his life - 35 sculptures and monuments in many countries, mainly in the USA (New York, Washington, Boston) and in his homeland - France, as well as Switzerland. In Colmar it is worth a look into his “family nest” - House-museum, located in the heart of the Old Town, and also see a 12-meter replica of the Statue of Liberty, located in the area of ​​​​the northern exit from Colmar. It is located at Route de Strasbourg, 68000, close to the airport (this is if you are traveling by car).

Bartholdi Museum photo

As I mentioned at the beginning of the article, Colmar has many houses that belonged to wealthy citizens that are worth paying attention to. Among them - House of Heads, built in 1609 for a wealthy shopkeeper who wanted to stand out from his neighbors, Adolf family house, Pfister House and many others.

Colmar water tower, created in the 19th century in the German neo-Gothic style, is located at one of the highest points of the city and is considered the oldest building of its kind in Alsace.

It will be interesting to visit Colmar with children Animated museum of toys and little trains, also located in the Old Town, at 40 rue Vauban, 68000 Colmar.

More photos of the streets of Colmar

How to get to Colmar

From Strasbourg - by regional train TER, travel time - from 20 to 40 minutes.

From Paris - take a direct high-speed TGV train to Colmar (once a day, travel time 2 hours 50 minutes), or take a high-speed TGV train to Strasbourg, then change to a regional train to Colmar.

Colmar also has a local airport that accepts intra-Schengen flights.

International airports closest to Colmar - in Strasbourg and Basel.

By the way. Now, when planning an independent trip, it is not necessary to waste time and visit many foreign sites, often not adapted for Russian tourists, or bother with translating information and comparing prices for different types of transport. In the form here you can find and buy online the bus and train tickets of national European carriers that interest you using a very simple and convenient system IN RUSSIAN, with a detailed description of tariffs and conditions:

You can choose in advance and book a car for traveling around France here:

(instant comparison of offers, prices and conditions of the world's leading car rental companies, online booking confirmation and flexible conditions, discounts, super offers)

Where to stay in Colmar

What to try in Alsace

Flammerkühe(tarte flambee in French) is a delicious thin pie, very similar to pizza, covered with sour cream, onions and pieces of ham.

Shukrut garni - one of the most famous Alsatian dishes: sauerkraut with bacon, local sausages and sausages, sometimes with the addition of boiled potatoes. It just begs to be paired with a huge glass of cold beer.

Colmar is an interesting city in France, in the Alsace region. It is here that tourists from many countries come to enjoy the half-timbered architecture and small houses.

If you wish, you can even visit local museums, which will surprise you with their rich exhibitions. Despite its provincial scale, you can still enjoy the interesting facets of the city and understand how much it personifies the real France. Colmar surprises with its beauty thanks to its winding streets, canals and colorful buildings.

Unterlinden is an art museum in the French city of Colmar. The exhibition includes sacred works of art created in the period from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. The history of the artistic world is revealed in an interesting way thanks to the valuable exhibition of the Unterlinden Museum.

Location: 1 - Rue des Unterlinden.

"Little Venice" is one of the most interesting and unique areas of Colmar. The best way to see the sights in this corner of the city is from a gondola, as it is in such conditions that the impeccable panorama becomes noticeable.

“Little Venice” gets used to two neighborhoods where fishermen and tanners lived. Previously, the area did not look so romantic and beautiful, but in the 1970s, large-scale restoration efforts were carried out. Now the quarter is recognized as a historical monument and is especially loved by tourists. Travelers can try small local restaurants and enjoy the beauty of the half-timbered houses lining the canals. In addition, there are bridges across the canals where you can take romantic photos.

“Little Venice” is a unique highlight of Colmar.

The Bartholdi Museum is dedicated to one of the most famous natives of Colmar. It is important to note that thanks to Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, such a famous landmark as the Statue of Liberty appeared in New York. In Colmar you can see a copy of the Statue of Liberty and other monuments created by Bartholdi.

Since 1922, a museum dedicated to the life and creative path of Bartholdi has been operating in Colmar. Personal belongings of the famous sculptor, sketches, photographs of completed works, important documents, sketches and models, drawings of monuments are stored here. At the same time, the exhibition on the second floor is intended to recreate the atmosphere of the apartment in Paris, where Bartholdi immigrated. On the third floor you can see an exhibition that allows you to understand the specifics of the creation of the Statue of Liberty, which is Bartholdi’s most famous work. As a result, visitors get the opportunity to get a complete impression of the talented French sculptor.

Location: 32 - Rue des Marchands.

The Pfister House is one of the most worthy attractions of the French city of Colmar. The house was built in 1537, as indicated by the plaque carved on the turret. For a long time the building was known under the name “At the Red Rooster”, but the renaming took place in the second half of the 19th century, when the Pfister family moved here.

The house is distinguished by the following design:

• The main material is yellow sandstone, which immediately gives an elegant touch.
• The presence of frescoes made on various topics.
• Allegorical figures – Faith and Justice.
• Covered bay windows located on the second and third floors.
• Corner balcony gallery, created taking into account the best principles of the Gothic style.
• The first floor is designed in the form of an arcade with columns.
• A tent-shaped spire with a pointed shape.

In 1927, the Pfister House was officially included in the list of historical and cultural monuments of France.

Location: Rue des Marchands - 11.

The House of Heads is a unique building in Colmar, created taking into account the principles of the German Renaissance. The building is decorated with sculptures of heads and masks, which can be found on the facades and bay window. On the pediment there is a sculpture of a cooper, symbolizing that the house previously housed a wine exchange. Today, the house of heads houses a hotel and restaurant.

Location: Rue des Têtes - 19.

The Toy Museum will be interesting not only for children, but also for adults. Since 1993, there has been active development of the museum center. Initially, 1,500 exhibits were presented here, but now the collection surprises with its size.

Near the entrance there is Cinderella's horse-drawn carriage.

On the ground floor, it is customary to hold temporary exhibitions dedicated to different thematic areas or organized by toy brands. In addition, here you can see rocking horses and mechanical toys.

The second floor is a real kingdom of dolls from different countries of the world. Moreover, various doll accessories are presented here, including dishes, furniture, and clothes. The most valuable exhibits include a collection of puppets created in the 18th century. A separate stand is dedicated to Barbie, and another one is dedicated to firefighting equipment.

The third floor is a kind of railway depot for trains, where there are up to one and a half hundred of them. The tracks are laid across toy landscapes and even pass through unique tunnels. Trains, in turn, arrive at toy stations.

The exhibition also includes Lego construction sets, various board games, stuffed animals, and airplanes. The Toy Museum will give you an amazing experience.

Location: 40 - Rue Vauban.

The Church of Saint Martin is considered one of the most important religious sites in Colmar. The history of the monastery began in the 11th century, when Benedictine monks built a small church. In the next century, it was possible to begin construction of the collegiate church thanks to the consent of Pope Gregory IX, and construction activities continued until the second half of the 14th century. The main material was yellow sandstone, which was successfully and actively mined near Colmar.

Changes in the appearance of the church occurred in the second half of the 16th century. The transformation was necessary after a fire damaged the roof and top of the religious landmark.

The church is decorated with numerous sculptures and medieval stained glass windows with scenes from the life of Jesus Christ. In addition, an ancient astronomical clock is installed on one of the towers.

Location: 21 - Place de la Cathédrale.

The most active period in the history of the Church of St. Matthew was the 16th - 18th centuries, when the religious object repeatedly passed from Catholics to Protestants. It was only in 1795 that the church was finally recognized as Protestant.

In fact, the history of the church began much earlier, and initially the religious monastery belonged to the Franciscans. Only in the 16th century, when almost all the inhabitants of the temple died from the plague, was the religious monastery transferred to the city authorities, turned into a hospital and began to be used for Lutheran services. After this, a kind of struggle began between Catholics and Protestants.

Nowadays, the International Music Festival is held annually in the church, which is due to the decent implementation of acoustics. Visitors can see ancient stained glass windows, an 18th century organ, and works of medieval painting.

Location: 3 - Grand Rue.

The Natural History Museum has existed since 1860. Here are rich collections in the following areas:

• Botany.
• Geology.
• Mineralogy.
• Paleontology.
• Ethnography.
• Zoology.

Visitors can see different plants, rocks and minerals, bones of ancient mammals, and artifacts created by Aboriginal people from different continents of the world. The Natural History Museum allows you to think about how not only France developed, but also about the history of the whole world.

Location: 1 - rue d'Unterlinden.

The tanners' quarter surprises with half-timbered houses that were built in the 17th - 18th centuries. Tanners' houses had special attics, which had a row of windows with ledges for the ventilation system. As a result, artisans could dry their leather items without any problems. Houses were often located near canals and rivers, since water was constantly needed to wash and soak the skin.

The tanners' quarter was restored, after which it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Location: Rue des Tanneurs.

Lebed's Pharmacy is one of the oldest city pharmacies. The building, painted milky, immediately stands out to passersby. However, the main feature is the forged thematic sign that distinguishes the pharmacy from other medical buildings. The pharmacy is popular among local residents and tourists, because here you can not only appreciate the architectural design of the building, but also buy high-quality licensed drugs.

Colmar is an interesting French town that surprises with its impeccable architecture and significant historical sites.

Traveling by car in the eastern part of France My wife and I found ourselves in the beautiful town of Colmar. This was the second point in our trip after Strasbourg. The city of Colmar belongs to the province of Alsace, which has always been a stumbling block with neighboring states. It’s not just that there is so much German in architecture, culture, cuisine and other areas of life. Local residents demonstrate in every possible way that they belong to France, but, nevertheless, the majority speak a German dialect.

Colmar - one of the most beautiful towns in Alsace. Ancient streets and pavements, half-timbered houses, ancient stone buildings - all this creates an indelible impression. In addition, Colmar is the capital of Alsace wines, and it is not without reason that the Route du Vin - Wine Road - originates from here.

Get to beautiful Colmar possible from the cities of Strasbourg or Basel (Switzerland). If you travel by public transport, you can get there by train, in about 30 minutes. And by car – about 90 km from Strasbourg.

Colmar is located in the flat part of the province, on the banks of the Loches River. It is approximately equally distant from Swiss Basel and French Strasbourg.

In total, we spent a day and a half in Colmar. Stayed at the hotel Hotel Balladins located at: Colmar, 5 Rue des Ancetres. On the first evening we were not very lucky - it was raining heavily, which dispersed all the tourists. However, on the second day the weather was beautiful, and we completely devoted ourselves to exploring the city.

Colmar is so harmonious that all tourists leave it with strong impressions. The winding streets of the old town, canals and colorful building facades form the unique “corporate style” of Colmar. It is sometimes even called an open-air museum.

Inside the old city, a variety of architectural styles have surprisingly taken root. Here you can easily find masterpieces of early Gothic, Baroque, Rococo, Classicism and the heritage of the Renaissance. Around the old town, the architectural picture is more complete, since most of the buildings date back to the Renaissance.

In addition to the “stone” attractions, Colmar is interesting to tourists for several other reasons.
Colmar is the driest city in France, which contributes to the development of winemaking. The wines of this region are predominantly white and sparkling (for example, Cr?mants d’Alsace). In August, a wine festival is held in Colmar, with dancing, concerts and, of course, tasting.
By the way, the wine festival is not the only festival held in Colmar. For example, Colmar hosts an annual jazz festival in September and a film festival in October.

Sights of Colmar

The main museum of the city of Colmar is the Unterlinden Museum (Mus?e d’Unterlinden). Within the walls of the ancient building there is a rich collection of art from various eras, including Baroque and Renaissance. By the way, the building in which the museum is located is a Dominican monastery from the 13th century.
Like all museums, Unterlinden has its own main exhibit, which has secured worldwide fame. This is the Isenheim Altarpiece by Matthias Grunewald.
Unterlinden exhibits paintings, weapons, archaeological finds, antique furniture and much more. You can take photographs without flash.
Another museum of the city of Colmar - Bartholdi Museum. This museum, as the name suggests, is entirely dedicated to the personality of Bartholdi, the author of the Statue of Liberty. The museum displays various paintings, sketches, sculptures, as well as Bartholdi's personal objects and furniture. The museum was opened in Colmar because the artist and architect was born here.
As you know, the Statue of Liberty, which now stands in New York Harbor and is considered a symbol of freedom and independence, was given to the United States by France.
Here is the official website of the Unterlinden Museum: http://www.musee-bartholdi.com/musee/

For tourists with children, Colmar has a wonderful Museum of Toys and Model Trains. And adults will probably find it interesting to wander around the three floors of the museum, surrounded by toys. You will find here the very first Barbie doll, vintage wind-up cars, puppets and a bunch of other toys. And an entire floor is given over to an exhibition of all kinds of trains. Some adult visitors walk around the museum with sparkling eyes, as if they were 6 years old again and their parents brought them to the Central Children's World.
Here is the official website of the Toy and Model Locomotive Museum: http://museejouet.com/

In addition to the museums in Komar there are interesting churches worthy of the attention of every tourist.

First of all, this is the Collegiate Church of Saint-Martin - the main cathedral of the city. The church was built in the period from 1234-1365. on the site of another, earlier church. The collegiate church at one time suffered from a strong fire; since then one of the bell towers has remained unrestored. The inside of the church is lavishly decorated with sculptures. It is noteworthy that the painting “Madonna in the Arbor of Roses” by Martin Schongauer was previously kept in this church before it was stolen. The painting was later found and is now kept in the Dominican Church of Colmar. That's actually it.

Another interesting church in Colmar is St. Matthew. The acoustics here are excellent, which is why the International Colmar Festival under the leadership of Spivakov is held in this church.

Now let's talk about the rest of the attractions of Colmar, without which this city cannot be imagined.
The House of Heads is a Kremlin-class attraction in Moscow. Well, if it speaks of importance and fame. The House of Heads is located in France, Colmar, Rue des T?tes, 19. One of the ancient mansions in Colmar gained fame from sculptures with grimacing faces scattered throughout the façade of the building. Currently, an expensive Alsatian restaurant and hotel are open in the House of Heads.

The Pfister House is an equally interesting building in Colmar. The house was built in 1537 by the hatter Louis Scherer. It is a medieval building of stone and wood, with a long wooden gallery and a two-story corner bay window. The frescoes on the facade depict 16th century German emperors, Holy Fathers, evangelists, other biblical characters and scenes from the Bible.

Romantics Colmar is adding a quarter called Petite Venise, “Little Venice”. Petite Venise is an area in Colmar, a former quarter of market gardeners, fishermen and leather tanners, stretches along the Lauch (Loches) river. This river once served as their main means of communication. The name of the area is not accidental - the small city on the water is similar to Bruges, which in turn is called the “Venice of the North”. Along the river there is a chain of neat restored houses from the 14th to 18th centuries. The best views of the city's most picturesque ensembles of half-timbered houses can be seen from the Rue des Tanneurs and the Fishmongers' Quai (quai de la Poissonnerie), which stretch along the river, as well as from two bridges: on Boulevard Saint-Pierre and near Place des Sixes black mountains (place des Six Montagnes Noires). Colmar, Colmar - the most beautiful city in Alsace, France photo 8

Interesting for tourists is the Tanners' Quarter. The half-timbered houses typical of this region have an unusual attic structure. For tanners, ventilation was important, so the attic consists of open windows.

Don't miss the opportunity to visit the famous Colmar market, where you can buy the most delicious products of the Alsatian region.
You can pamper yourself with aromatic pastries on Pekarei Street. As the name suggests, there were all kinds of shops here, but even now little has changed. Prepare your nose to inhale enchanting aromas. Address: France, Colmar, Rue des Boulangers.

Instead of concluding, I want to say that I highly recommend visiting the city of Colmar if you find yourself in Elsa. This is truly a must-see, without which the understanding of Alsace will not be complete.