Colmar
Colmar (France) – the most detailed information about the city with photos. The main attractions of Colmar with descriptions, travel guides and maps.
Colmar (France).
Colmar is a charming city in the north-east of France in the province of Alsace, department of the Upper Rhine. Known for its old half-timbered houses along the canals, its wines and as the birthplace of Auguste Bartholdi, creator of the famous Statue of Liberty. Colmar is one of the most picturesque and photogenic cities in Alsace, which has well preserved its cultural and architectural heritage.
All the attractions of Colmar are located in its old town, which has survived remarkably well in spite of the world wars. The historic center of the city is quite large, but it is still convenient to explore on foot. See the old town of Colmar and take a walk through its streets.
Colmar
Things to do (Colmar):
€118 per tour
Charming Colmar
Immerse yourself in the fairytale flavor of the most beautiful city in Alsace on a soulful sightseeing tour.
€124 for a guided tour
Through the streets of Colmar
The image of an authentic city with the inimitable Alsatian style on a walk with a cultural historian…
Geography and climate
Colmar is situated on a plain on the banks of the Loch, at the foot of the Vosges Mountains, a few dozen kilometers from the Rhine and the German border. In fact, the plains of Alsace divide the Vosges and the Black Forest. The city is conveniently located between Strasbourg and Basel.
Colmar has a relatively mild temperate continental climate with relatively dry weather, which is great for the famous wines of Alsace. The average rainfall during the year is about 600 mm, most of which occurs between June and September. Temperatures are about 24 degrees in summer, and only about 5 degrees from December to February with frosts, most common in January. Snow is also possible at this time.
Colmar in winter.
Information for tourists
- The population is 70.3 thousand people.
- Area – 66.6 square kilometers.
- Language: French.
- Currency – euros.
- Visa – Schengen.
- Time – Central European UTC +1, in summer +2.
Best time to visit
Colmar can be visited all year round. But the most magical time is before Christmas, when the city acquires a simply magical charm.
Colmar before Christmas
History
Colmar was first mentioned in the 9th century. It became a free city in the Holy Roman Empire in the 13th century. Due to its border location, the city was repeatedly under German rule and experienced strong German influence. Colmar joined the Union of Ten Cities in the 14th century. Because of its location, it developed rapidly during the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
In the old town
Colmar suffered greatly in the process of the Reformation, the subsequent peasant wars and the Thirty Years’ War. By the Treaty of Nimwegen the city is part of France. In 1871, Colmar becomes part of the German Empire. After World War I, the city became French again. During World War II, Colmar was one of the last French cities to be liberated. The city has maintained a rich architectural and cultural heritage, including a former monastery church, several monasteries, a remarkable theater, canals (for which Colmar is called “Little Venice”), and beautiful medieval houses.
How to get there
Colmar is about 60 kilometers south of Strasbourg airport. The airport of Basel is also close. With these two cities, as well as with Freiburg, Colmar has a regular train service. Trains run every hour. The city has good vehicular accessibility from France as well as from Germany and Switzerland.
In the streets of Colmar
Shopping
In the historic center of Colmar you can find a variety of stores. It is considered to be quite profitable to buy clothes and shoes here. Because prices here are lower than in neighboring Germany, Switzerland and even Strasbourg. Notable is the typical Alsatian pottery.
The streets of Colmar
Alsace is known for its pastries and wines. The local dishes include Kugelhopf (pie), Tarte flambée (Alsatian pizza with sour cream), choucroute (sauerkraut), pretzels with salt and Choucroute aux Poissons (fish dish).
Many people call Colmar the wine capital of Alsace, so wine is definitely worth tasting or buying as a souvenir. During the Christmas holidays you can drink orange juice with honey and spices, as well as spicy hot wine (mulled wine).
Colmar
Attractions
The old town is the main attraction of Colmar. Wandering through the old streets is the best way to explore it. In the historic center you can find many old buildings from the Middle Ages and Renaissance. The highlight of it is the beautiful half-timbered buildings. In the streets of Colmar you can find almost all architectural styles from Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Classical to Empire, Eclectic, Art Nouveau. The historic center is an open-air architectural museum.
The architecture of Colmar
“Little Venice” is a district of Colmar with picturesque houses by the water. Located just beyond Coifhus.
Take a boat tour of “Little Venice”.
The Fish Quarter
The Fish Quarter is a historic neighborhood where fishermen and fishmongers lived. The area is located between downtown and “Little Venice”. In 1706, a massive fire destroyed about 40 houses, rebuilt in the 1980s of the 20th century.
Dominican church
The Dominican Church is a medieval church of the Dominican order. Its foundation dates back to the 13th century. Exhibitions and fairs are often held on the square.
Saint-Martin
Saint Martin is the main religious building in Colmar and one of the main masterpieces of Gothic architecture in Alsace. The church was built between 1235 and 1365. The latest restoration revealed that Saint Martin was built on the foundations of an ancient building from the 11th-12th century. The people of Colmar consider the church their Münster, but St. Martin currently has the status of a monastic church.
Pfister
The Pfister is one of the oldest and most beautiful buildings in Colmar with paintings and wooden elements, built in 1537 by a silver merchant. Despite its distinctly medieval features, it is the first example of Renaissance architecture in Colmar. The wooden gallery, the octagonal tower and wall paintings depicting biblical and secular scenes made the house one of the city’s symbols.
Coifhus
Köifhus or the old customs house is a 15th century building located at the crossroads of the main routes of the medieval city. The Coiffus is the oldest public building in Colmar. It had a dual function: the first floor served as a warehouse and a place to collect taxes for goods, the second as a meeting place for the city authorities.
The House of the Chapters
The Heads’ House is an interesting early 17th-century German Renaissance-style building. The house owes its name to the one hundred and six heads and masks decorating its facade.
Sights of France
The main sights of the cities and regions of France, as well as places of interest for tourists, with descriptions and photos. Location of these interesting objects and places on the map. The most popular attractions: Le Louvre, Napoleon Tomb, Eiffel Tower, Versailles, Notre Dame de Paris, Cocade Russian cemetery. The ranking is based on your visits.
Top Sights (1332).
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Napoleon Bonaparte’s tomb is under the gilded dome of the Cathedral of St. Louis of the Maison des Invalides. As you know, Napoleon died on St. Helena on May 5, 1821. In 1840, King Louis-Philippe obtained the consent of Great Britain to return the ashes of the exile to France. On December 14 of the same year.
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Eiffel Tower – the symbol of Paris, its silhouette is visible almost everywhere. Every day thousands of tourists come here. But that wasn’t always the case. The steel tower on the Champ de Mars is a monument to the daring of the 19th century. In the second half of the century France, demonstrating its technological leadership, carried out a series of all.
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Versailles is the most famous royal residence in the world. Surrounded by a famous park, it is located sixteen kilometers southwest of Paris. History of Versailles The first mention of the castle on this site dates back to the twelfth century. In 1623, the young Louis XIII, who at times needed solitude (o.
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Cemetery Cockade – the second largest Russian cemetery in France (after the Parisian Sainte-Geneviève-de-Bois). More than three thousand Russians have found rest here. Many of these names are the pride of Russia. In the mid-19th century the Côte d’Azur was loved by Russian aristocracy. Members of the royal family spent their vacations here.
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Extraordinarily beautiful Place Massena is on a scale not inferior to Paris. This is the real center of the city, which wants to walk and walk. The square is almost two centuries old: it was born during the rapid development of the city in 1820-1830. Its development was facilitated by its ideal location between the Star.
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