Summary
If you have ever contemplated how an Alsatian city might have appeared in its medieval splendor, Colmar is your answer.
The historic town has remained largely unchanged for centuries, resembling a charming theme park; however, the timber-framed houses and palaces are entirely authentic.
Consider participating in a guided tour or obtaining an itinerary from the tourist office to help you discover 16th-century merchant houses or Renaissance civic structures. Subsequently, visit the Musée d’Unterlinden, where the masterpieces commissioned by the city will surely captivate you.
Next, venture into the countryside to uncover Alsace’s exceptional white wines and experience the breathtaking natural beauty of the Vosges Mountains.
Let us explore the best activities in Colmar:
1. Old Town
Colmar’s historic quarter is as complete as it is delightful, featuring street after street adorned with corbelled wooden houses and elegant Renaissance palaces embellished with flowers.
The city successfully evaded many conflicts that ravaged other French cities, remaining a well-preserved example of historic Alsace.
Colmar’s history is richly intricate, suggesting that a guided tour is essential for a comprehensive understanding of the sights you will encounter.
The city even organizes guided walks to help visitors interpret the significance of the coats of arms displayed throughout.
If traveling with family, consider taking advantage of the two tourist trains, which provide headphones and commentary in 14 different languages.
2. Musée d’Unterlinden
A stunning 13th-century Dominican convent houses one of France’s most distinguished regional museums.
Here, you can explore seven millennia of history and appreciate the artistic richness of the Rhineland’s late Gothic and Renaissance period.
This is exemplified by the masterful Isenheim Altarpiece, a 500-year-old polyptych crafted by Matthias Grünewald and Niclaus of Hagenau.
Additionally, the museum features a Gallo-Roman mosaic, Romanesque capitals, paintings by Hans Holbein and Schongauer, engravings by Albrecht Dürer, an exquisite 17th-century painted harpsichord, and a new contemporary wing showcasing the works of Picasso, Renoir, Braque, and Monet.
3. Little Venice
Located south of the center, where the Lauch River diverges from its canal, is a charming quarter that once served as a residence for tanners, winemakers, and fishmongers.
The river is embellished with two delightful bridges offering scenic views of the half-timbered houses opposite Colmar’s old covered market.
On the right bank of the river lies Krutenau, a historically fortified suburb of Colmar, once home to the city’s market gardeners.
Brief boat excursions through this unforgettable setting are available from the quay.
4. Maison Pfister
In a city characterized by enchanting architecture, Maison Pfister stands out.
Constructed in 1537 for the affluent hatmaker Ludwig Schurer, it is simultaneously charming and grand.
You will be captivated upon first seeing this stunning example of Alsatian Renaissance architecture.
Notable features include the turreted spiral stairway, the corbelled wooden gallery on the third floor, the 16th-century frescoes and medallions adorning the façade, the arcade on the lower level, and the magnificent two-storey bay window, among others.
5. Koïfhus
Colmar’s oldest civic structure is its former customs house, completed in 1490, which served as both the economic and administrative center of the city.
On the first floor of the southernmost building is the grand boardroom where the Décapole convened: a federation of Alsace’s ten Free Cities that persisted until 1679. The room is ornately decorated with weapons crafted in each city and features beautiful mullioned windows on three sides.
On the ground level, you can find the warehouse where imported and exported goods were taxed.
The exterior is notable for its diamond-patterned varnished tile roof, a signature of Renaissance architecture in eastern France.
6. Musée Bartholdi
The 19th-century sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, who presented the world with the Statue of Liberty, also designed two of France’s notable landmarks: the monumental Lion of Belfort and the statue of Vercingétorix in Clermont-Ferrand.
Musée Bartholdi, located at his birthplace on Rue Des Marchands, hosts preparatory models for his iconic creations, allowing visitors to appreciate the early phases of both his lion and Liberty, alongside other sculptures located in Colmar, such as the statue of General Rapp, the Schwendi Fountain, and the statue of Martin Schongauer, the pioneering 15th-century German printmaker born in Colmar.
This museum also features an exhibit on Alsace’s historical Jewish community, showcasing an ark, cabinet, and carved stone fountain from the 1600s and 1700s.
7. La Maison des Têtes
This exquisite German Renaissance palace derives its name from the 106 carved stone heads adorning its facade and has recently undergone restoration.
The palace was constructed for Anton Burger, a prosperous merchant who also served as Colmar’s mayor at the dawn of the 17th century.
At the pinnacle of the building, the statue gracing the ornate gable depicts the Tonnelier (cooper) of Colmar, a city symbol designed by Bartholdi and installed in 1902. A unique aspect of La Maison des Têtes is its windows, which exhibit varying widths and irregular placements throughout the facade.
8. Presbytère Protestant de Colmar
Another gem of German Renaissance architecture awaits on Grand Rue, established in 1606 as a residence for Protestant ministers adjoining their Church of Saint-Matthieu.
The ground floor features an arcade with ten arches now occupied by shops and restaurants.
At the corners, admire the three-storey-high bay windows, supported by cantilevers, which boast an octagonal form, are topped with pointed roofs, and resemble defensive turrets.
Finally, round to the church side to appreciate the Dutch gable.
9. Collégiale Saint-Martin de Colmar
This Gothic church, constructed between the 13th and 14th centuries, is commonly referred to as Colmar’s cathedral.
Technically, it has never been classified as a cathedral except for a brief period of 10 years following the French Revolution in the late 18th century.
Outside, you can admire the characteristic diamond pattern of the glazed roof and the historic noon mark sundial that denotes midday.
The tympanums on the southern and western portals are equally delightful.
Inside, you will find a late-Gothic sculpture of the Last Supper and a Rococo organ case added in 1755.
10. Schwendi Fountain
Adjacent to the Koïfhus on Place de l’Ancienne-Douane stands one of Colmar’s monuments, designed and created by Bartholdi.
This fountain features a depiction of the Austrian Holy Roman Empire commander Lazarus von Schwendi, who held influence in the 16th century as a resident of Château du Hohlandsbourg, located a few kilometers west of the city.
Legend has it that Schwendi introduced the pinot gris wine grape to Alsace following a campaign against the Ottomans in Hungary, which explains why he is portrayed holding a bundle of vines in his right hand.
11. Musée du Jouet de Colmar
For over 25 years, Colmar’s former cinema has been transformed into a delightful space filled with toys and models dating back to the 1800s, featuring nostalgic treasures from every era.
No matter your age, you can revisit your childhood with an enchanting collection of video game consoles from the 80s and 90s (including Game Gear and NES), Meccano sets, dolls, Barbie dolls, Playmobil collections, and robots.
The second floor is particularly impressive, boasting a labyrinthine working model railway that spans the entire level, measuring 120 square meters.
12. Maison Adolph
Located in Place de la Cathédrale, you can admire what is arguably the oldest structure in the city.
Dating back to 1350, it differs from Colmar’s subsequent houses with its gothic arched windows that reflect the influence of religious architecture on secular buildings of that period.
These features represent the building’s earliest characteristics, yet additional details are worth noting, such as the 16th-century bracket above the well located in front, adorned with intricately carved lion heads.
13. Ballons des Vosges – Gazon du Faing
Constantly visible on the horizon to the west, the rolling granite peaks of the Vosges mountain range are sure to ignite your desire for outdoor exploration.
The lower slopes are covered with undulating vineyards, while higher elevations offer opportunities for driving, walking, or riding through wooded areas and highland pastures.
The gentle contours of the peaks facilitate navigation for walkers, with a comprehensive network of country roads available for those wishing to access sites like the stunning Gazon du Faing peak, which overlooks Lac Noir—a majestic lake nestled amid steep mountainous terrain and cliffs.
14. Alsatian Wine Route
The picturesque wine country of Alsace is replete with enchanting villages and castles, set against a vibrant green backdrop of vineyards cultivating the region’s celebrated white grape varieties.
The Alsatian Wine Route stretches over 170 kilometers, providing an in-depth exploration of Alsace’s wine culture, including opportunities to meet local winemakers, visit wine caves, and sample some of the finest Rieslings available.
In addition to dry Rieslings, sweet varieties such as Muscat and the hallmark Gewürztraminer are also featured.
During your journey, take time to explore villages like Riquewihr, filled with half-timbered houses and protected by medieval fortifications.
15. Cuisine
Alsatian cuisine is a delightful fusion of French and German flavors, offering delicacies such as the “bretzel,” a soft pretzel topped with melted cheese.
Desserts and pastries also shine here, so be sure to try kugelhopf, a sponge cake enriched with raisins, almonds, and cherry brandy.
The perfect partner for Riesling is choucroute, the Alsatian rendition of sauerkraut: fermented cabbage served alongside cuts of pork and usually three types of sausage.
For a scrumptious snack, consider indulging in tarte flambée, a thin dough topped with fromage frais, onion, and bacon.
