Don't think that if locals call the city of Colmar, located in north-eastern France, a real jewel in the crown of Alsace, then they are in the least bit dishonest. This small provincial town is truly extraordinarily beautiful and original, even against the backdrop of Alsace, rich in historical and architectural monuments.
A visitor who comes to Colmar for the first time sometimes feels as if he has found himself outside of reality, in some kind of fairy-tale studio settlement, specially created for the filming of a spectacular film about medieval European life. Indeed, the old half-timbered houses, carefully preserved by the inhabitants of Colmar, entwined with green ivy and grapes, the pointed spiers of Gothic churches, the rounded narrow streets lined with paving stones, and the blue waters of the canals of the “Little Venice” area - all this seems too beautiful to be real.
However, this is true, Colmar is truly beautiful and, most importantly, beautiful with its natural historical beauty. Despite its small size (the city has only about 80 thousand inhabitants), one cannot dare to call Colmar a provincial town: its streets are full of active cultural life. It is not for nothing that the famous Russian violinist and world-famous conductor Vladimir Spivakov regularly organizes international music festivals here, which have become one of the calling cards of Colmar.
History of Colmar
The very fact that Colmar is located in the historical region of Alsace, directly bordering Germany, speaks of its difficult past. The very first documentary mentions of Colmar date back to 823, in which the Frankish Emperor Louis the Pious talks about a town called Columbarium, which can be translated into Russian as “dovecote”. And although this name indirectly indicates the presence of Roman roots in the origin of the city, no other evidence of the date of its foundation has yet been found.
Already at the end of the 9th century, Colmar came into the possession of Louis the German, one of the sons of the Frankish emperor, ruling in the lands of future Germany. After some time, Colmar became part of the formed Holy Roman Empire, and already in the 13th century it received the status of an independent city of the empire, free from the arbitrariness of local feudal lords, and a little later from the authority of the Bishop of Strasbourg. In 1278, the citizens of Colmar received their own constitution, declaring their rights and responsibilities to the community.
Having become part of the union of 10 independent Alsatian cities in 1354, power in the municipal council of Colmar practically passed from the hands of the nobles to the townspeople of humble families. With the emergence of the ideas of the Reformation in Europe in the 16th century, Colmar became one of the influential centers for the spread of new religious trends, and in 1575 it was declared a Protestant city. After the end of the Dutch War, as a result of the Nimwegen peace treaties, Colmar became a French city. In 1871, after France was defeated in the war with Prussia, Alsace, along with Colmar, ceded to Germany. Jurisdiction of the French Republic over Colmar was only restored in 1918.
Traveling the streets of Colmar
Reviewing the difficult history of Colmar, it is not surprising that among its attractions and cultural heritage left by glorious ancestors, such a significant place belongs to the works of the masters of the German Renaissance.
Unterlinden Museum
This is where we begin our overview of the sights of Colmar. It should be said that this museum, displaying unique works of medieval art, is one of the most visited cultural institutions located in provincial France. Every year, almost 400 thousand tourists from all over the world get acquainted with his expeditions, located in the building of the former Dominican monastery.
Most of all, visitors are interested in the works of Martin Schongauer, Lucas Cranach the Elder, Hans Holbein the Elder and other equally venerable representatives of the Renaissance. No less magnificent are the collections of Rhenish sculpture, as well as altar paintings, for which the Unterlinden Museum is famous. The real pearl of the museum collection is the famous Isenheim Altar, created in the 16th century by the German artist Matthias Grunewald, who worked in the Northern Gothic style.
The courtyard of the former Dominican monastery, decorated with a sculpture by the famous artist Martin Schongauer, a native of Colmar, is filled with calm and serenity.
"House of Heads" (Maison des Tetes)
Leaving the Unterlinden Museum and turning onto Rue des Tetes, you will see the facades of old houses of amazing beauty. One of them, numbered 19, is a special landmark of Colmar, and has the unusual name “House of Heads”. The original building was erected back in 1609 by order of one of the rich nobles of the city. The fame of the most beautiful building in all of Alsace, as well as the unusual name of the house, was brought by the intricately designed facade, containing more than a hundred sculptures of masks, heads and figures of people and mythological animals.
Moreover, the images are located everywhere: above the entrance doors, window openings, balcony railings, and one figure, personifying the local master cooper, crowns the top of the building’s pediment. Nowadays, the “House of Heads” houses a fashionable hotel with an excellent restaurant located in the courtyard, famous for its excellent cuisine.
Dominican Church
Having passed Rue des Tetes and turning onto bakers' street (Rue des Boulangers), you will come to the square in front of Dominican Church, which is famous for the famous painting by Schongauer “Madonna in the Arbor of Roses” stored in it. Martin Schongauer, a member of the famous Dutch school of painters, practically never left his native Colmar throughout his life.
He himself belonged to a family of city jewelers, and for his filigree manner of writing out details in his paintings, the residents of Colmar dubbed Schongauer with the nickname “Beautiful Martin”. It is noteworthy that even the famous German graphic artist Albrecht Durer dreamed of taking lessons from the great Schongauer. The very history of the painting “Madonna in the Arbor of Roses”, painted by Schongauer in 1473 specifically to decorate the Gothic Church of St. Martina in Colmar is truly dramatic.
Four centuries later, the painting was barbarously cut out of the frame that crowned it, and the most important details that made up the integrity of the composition were removed from it. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the painting was placed in a protective case, decorated with rich carvings, which was designed to protect it from external adverse influences. However, in 1972, the painting was again stolen by unknown persons. After the discovery of the loss, it was decided not to return the “Madonna in the Arbor of Roses” to the Church of St. Martin, but to send it for storage to the Dominican Church, where the museum is now located.
Church of St. Martin (Collegiale St-Martin)
This religious building is located just a few steps from the Dominican Church. Until now, the residents of Colmar call the Church of St. Martin the Cathedral, although the bishop lived in it for only a short period in the history of the city. For people who appreciate the grace and airiness of Gothic cathedrals, this church may seem a little austere due to the lack of sculptural decoration on its exterior. However, there is something fascinating in its appearance: the lower half of the church, erected at the very beginning of the 12th century, is represented by a typical Romanesque architectural style, and the upper part, built on a century later, is already light Gothic.
If you walk around the church, you will notice that its western side with three portals is strikingly reminiscent of the structure of the famous Strasbourg Cathedral. At the same time, the central of the portals is divided into two parts: one of which is decorated with a sculptural composition personifying the Last Judgment, and the other with the figures of three worshiping wise men. At the top of the portal is depicted St. Martin himself, who shares part of his clothing with a freezing beggar.
House-Museum of Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi
On the Rue de Marchands, located near the Church of St. Martin, there is a beautiful building belonging to the late Gothic era. Local legend says that Schongauer himself once lived there, which is why the house is often called Maison Schongauer, that is, “Schongauer’s House.” Whether this is true or not, scientists cannot say, but they are quite sure that another of their great compatriots lived in the building located next to Maison Schongauer - sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi. Now it houses a museum named after him.
It is interesting that the name of this great son of the French people is not very well known to the general public. However, one of his works is probably known to most civilized people. We are talking about the famous Statue of Liberty, located in the New York harbor and is a symbol of the United States. It should be said that the creation of a sculptural image, symbolizing radiant Freedom, illuminating the entire world around us, was conceived as a joint effort in which the Europeans were tasked with creating the statue, and the inhabitants of the New World - its pedestal. As you can see, Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi coped with the task with honor, creating the most famous symbol of democratic ideas and freedoms in the world.
Rest assured, Colmar has a lot to see, a place to relax and a lot to think about in the shadow of centuries-old ancient streets that have heard the footsteps of many famous people of their time.
Thousands of tourists from different parts of the world come to see the sights of the city of Colmar. The city is famous for its sparkling and white wines, its medieval gingerbread houses, and the birthplace of Auguste Bartholdi, the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty, which France gave to the United States in 1876.
Colmar is the third largest city in the province of Alsace and is located 20 km from the Rhine, 60 km from Basel and several tens of kilometers from the border with Germany. For centuries, these lands remained the epicenter of territorial disputes between the French and Germans. The city was the first to win, but the intertwining of the two cultures did not disappear. Mutual influence resulted in a variety of architectural styles.
German speech and names in this language are common in Colmar. Having learned German, here you can feel the presence of your homeland. The city is home to 70 thousand people, and there is a population growth trend.
Colmar is called the driest city in the country because it receives only 530 mm of precipitation per year. Consistently low amounts of rain contribute to the prosperity of winemaking. The average summer temperature in Colmar is 24 degrees; it starts to get colder only in October. Winters are rarely severe; +5 degrees on thermometers is considered the norm.
Best time to visit
Particularly crowded It's Christmas time in Colmar. On New Year's holidays, the city center is filled with fairs, and at night it begins to glow beautifully with bright garlands. After the January weekend, the streets are empty, the fairytale lighting is removed, numerous stands with goods are removed, and museum and store workers wait for the next wave of tourists.
It comes in summer. Many people come for the music festival in July and the Alsatian wine festival in August. For visitors to the city, the preferred periods are Christmas and summer, filled with interesting events.
How to get to Colmar
Colmar (France), whose attractions thousands of people dream of seeing, is a city that is easy to reach. Many travel agencies offer to cross a number of cities in France and Germany by bus, including in this list the small but charming Colmar (price from 30-40 thousand rubles, depending on the city, program and quality of hotels).
This travel format will allow you to see many cities. One day is enough to explore the main attractions of Colmar.
Another option is to get there yourself. Direct flights to Colmar are difficult to find. It is better to first fly to Strasbourg, the unofficial capital of Alsace. After seeing beautiful Strasbourg, from there in half an hour you can get by train to Colmar for 12 euros.
Many tourists prefer to fly to Basel, and then from the Swiss city take a bus to Colmar (travel time is 1.5 hours, price is a little more than 10 euros). Basel and Strasbourg are equally distant from the birthplace of the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty.
It is not possible to compare moving prices. These will vary greatly depending on the city where the journey begins. But for clarity, a table about the options for how to get to Colmar from the capital of Russia would not hurt. 
How to get to Colmar from Moscow:
| Eurotour from a travel agency | On your own via Strasbourg | Independently via Basel | |
| Travel time | 7-11 days | About 6 hours | About 4 hours |
| Distance | Many kilometers | Approximately 2000 km | Approximately 2000 km |
| Travel price | 30-70 thousand rubles. | 6-13 thousand rubles. for a flight from Moscow + 12 euros for a train to Colmar | 14-30 thousand rubles. + 10-12 euros for a bus to Colmar |
| Convenience | Comfortable. But if you want to visit Colmar specifically, long tours in other cities can be exhausting. | Comfortable. No downsides. | Comfortable. No downsides. |
| Additional benefits | Opportunity to see many cities (if desired). | Opportunity to see Strasbourg. | Opportunity to see Basel. |
Where to stay in Colmar
It is better to stay closer to the center of Colmar, from where you can quickly walk to the main attractions.
The most convenient hotels in terms of location:
Kitchen features
Colmar (France), whose sights remain in the memory of tourists for a long time, is also remembered for the tastes of food. Tourists are recommended to try the hearty choucrout. Its ingredients are stewed cabbage, greens, brisket, spices, pork and sausage. The average price of a classic Alsatian dish is 8 euros. Meat lovers should also buy salami at one of the local shops.
Alsatian cuisine is famous for its sweets. Tourists remember the taste of kugelhopf. These are pies filled with raisins and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Macaroons are also a local specialty. 
In pastry shops it is served with ice cream, which is placed between cookies. Pear shortbread tart also has a delicate taste.
Alsatian and German cuisines are characterized by tarte flambé, which is an analogue of pizza. It is cooked over an open fire until crispy. Traditionally, this flat pie contains onions, bacon and a white, cottage-like cheese.
For people who speak French, the name of the pie may be unclear. The word “flambé” here refers to culinary delights doused with alcohol and set on fire. No strong drinks are used in preparing tarte flambé.
To experience the local flavor, it makes sense to dine in taverns decorated in the style of the region's folklore. The pleasure of eating will become more complete if you also visit any cafe near the canal. Beautifully converted ancient piers and views of “Little Venice” put you in a pleasant mood. 
And on Cathedral Square you can have a snack and warm up with mulled wine at Brasserie l’Amandine. With wine, visitors will be served a salad with warm cheese and a flamkuchen pie with pork, onions and cheese.
Architectural landmarks
Colmar has preserved many ancient buildings. In the medieval part of the city there is the Old Customs House from 1480. On the 2nd floor, the date of creation of the architectural object is carved on a bas-relief on which an angel demonstrates a scroll. The building is a prime example of the German Renaissance.
At a time when Colmar printed its own money, the building was considered the economic and administrative center of the city. From 1698 to 1866, the building, topped with an imperial double-headed eagle and crown, was the city hall. It is located on the Old Customs Square, and the long street Grand Rue leads to it.
The Police Guard House is a building built on the site of the 13th-century chapel of Saint-Jacques. The façade of the building is decorated with an exquisite Renaissance loggia. It used to house a food market. But from a center of commerce this place turned into an institution of Themis.
In the Middle Ages, the palace of justice functioned here. The loggia was the platform from which the judges announced verdicts. Since 1860, the former chapel became a military commissariat and then a police station. Even now you can see old barracks on the ground floor.
WITH The House of Adolphe, built in 1350, is one of the oldest buildings in Colmar. The upper half-timbered floors were built on later, but the lower part with interlocking arched windows is a real fragment of the 14th century. 
The Adolf family, who lived in the building, ordered the Gothic windows to be redone. This cultural value did not reach subsequent generations. Opposite the building there is a mystical-looking well from 1952, decorated with sculptures of lion heads.
Nearby is the Pfister House, reminiscent of a fortress from a fairy tale illustration due to its gloomy design, spiral staircase, octagonal tower, and long wooden balcony. The fabulous effect is enhanced by the frescoes painted on part of the façade: biblical motifs, allegories, and typically secular Renaissance scenes.
Images and paintings make the wall a decorative monument. The word "Pfister" in German means "baker", but the first owner of the building was the wealthy hatmaker Scherer.
The House of the Knights of St. John is reminiscent of Venetian palaces. Tourists like to photograph the arched galleries, statues and bas-reliefs of the attraction. The building was built at the beginning of the 17th century, but later reconstructed. The name of the building can be misleading. The building is not associated with the Christian organization of the Johannites. The origin of the house's name remains a mystery.
Monuments
Colmar (France), whose attractions are known throughout the world, also became famous thanks to some natives. In 1886, the official unveiling of the Statue of Liberty took place. The masterpiece was created by Auguste Bartholdi, born in Colmar.
The sculptor is not forgotten in his homeland, and a monument to him was erected on Poincaré Avenue. The master is depicted in the process of creating a model of the Statue of Liberty, the original version of which reaches 46 m. Its full name is “Liberty Enlightening the World.”
A small copy of Bartholdi’s famous creation was erected on a hill near Colmar airport. All elements of the original are brilliantly repeated: a torch, a crown, a tablet, a tunic on a proud woman. In comparison with the colossal figure that has become a symbol of the United States, the Colmar monument is 4 times lower. 
Bartholdi created a monument to General Rapp, a devotee of Napoleon. The work is installed in Colmar. The military's strategic decisions ensured many victories for the fighters of his homeland. During his lifetime, the hero of the monument received the nickname “Fearless.” Managed to prevent an assassination attempt on the emperor.
Another famous work by Bartholdi is a monument to the mathematician and physicist Hearn. The scientist's research contributed to the evolution of industrial technology and the improvement of the steam engine. The intellectual created works important for the development of thermodynamics.
The statue of Martin Schongauer is dedicated to the artist and engraver born in Colmar. You can appreciate an example of his outstanding work in the Dominican Church, which is decorated with the altar “Madonna in the Arbor of Roses.”
Religious sites
The Church of St. Martin is the center of Cathedral Square and one of the symbols of the city. The history of the temple begins in the 11th century, when Benedict monks erected a modest-sized chapel.
The growing religious site was rebuilt until the 14th century from sandstone mined in the vicinity of Colmar. Inside the building, tourists can admire sculptures of biblical characters, saints, bishops and mythical creatures.
The Protestant Church of St. Matthew is located 150 meters from the Church of St. Martin. The temple is made in a strict Gothic style. It belonged to the Franciscans, later became the property of Protestants, and in 1727 it went to the Jesuits. IN
During the Middle Ages, local monks died en masse from a plague epidemic. Nowadays, musical concerts are often held in the restored cathedral. Thanks to the unique acoustics of the building, the instruments sound especially soulful. 
The decoration of the Dominican Square is the Dominican Church. The foundation of the cathedral was laid in the 13th century by brothers from the Dominican order. After the French Revolution, the church was used as a barracks and granary. Later the cult status of the building was returned.
At night the temple looks especially beautiful due to the multi-colored lighting. Parishioners can see colored stained glass windows from the 14th-15th centuries depicting saints. At Christmas, holiday markets are held in front of the church.
The Colmar Synagogue, built in the 19th century, is memorable for its elaborate stained glass windows, the understated beauty of white tones and the bell tower. At the attraction you can see signs telling in French about the tragic history of the local Jewish community.
St. Peter's Chapel looks especially impressive in the summer, when the trees and well-groomed shrubs of the courtyard surround it. In the 10th century, on the site of the reddish cathedral with a green dome, there was a small church of the Benedict Abbey. On its basis, a Romanesque temple with 2 towers was erected.
And in the 19th century, the Jesuit chapel of St. Peter appeared, remaining unchanged. Every year the chapel hosts classical music concerts.
Museums
The Unterlinden Art Museum is housed in a former monastery and houses a collection of religious art. The institution receives 200 thousand visitors annually. The main treasure of the museum is considered to be the Isenheim Altarpiece of Grunewald, the central scene of which is the drama of the crucifixion of Christ.
The museum displays examples of medieval graphics, sculpture, painting, furniture, musical instruments, and folk crafts. Among the exhibits there are paintings by modern impressionists. 
Bartholdi Museum on Rue Marchand dedicated to the sculptor who created the Statue of Liberty. The memorial is located in the house where the family of the famous native of Colmar lived. The exhibition presents the master's personal belongings, sketches of works, photographs, documents, and books.
The third floor houses exhibits dedicated to the creation of the Statue of Liberty. Near the entrance to the mansion there is a sculpture by Bertoldi “The Great Foundations of the World” with symbols of freedom, justice and patriotism. The museum is closed for part of the winter period.
The Natural History Museum has various sections. Part of the exhibition contains plants, including examples of “extinct” species. Another room became a repository of minerals and rocks characteristic of Colmar, and interesting archaeological finds.
The bones of mammoths especially attract attention. The zoological department reveals details of the structure, origin and life of various animals. For connoisseurs of ancient cultures, the museum contains products from peoples from all over the world: from Polynesia to Ethiopia.
The Memorial Museum of the Battle of the "Sack of Colmar" will help to further understand the history of Colmar. Visitors are presented with exhibits on the theme of the American-French operation against the Nazis in the winter of 1945, as a result of which the Allies defeated the fascist forces concentrated in the Colmar area.
Figures of fighters in reconstructions of battle scenes, models of rifles, uniforms, personal belongings of soldiers, photographs and letters will tell about the bloody winter.
The artist Jean-Jacques Waltz took the pseudonym Annecy. He was born in Colmar and became famous for his satirical paintings and illustrations. The author's works ridiculed the German troops that occupied France in the 1870s. Some of Annecy's works are of a serious nature and are devoted to French folklore and everyday life. 
And the signs of his authorship still decorate Colmar, complementing the atmosphere of the ancient streets. The museum exhibits examples of the patriotic master's art, which will help to better understand the culture of France. After viewing the exhibition, tourists often go to the souvenir shop in the museum.
The most interesting and unusual places in Colmar
Colmar (France), whose sights are bestowed with the epithets “ancient” and “elegant”, is also remembered by guests of the city for its unusual buildings.
The most famous building on Head Street is the House of Heads. More than 400 years ago, this beautiful building in the German Renaissance style was erected for a wealthy merchant. The facade of the architectural building is decorated with sculptures of grimacing grotesque faces (there are more than a hundred of them). 
They express joy, fear, sadness, anger. The statue of a jester with goat paws stands out. On the pediment there is a figure of a cooper, reminiscent of the fact that the building housed a wine shop.
In the center of the city is the calling card of Colmar - the fabulous Little Venice quarter. The area is crossed by canals and decorated with half-timbered houses. Gondolas with tourists and guides telling about the surrounding area slowly float by.
“Little Venice” is adjacent to two areas with an unromantic past - one used to be inhabited by fishermen, the other by tanners. The restored and ennobled copy of Venice looks attractive to tourists.
The tanners' quarter stretches along the banks of the Herberbach canal. The half-timbered houses in the area date back to the 17th-18th centuries. In the past, only tanners lived here. The ventilation systems of buildings are equipped so that it is convenient for artisans to dry their products, and to ventilate rooms from unpleasant odors.
And the proximity of the channel facilitated the process of washing the skin. The unusual quarter is included in the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List.
The Guntzburger House is a striking part of a group of colorful half-timbered buildings on Cathedral Square. In the 18th century, the ancient building belonged to the son of a wealthy Strasbourg haberdasher. The yellow walls of the mansion are intersected with architectural patterns characteristic of the half-timbered style, and the reddish windows make the architectural monument even brighter. 
On Torgovaya Street, near Pfister’s house, the green House “At the Collar” attracts attention. Its main feature is the colorful and realistic sculpture of 1609 at the corner of the wall junction. The bearded man in ancient costume depicted in the work is a Renaissance cloth merchant.
Where to go with a child in Colmar
First of all, Colmar is interesting for its historical buildings and museums. There are no large water parks, aquariums, amusement parks or interactive tech exhibits to keep children engaged. 
In addition to restaurants with local sweets, you can go to the toy museum with your child. The building on Rue Vauban displays thousands of exhibits. The stands feature replicas of trains, dolls, plush animals, fairy-tale characters, mechanical toys, and firefighting equipment. Cinderella's carriage is parked at the entrance.
A separate stand is dedicated to the Barbie doll. The museum often hosts temporary thematic exhibitions.
Shopping
Near Little Venice, in an ancient building, there is an indoor market with a large selection of vegetables, fruits, seafood, local cheeses and sausages. The object is decorated with a fountain with a statue of a winemaker. Near the structure there is a pier where you can rent a boat for an excursion. On the territory of the market there is a cafe with Colmar wines and souvenir shops.
Another good place to pick up souvenirs is the Au vieux Pignon store. You don’t even have to make a purchase, but simply admire the old house with purple windows where the store is located as a landmark. 
Real French chocolate can be purchased at pleasant confectioneries “Chocolaterie Ganache” or “Grimmer Artisan Chocolatier”. Local meat products should be purchased at the Siegmann store.
What to see in Colmar in 1 day
Visiting Colmar for the day is a common phenomenon among tourists. Their route is usually the same and, taking into account visits to cafes and souvenir shops, continues until the evening.
- It’s best to start exploring the city from Cathedral Square, where you can see St. Martin’s Cathedral.
- It is recommended to see the nearby houses of Adolf and Pfister.
- Next you should get acquainted with the kingdom of half-timbered houses in the tanners' quarter.
- Then move on to the obligatory point of the program - “Little Venice”.
What to see in Colmar in 2-3 days
There are tourists who stay in the city for New Year's events or summer festivals.
Winter tourism
At Christmas, the houses and trees of Colmar light up with thousands of colored lights and figures of snowmen. Spruce trees decorated with toys are everywhere in the city. Skating rinks and Christmas markets open in the city center a month before the New Year holidays.
Christmas souvenirs attract attention on store shelves. The air is filled with the smell of chocolate and mulled wine.
The space around the perimeter of the canals and the railings of the bridges are illuminated with festive lights. December and early January is the peak season for Colmar's tourism industry.
What to bring from Colmar
Colmar will appeal to those interested in historical sites, quality wines, delicious food, educational museums, leisurely strolls, the beauty of rivers and the sophistication of the language of France.
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The town of Colmar in northern France is considered the “pearl” of the region, thanks to its unusual “gingerbread” architecture, numerous canals reminiscent of Venice, and the annual Christmas markets held here. On Christmas Eve, Colmar becomes a center of attraction for tourists from all over the world who want to be in a festive fairy tale. Colmar is considered one of the most visited cities in the Alsace region, along with neighboring Strasbourg.
How to get to Colmar
Geographically, Colmar is located in the north of France, on the border with Germany and Switzerland. Colmar does not have an airport, so you can get here from nearby cities in Germany or Switzerland, as well as from Paris and Strasbourg. For example, the distance between Colmar and German Baden-Baden is 130 km, between Colmar and Swiss Basel – 65 km, between Colmar and Zurich – 150 km, between Colmar and Strasbourg – 70 km, between Colmar and Paris – 500 km.
There are well-established transport links between the cities, so even from the most remote point - Paris - you can get to Colmar in about 3 hours. Regular buses, high-speed and regional trains run between the cities, and it is also possible to rent a car for independent travel.
Moscow — Colmar
The closest arrival airports to Colmar are located in Basel, Zurich, Baden-Baden, and the international arrival airports of Paris are located a little further away. There are direct flights to Zurich and Baden-Baden from Moscow, and flights to Baden-Baden Airport are operated by the low-cost company Pobeda. There are also many direct flights to Paris daily from Moscow and St. Petersburg. From other Russian cities, a transfer is required in Moscow. You can check flight schedules for specific dates and buy tickets online on various search services, such as Aviasales , Buruki and others that search all airlines at once.
Then from the listed airports you can get to Colmar by public transport, taxi/transfer or by rented car. In the latter case, to register a rental car you will need a foreign passport, an international driver's license and a bank card to pay for services and block the deposit.
Tobias Nordhausen/Canals of Colmar
Paris - Colmar
Colmar is located 500 km north of Paris; you can get to the city from the French capital by public transport (bus, train), as well as by rented car.
Direct high-speed trains run between Paris and Colmar; travel time is about 2.5 hours. Trains depart from Paris Gare de l`Est three times a day - morning, afternoon and evening. There are also flights with transfers in Dijon or Strasbourg. You can check the train schedule from Paris to Colmar at the railway service . There you can also buy tickets online in advance. You can also purchase tickets on site at the railway station ticket office.
You can get away a little cheaper by bus. There is a night bus service between Paris and Colmar operated by Flixbus. Travel time will be approximately 8 hours 40 minutes. The flight is direct and convenient because it arrives in Colmar in the morning. You can check the schedule and fare on the carrier’s website. .
In addition, at Paris airports, as well as in city offices, you can rent a car for traveling around France. This option is suitable for those who prefer to travel independently and not be tied to public transport schedules. You can book the desired class of car in advance through specialized services. , and others similar. Paris and Colmar are connected by the A4 highway, which passes through Reims. Approximate travel time will be 5.5 hours. Please note that there are toll roads along the route.
Naval S/Colmar houses Strasbourg - Colmar
When traveling through northern France, travelers often combine visits to Strasbourg and Colmar, two of the most picturesque towns in the region. There are train and bus connections between the cities, so tourists do not have any problems with movement. Trains from Strasbourg to Colmar run throughout the day, twice every hour. Travel time is about half an hour. You can check the train schedule from Paris to Colmar at the railway service .
It is also possible to travel by bus, although the number of trips is significantly less than by train. Transportation is carried out and Isilines. Travel time is about 1 hour.
If you are traveling from Strasbourg to Colmar by car, you should stick to the A35 highway, this is the fastest route. Travel time will be about 50 minutes.
Jorge Franganillo/Christmas Colmar Baden-Baden - Colmar
From Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport you can directly get to Colmar only by taxi/transfer or by renting a car. From Baden-Baden railway station you can go to Colmar by train, but you will need several small changes in Offenburg and Strasbourg. The total travel time, including transfers, will be about 2 hours. You can check the schedule and purchase tickets online at the railway service
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If necessary, you can get from Baden-Baden to Colmar by taxi or transfer. This option is convenient for those who travel with a lot of luggage or, for example, with small children. You can find a taxi on the spot. In addition, you can book a car with transfer in advance. For this, there are specialized international services, such as , and others. Travel time will be approximately 1.5 hours.
If you travel by personal car, then you should stick to highway No. A5 or A35, these are the fastest options to get there. Travel time will be approximately 1.5 hours. Please note that route No. A35 runs through Strasbourg.
Alexandre Prévot/Little Venice Quarter Colmar Hotels
Colmar is considered a popular tourist destination in France and therefore has a wide variety of accommodation options. You can stay in Colmar in hotels of various star categories, apartments, bed and breakfasts, and vacation homes. The historic center of Colmar is quite compact, so by staying here you will be within walking distance of all the city's attractions. High ratings from tourists on Booking.com received the following hotels in Colmar:
Yann Caradec/Festive Colmar We will be happy to answer your questions in the comments!
On note:
When going on a trip to France, do not forget to take out a travel insurance policy, which is mandatory already at the stage of obtaining a tourist visa. You can take out insurance yourself without leaving your home. There are special services for this, such as , and others. You can purchase a policy online and then print it on a regular printer.
Photo at the beginning of the article: Jorge Franganillo
Colmar is the pearl in the necklace of the smallest French province of Alsace. Small but amazing. Alsace has chosen a cozy place between the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine. Every city or village here is like a frozen medieval picture. Such small towns now attract our family when traveling more than capitals and popular attractions. Maybe because here you are more naturally in touch with the everyday life of local townspeople. You don’t feel like you’re part of a single city-wide excursion in a crowd of tourists, like, for example, in Paris. Although there are plenty of them in Colmar too. But here the tourist flow is of a different nature: not stormy, but smooth, not rushed and not nervous. Corresponds to the calm, relaxed atmosphere of the province.
Advice: Go for a walk early in the morning, before ten o’clock. At this time there are fewer tourists than in the photo below, and you can be alone with the beautiful city. And it’s easier to take pictures.
Colmar how to get there?
We drove by car through Strasbourg (65 km from Colmar).
By public transport you can reach:
From Paris by TGV (high speed train): about 3 hours. Previously, they departed 3 times a day.
From Strasbourg - by TGV or TER (regional trains): approximately half an hour, more than 20 departures daily.
Attention: if you need a hotel, it is better to make a reservation in advance. We didn't initially plan to spend the night in Colmar, so we didn't book a room. But when we read about the city on the way, I wanted to stay here. We called hotels as we approached in the evening. It is unknown what happened in these places at the end of May - beginning of June. Maybe just the beginning of the tourist season, or more likely - some kind of event. But all the hotels in the city with a population of about 90 thousand people were full. We had to stop in nearby Neuf-Brisach.
The city of Colmar France: a little history
It is common to the history of the entire Alsace, which passed from France to Germany many times and last became French only as a result of the Second World War. Therefore, the place names here are entirely German, and many residents are bilingual: they speak French and, at the same time, a German dialect. “Signature” Alsatian dishes are choucroute (from the German “sauer kraut” - sour cabbage), a very tasty pie “kugelkopf” - “spherical head”. However, this is not Germany, but a French region, but a very unique one, with its own unique charm.
One of the names of Colmar is “little Venice”. Let the photographs tell you why.
The charm of the half-timbered houses, already elegant, but also decorated with the obligatory floral design for France, “antique” signs... And also the favorite decoration of the Colmarians, and Alsatians in general, are storks. There are many of them here, both sculpted and living. For this symbol of Alsace, a metal nest was even installed on the roof of the main cathedral of Colmar. Previously, the present was traditionally located there, but for some reason it disappeared. But the birds, surprisingly, did not refuse to settle in the metal house.
We stopped for lunch at the Chez Hansi restaurant. The waiters are in traditional Alsatian costumes, the food is delicious and there is a lot of it With an average appetite, one serving is enough for two. The question of which drink to prefer is not worth it: do not forget that Colmar lies on the famous Alsatian “Wine Road”.
The city center has hardly been rebuilt since the 17th century. Therefore, Colmar has many beautiful or quaint buildings with their own history. The most popular of them is “House with Heads” (or “House of Heads”, “House of a Hundred Heads”). The pediment of a Renaissance-style house is striking due to its unusual decorations. This is a multitude, more than a hundred, of grotesque human heads and faces, with different expressions, sometimes comical, sometimes fearsome. On the arched portal, three gargoyles greet all visitors entering the courtyard.
The house was built in 1609, but it is crowned with an “Alsatian cooper” on the roof - the work of the sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, who lived in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The master was born in Colmar, so here you can see many more sculptures created by him. But the most famous of them is the Statue of Liberty in New York. The city gave the world other well-known names: for example, Jean Rapp, Napoleon's first adjutant, who twice saved his life, known for his unparalleled bravery. Well, we are more familiar and close to another native of Colmar, Patricia Kaas...
This is a large, somewhat heavy, but at the same time such an elegant building - the Old Customs House, built in 1480. There were once warehouses on the ground floor. Merchants brought goods there and paid customs duties in order to obtain permission to trade. The magistrate's meetings were held on the second floor. Well, today the commercial profile of the building has been preserved: a supermarket has been installed in it. Next to the Old Customs House there is a church in which the first Protestant service in the city was held here in 1575. And in the mausoleum of the church lies the heart of the brave man Jean Rapp, mentioned above.
The narrow streets of the Old Town seem even narrower due to the wave of tourists flowing through them. But that's their beauty. Thanks to their beautiful architectural frame, they do not squeeze or narrow the space around, but seem to hug you. They take you from the modern world inside their sweet patriarchal picture. Like in this photo, where on the left is the “Pfister House”, a Renaissance building from 1537. The lower floor is entirely made of stone - Reffah sandstone. Arcades make the building openwork and elegant. The top floor is decorated with a wooden gallery with many paintings.
City of Colmar photo Pfister House
The main cathedral of the city - the Church of St. Martin - seemed not very expressive compared to other architectural masterpieces. For some reason, the building of impressive size, built in the 13th-14th centuries, did not inspire admiration. Perhaps we were simply already spoiled by the beautiful Strasbourg Cathedral, which you will read about in further blog posts.
Have you ever heard of Colmar (France)? The sights of this seemingly inconspicuous town will open up a new Europe to you. This is the beauty of the Middle Ages, almost untouched by modern civilization. Go?
Colmar is a picturesque fairy tale city near Strasbourg. Colmar began its existence in the 8th century BC.
The main feature of the town are the brightly colorful houses, which, like mushrooms from a cartoon, are located along the winding streets. Here you will see:
- amazing buildings Kpfaus Golov and Pfister;
- the monasteries of Saint-Anton, Saint-Matheo and Saint-Martin;
- museums Bartoldini and Unterlinden.
Pfister House
The Pfister House is an architectural symbol of the city. The Pfister House was built back in the 16th century under the leadership of Louis Scherer. The structure is made of stone and wood in the Renaissance style.
The facade of the building is equipped with frescoes depicting German emperors of the time, as well as evangelists and scenes from the Holy Bible. In general, the building, both inside and outside, is decorated with bourgeois chic from the time of Pfister’s own existence. Now an elite wine store has been opened inside the building, where you can both purchase and taste the drink.
Quarter "Little Venice"
The picturesque pride of Colmar is the quarter with the romantic name “Little Venice”. The Loche River flows through the entire quarter, over which an indefinite number of bridges have been built, which, in turn, gives every right to compare the quarter with the great Venice. And the gondolas constantly scurrying along the water channels add a magical mood to the residents of the quarter.
The area is built up with fabulous half-timbered houses and restaurant terraces. The most picturesque view can be seen from the bridges, one of which is located on the square of the six black mountains, and the second is built on Saint-Pierre Boulevard.
Kozhevnikov Quarter
The Kozhevnikov Quarter is an interesting place in Alsace, formed in the 17th - 18th centuries.
The quarter received this name because artisans who produced leather goods used to live here. The houses in this area are built according to a unique plan, and have special facilities for drying leather goods.
The quarter is located an hour's drive from the center of Colmar, along the Gerberbach Canal, and is built up with narrow and high residential premises. The attraction was restored in the 1970s.
Covered market of Colmar
In the 19th century, according to the design of the famous Alsatian architect L.-M. Bolz, the Covered Market was built, which stands on the Loches River in the Tanners' Quarter.
Previously, traders reached the central entrance exclusively by boats. The building itself was built from a metal frame with cast iron columns. There are many similar bazaars in France, but this one is especially cozy. Here you can buy clothes and French delicacies. The market is ready to receive visitors from Tuesday to Saturday inclusive.
Church of St. Martina
The Church of St. Martin was built in the 14th century, according to the design of the greatest architect G. Marburg. Initially, all the clergy lived within the walls of the temple along with the bishop.
Today, the Church of St. Martin is the largest Catholic house of worship in the Upper Rhine. The walls of the temple are decorated with sculptures, and the roof is equipped with multi-colored tiles. In the middle of the temple there is an altar, ancient organs, a sculpture of the Mother of God and stained glass windows.
House of Heads
The House of Heads is an architectural structure in the style of the German Renaissance. The facade of the building is equipped with sculptures in the form of human heads and masks, there are 111 of them in total.
Looking at the structure, you can see human emotions that only we can have.
The pediment of the building is decorated with a sculpture of a cooper made of tin, which indicates the existence of a wine exchange. Today, a restaurant and hotel are actively operating within the non-standard walls of the House of Heads.
That's all we wanted to tell you about Colmar (France). The sights of the town do not end there, there is also the Old Customs House, the Wood Museum, the Swan Pharmacy, but it is quite possible to see all the beauties of the city in one day. Try it.
