Today we will introduce to you this little town, which truly resembles the ones from the Disney fairytales. That’s why we are almost 100% sure that the Christmas weekend in Colmar may be perfect for you too.
©flickr.com/Naval S
Discover Colmar
Nestled among vineyards, its traditional houses, canals, floral displays, fantastic cuisine, famous wines, and charming accommodation make Colmar a wonderful microcosm of Alsace. More importantly, showcasing its lifestyle, friendliness, and hospitality are vital features of its unique, exceptional welcome.
The capital of the Alsacian wines, situated near Germany and Switzerland, offers visitors an exciting glimpse of 1000 years of European history.
Wonderfully preserved from the ravages of time, its homogenous historical center is classed as a ‘protected area’ and has benefited from careful restoration and ongoing improvements for more than 20 years.
Furthermore, Colmar will also delight you with the quality of its shops and boutiques that will allow you to bring a small part of Alsace back with you in your luggage! In every street of the historic center, you will find shops upon shops offering “made in Alsace” products: food, table accents, textiles, déco, accessories, soft furnishings…
What to see and what to do in Colmar
As Colmar was the last town to be freed after the Second World War, the German influence is very noticeable in most of the buildings in the older part of town, with many of them incredibly well preserved and painted in bright colors.
The entire Alsace region changed nationalities between French and German throughout history, so the unique blend of architecture is the biggest drawcard for many visitors to see this colorful, idyllic town. Be sure to wander the streets and make the small canals a focal point, as this is without a doubt the most picturesque part of town. There are also many great alleyways and narrow streets to meander, filled with local souvenirs, pastries, and antiques.
Without a doubt, the canal boat trip (in “Little Venice”) is one of the most iconic things to do in Colmar. The short boat trip is a great way to see the city from the water and is popular during summer, so better to do it early in the day. Since the town is small, you can also do a walking tour, which will for sure turn out to be the walking tour of pleasure.
Another great activity, if you have more than one day in Colmar, is to rent a bicycle and ride part of the Alsatian wine route.
Let’s get to our list, shall we?
©flickr/johaeringer
Explore Little Venice
Little Venice or “La petite Venice” is the most picturesque quarter. With its gorgeous colorful timbered houses lined along the canal, it is the most romantic place to take pictures and enjoy the beauty of Colmar. Naturally, it is called Little Venice because of the channels that run through the town. You can have lunch or dinner at one of the cafes along the canal. The outside seating areas are over the water, making it perfect for a very romantic dinner. And lastly, you can take a boat ride through the channels and take in the best views of the village from the water.
Stroll around the Colmar Old Town
Firstly this little old town also has many attractions and an undeniable charm to offer. Therefore it would be impossible to visit them all in just one weekend.
However, walking down the streets of Colmar should pretty much cover it all. Even more, it would make you feel like you have entered some Disney fairytale village. Isn’t this the best feeling?
Pfister House (Maison Pfister), ©planetofhotels.com
Pfister House
This splendid building is almost 500 years old and holds much of Colmar’s artistic history both on and inside its walls. The paintings are all depicted on the walls of this perfectly built house.
We recommend strolling down Rue des Marchands street, the house, and stepping outside to get some fantastic photos of the decorated facade.
Unfortunately, the house is not open to the public, but the view is the best from outside, anyway.
Take a picture in front of Colmar’s beauty and the beast fountain
It is believed that Colmar was one of the cute French villages that inspired the movie “Beauty and the Beast.” This fountain surrounded by colorful, timbered houses looks like the one in the film.
Okay, it’s not called the Beauty and the Beast fountain, but we will call it that. It’s called the Roesselmann Fountain and is surrounded by pretty half-timbered buildings in a picturesque square.
The Roesselmann Fountain in Colmar, ©dreamstine.com/Mikecphoto
Colmar Christmas Markets
One of the best times to visit the town, if you don’t mind the crowds, is in December, when all the center is decorated with the lights, and you get the feeling that you are in some Disney movie. Because of us, it is one of the finest Xmas markets in a whole in Europe. Therefore, we strongly recommend the visit.
©Instagram.com/traipseee
©instagram.com/lovetsvoron
Explore the Alsace wine route
For years, one of our favorite wine regions, the Alsace, produces primarily white wines: Reisling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Muscat. So hop on the bike and visit some of its top wineries.
Just seven kilometers away, a leisurely bike ride (rent a bike at the Colmar train station) will deposit you in the town of Eguisheim. This little wine town was named France’s favorite town in 2013, and it’s easy to see why when you stroll its circular path. With just 1500 people, it has 33 wineries, most of which you can easily pop into for a free tasting. And if you still don’t have enough of this fairytale region, take a day trip to some nearby towns along the Alsace wine route.
Alsace Wine Route, ©visitfrenchwine.com
What to Eat or Drink in Colmar
A perfect marriage of French and German cuisine, here’s a few things that you can expect to find on the menus of Colmar’s restaurants.
Tarte Flambée
This is an “Alsace Pizza,” with cream ham and cheese topping a wafer-thin flatbread.
Bæckeoffe
It is a slow-cooked casserole of sliced potato, onions, mutton, beef, and pork.
Choucroure Garnie
This is wine-braised sauerkraut, cured pork, and sausages, flavored with juniper berries, garlic, and cloves.
Alsace Wine
One of my favorite wine regions for some years, the Alsace produces primarily white wines: Reisling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Muscat. However, I also tried an Alsace Pinot Noir – a perfect pairing with a slice of Tarte Flambée – which was excellent.
Where to Stay in Colmar
This 4-star hotel is located in the picturesque quarter of Colmar, known as Little Venice. Hostellerie Le Maréchal is set on the canal and is 701 m from Colmar Christmas Market – Place des Dominicains.
Set in Colmar and only 1.7km from Saint-Martin Collegiate Church, Cozy and You offer accommodations with city views, free WiFi, and free private parking.
The hotel offers accommodation in Colmar, on the Alsation Wine Route. Furthermore, it provides a contemporary and modern decoration style. Private parking is available on site.
When to see the Colmar?
Colmar is a year-round destination, and the best time to visit will depend on what you would like to do there (and your tolerance for crowds!).
- The quieter months are January / February and early to mid-November.
- At the end of November, Colmar becomes a lot busier with the arrival of its famous Christmas markets, which are open until the end of December.
In 2021, Colmar’s Christmas markets will run from 26th November to 29th December.
There’s not a wrong time for visiting Colmar. Firstly, summer is peak season, with average high temperatures of 24–26°C. In July, a series of festivals, including the Colmar International Festival and Alsace Wine Fair, which means the town gets bustling then. Therefore, expect crowds and consequently book accommodation well in advance.
Winter is cold, with average minimum temperatures below zero. Nevertheless, the Christmas markets mean late November and December are popular. January and February are much quieter, and you might get to see Petit Venice in the snow. Spring and autumn are pleasant, with highs from 16–20°C, though they can be rainy. If you’d like to see the Christmas spirit, you will have to share the town with many tourists. It is all up to you.
How to Get to Colmar
For European travelers
Colmar’s train station is handily located on the edge of the old town. Furthermore, the city has excellent train connections to French and other European cities. You might consider getting on the train with Interrail from Europe.
For intercontinental travelers
The nearest airport to Colmar is Basel (BSL). However, there are better options for getting to Colmar. The closest airports with intercontinental flights are Zurich, Stuttgart, and Frankfurt. Zurich is the most convenient with regular trains to Colmar.
And lastly, one can also consider Strassbourg International Airport, which is only 54 km away. Unfortunately, there aren’t so many flights as in Zurich.
Weekend in Colmar – The conclusion
So, how do or did you like the town? Furthermore, we’d like to know your impressions and your recommendation of this magnificent city. Let the debate begin in the comments below.
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