Colmar walking tour & city guide
A storybook town of colorful half-timbered houses in Alsace.
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Colmar looks like it was drawn for a fairy tale. This small town in Alsace, near the German border, has a beautifully preserved old center of brightly painted half-timbered houses, flower boxes and canals, and it is the capital of the Alsace wine region.
Little Venice and the old town
La Petite Venise, Little Venice, is Colmar's most famous corner: a stretch of the Lauch River lined with pastel houses, weeping willows and flowers. Small flat-bottomed boats offer short trips along the water.
Nearby, the Quai de la Poissonnerie, the old fishermen's quarter, and the Tanners' Quarter preserve some of the finest half-timbered buildings. The Maison des TĂȘtes, decorated with over a hundred carved faces, and the Maison Pfister, with its painted facade and wooden gallery, are architectural highlights.
Art and Christmas
The Unterlinden Museum, in a former convent, is home to the Isenheim Altarpiece, a powerful masterpiece of German Renaissance painting. Colmar was also the birthplace of Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty, and his house is now a museum.
In winter, Colmar becomes one of Europe's most beautiful Christmas destinations, with several markets spread across its squares and illuminated streets, as the walking tours show.
The Wine Route
Colmar is the perfect base for the Alsace Wine Route, a road through vineyards and medieval villages such as Riquewihr, Kaysersberg and Eguisheim. Strasbourg is just 30 minutes away by train, and Freiburg in Germany is close by.
Top sights in Colmar
- 1
La Petite Venise
Canals lined with colorful houses.
- 2
Unterlinden Museum
Home of the Isenheim Altarpiece.
- 3
Maison Pfister
A painted Renaissance house with a wooden gallery.
- 4
Maison des TĂȘtes
A facade decorated with over a hundred carved faces.
- 5
Quai de la Poissonnerie
The picturesque old fishermen's quarter.
- 6
Bartholdi Museum
The birthplace of the Statue of Liberty's sculptor.
Food markets & where to eat in Colmar
Marché Couvert
A 19th-century covered market by the canal.
Winstubs
Traditional Alsatian taverns with hearty dishes.
Little Venice terraces
Restaurants with canal views.
Wine Route villages
Tastings at family wineries nearby.
Food to try in Colmar
Baeckeoffe
A slow-baked stew of meats and potatoes in white wine.
Tarte flambée
A thin, crispy flatbread with cream and bacon.
Munster cheese
A strong, creamy cheese from the nearby valley.
GewĂŒrztraminer
An aromatic white wine from Alsace.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to Colmar
Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.
- Hotels in ColmarCompare places to stay and prices.
- Tours & ticketsWalking tours, museums and day trips in Colmar.
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