Colmar - The Complete Guide to Visiting the Wine Capital of Alsace

Colmar, Alsace's Unspoilt Jewel

With 70,000 inhabitants, Colmar is the third largest city in Alsace but the first in terms of tourist appeal after Strasbourg. Spared by the bombing of the Second World War, it has preserved an exceptionally rich historic centre: more than 200 half-timbered houses dating from the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries line its streets, forming an architectural ensemble unique in France.

The city is also the natural starting point of the Alsace Wine Route, which stretches northward for nearly 170 kilometres to Marlenheim. It is here that the famous Colmar Wine Fair is held every summer, the largest wine event in France.

Little Venice, the Tanners' Quarter and the Grand Rue

The Little Venice district is Colmar's most photographed neighbourhood. Its canals lined with flower-decked houses, boats and bridges make it a romantic and unique place in Alsace. Nearby, the Tanners' Quarter features tall houses with dormer roofs where hides were once hung to dry. The Grand Rue and Rue des Marchands are home to the finest Renaissance buildings, including the famous Pfister House (1537), decorated with painted medallions and loggias.

The Place de l'Ancienne Douane, lively all year round, is the beating heart of the old town. This is where markets, concerts and one of the most popular Christmas markets in Alsace take place.

The Unterlinden Museum and the Isenheim Altarpiece

The Unterlinden Museum is one of the most visited museums in France outside Paris, with more than 250,000 visitors per year. It houses the Isenheim Altarpiece, a masterpiece by Matthias Grünewald painted between 1512 and 1516, considered one of the greatest works of Western painting. This monumental polyptych, commissioned by Antonite monks to treat the sick, impresses with its emotional power and anatomical precision.

The museum also features a collection of Rhenish medieval art, Impressionist works and a contemporary wing opened in 2016 in a converted Art Deco swimming pool.

Bartholdi, Son of Colmar and Sculptor of Liberty

Few visitors know it: Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty gifted to the United States in 1886, was born in Colmar in 1834. The city honours him with the Bartholdi Museum in his birthplace on the Rue des Marchands and a replica of the statue in the square that bears his name. An unexpected cultural detour in the heart of Alsace.

Colmar and the Wines of Alsace

Colmar is surrounded by vineyards ranked among the finest in Europe. Just a few kilometres away, the villages of Turckheim, Wintzenheim, Ingersheim and Eguisheim (listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France) offer open cellars and tastings. The Hengst, Brand and Goldert Grands Crus are among the most renowned terroirs in the region.

To bring home an authentic Alsatian wine, favour independent wine estates. Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Crémant d'Alsace are the four grape varieties not to be missed.

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Colmar sparkling decorative magnet

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Pfister Colmar decorative spinning magnet

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Alsatian Little Venice of Colmar decorative magnet

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Souvenirs to Bring Back from Colmar

Colmar is full of shops selling Alsatian souvenirs, but quality varies greatly. To be sure of bringing home an authentic product, favour items made in Alsace: Soufflenheim pottery, wine glasses marked with grape varieties, mouth-blown Christmas baubles, embroidered table linen and vacuum-packed specialities such as Munster AOP or prepared sauerkraut.

Alsatian houses

Pfister House in Colmar in Resin

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Alsace Wine Glass and Decanter

Colmar Alsace Wine Jug 1 litre

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Stork key ring in Colmar nest and Strass

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Visiting Colmar: Practical Tips

Colmar is best explored on foot. The historic centre is entirely pedestrianised and can be covered in two to three hours for a quick visit, or a full day for a thorough exploration including museums. Paid car parks are numerous on the immediate outskirts of the centre.

The best time to visit is spring (May-June) for the flower-decked houses and mild temperatures, and December for the Christmas markets. Summer is peak season: large crowds, hotel reservations essential several weeks in advance. By train, Colmar is accessible from Strasbourg in 25 minutes, from Paris in 2h20 via the TGV, and from Basel in 45 minutes.

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Decorative Magnet Boat Trip on Little Venice in Colmar

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Decorative Magnet La Petite Venise Touristique in Colmar

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Decorative Magnet Little Venice in Colmar

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Colmar in Every Season

Each season shows Colmar in a different light. In spring, window boxes of geraniums burst with colour on half-timbered facades. In summer, the Little Venice terrace and festivals bring the city to life. In autumn, the surrounding vineyards turn red and gold. In winter, Colmar transforms into a fairy-tale setting: five distinct Christmas markets in different historic neighbourhoods make the city one of Europe's Advent capitals.

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Postcard Hansi in the House of Colmar Martin Schongauer

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Decorative Magnet Colmar the Quai des Poissonniers silvered and glittering

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Panoramic Magnet in relief The Little Venice of Colmar

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