Colmar France is in the Grand Est region of northeastern France, near the border with Germany. The city saw an explosion of growth in the 16th century as the primary merchant and shipping center for Alsatian wines. Today it continues to be the capital of Alsace wines. But more on that in our related blog on the Alsace Wine Road.

Colmar’s Lovely Historic District

Don’t underestimate the amount of time needed to explore this charming city. Its large, well-preserved 15th- and 16th-century historic district is filled with cobblestone streets and lined with half-timbered medieval and early Renaissance buildings that beg to be explored. The Little Venice area is laced with lovely canals along which dozens of small, gondola-like flat-bottom boats take customers on 25-minute tours. Then there are the equally crowded train-like vehicles that crisscross the streets of the significant historic district that stretches from downtown to Little Venice.

Exploring on Foot

We skipped these tours in favor of exploring the city’s historic delights on foot. Historical markers identify and talk about many of its most scenic and historic sites.

The central shopping district is lined with lovely half-timbered houses and sights including the Town Hall and a museum dedicated to native son Auguste Bartholdi, designer of the Statue of Liberty (a roughly half-sized model graces one of the city’s traffic circles).

The sights continue through the restored Tanner’s District village, complete with roof side hooks that were used to dry skins. Stop in at the small but pleasant 19th-century Covered Market food market and stroll by the majestic 15^th-century Customs House (aka The Koifus) which has been recycled into a crafts market.

Nearby is the imposing, Gothic-style Eglise Saint-Martin which was constructed between the early 14^th and 15^th centuries and is surrounded by 16^th-and 17^th-century buildings including the 1606 “Ancient Protestant” built to house Protestant ministers.

This took us to the edge of the charming, canal-laced Little Venice where a community of farmers and winemakers who needed easy access to the canals resided. It was named not only for the canals but also for the historic homes built on their banks. The ever-crowded boat tours depart from here.

Colmar Restaurant

Sometimes things don’t go as planned. We had reservations at L’Atelier du Peintre. This was the second Michelin-starred restaurant at which our reservations were canceled due to unforeseen problems: Tain-Hermitage’s  Maison Gambert (due to fire) and Atelier (due to water).  On to making lemonade. Fortunately, we were able to get a reservation at a very credible Colmar substitute.

Aux Trois Poissons (Three Fish) is a seafood restaurant across a canal from the Covered Market. Our very good meal consisted of crab with guacamole and salsa, sautéed frog legs with garlic butter, sautéed char with chanterelles, and a bottle of 2020 Trimbach Riesling Reserve. Sometimes things do work out.