Colmar
Discover Colmar
Colmar is a city in Alsace, France. Colmar's old town is the main attraction if you come to Colmar. It is stunningly beautiful and well preserved. Alsace has changed nationalities many times in the course of history between France and Germany. Colmar has been French for most of its modern history, however its population used to be predominantly German. It was annexed to France after Germany lost World War I and during World War II Hitler reclaimed it. It was the last town in France to be liberated during World War II in Europe, on February 2, 1945. It is quite shocking to see photographs from the time with Nazi flags hanging through the streets.
What to Experience in Colmar
Taste of Colmar...
Alsace is known for its pastries. Kugelhopf is a well-known cake similar in shape to the American Bundt cake and has raisins with powdered sugar on top. You can buy traditional ceramic Kugelhopf pans in any tourist shop with recipes to make at home. During Easter, small cakes molding from lamb-shaped pans are made. They are served with a ribbon around their necks and topped generously with powdered sugar. Macarons are also found in specialty sweet shops and also in the frozen isle of the supermarket (try the Monoprix in the center of the town), which can be eaten straight from the box frozen. Note that they are not like American macaroons (coconut haystacks) but are the French version composed of two small, pastel colored cookies made from almond flour (which has a melt-in-your-mouth quality) with an icing in between. In sweet shops you will also find Meringues, made from whipped egg whites and sugar, dyed in pastel colours and then baked. Make sure to try the tarte aux poires, which is a pear tart with an eggy custard filling with baked pears. Tarte flambée (Flammekueche in Alsatian, or Flammkuchen in German) is the Alsatian equivalent of pizza, though extremely different. Traditionally, it is made of a thin layer of dough, covered with crème fraîche (rich sour cream), cheese, onions, and bacon (lardons in French). It is baked very quickly in an extremely hot oven so that it gets crispy.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsIf you arrive by plane you will probably use one of the closest airports: Euroairport at Basel (BSL) (with a variety of low cost flights) or Strasbourg (SXB). Other airports in the area are Baden Airport, Stuttgart, Zürich and Nancy. Colmar lies between Basel (French: Bâle) and Strasbourg. There is a direct train connection from both cities. 48.072517.346971 Colmar Train station, Place de la Gare. Please note that there is no luggage storage in the train station, nor anywhere else in town according to the Colmar Tourist Bureau. You might be able to ask a hostel or hotel to hold your luggage for a small fee. (updated Sep 2018) If you arrive from the German side, there is a bus leaving from Breisach (small border town in Germany), to which there is a direct train from Freiburg. Bus ride Breisach-Colmar takes 30-40 min, €4.3 (2018). The bus-stop is located directly in front of Breisach train station....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
All of Colmar's attractions are concentrated in its old town. For a medieval city, it is surprisingly big, but you can nonetheless get around on foot with no difficulty. You should allow yourself a day to stroll along Colmar's old streets and many many shops. Make sure to keep an eye out for dates painted onto the side of buildings. Some of the oldest date back to the 1300s. Wandering about Colmar's old streets is the best way to explore it. There is a variety of shops of different sorts. The Alsatian cuisine is also omnipresent (in restaurants as well as specialist stores). Most recommended is to buy clothes and shoes in Colmar. The variety is satisfactory and the prices lower than in neighbouring Germany, Switzerland and even Strasbourg. Apart from these, you can find typical crafts which can be bought as souvenirs. Notable is the typical Alsatian pottery.
Where to Stay
You can use it as your starting point for travels in Alsace.
Money & Budget
Most recommended is to buy clothes and shoes in Colmar. The variety is satisfactory and the prices lower than in neighbouring Germany, Switzerland and even Strasbourg. Apart from these, you can find typical crafts which can be bought as souvenirs. Notable is the typical Alsatian pottery. It comes in a coloured variety, usually blue, green or cream coloured, and decorated with motifs of storks (the regional bird) and flowers. Pottery is also available in a pale blue style, but this type has a stronger German influence. Typical wine glasses for the region are short glasses with green stems. Look for tablecloths, tinware and other such households reproduced with depictions of children and adults in typical Alsatian dress.
Safety Information
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Colmar
brown and white concrete buildings beside river under white clouds during daytime
Colmar is a town in the Grand Est region of northeastern France, near the border with Germany. Its old town has cobblestone streets lined with half-timbered medieval and early Renaissance buildings. One of the town’s many claims-to-fame is as the origin of the Statue of Liberty in New York. Heritage they are proud to show off wherever possible.
A beautiful bridge and picturesque houses in Colmar, Alsace
people walking on street near brown concrete building during daytime
brown buildings near river
Winter town
Pedal away
a river running through a city next to tall buildings
a crowd of people walking down a street next to tall buildings
a row of multicolored buildings with windows and shutters
brown and white concrete buildings beside river under white clouds during daytime
Colmar is a town in the Grand Est region of northeastern France, near the border with Germany. Its old town has cobblestone streets lined with half-timbered medieval and early Renaissance buildings. One of the town’s many claims-to-fame is as the origin of the Statue of Liberty in New York. Heritage they are proud to show off wherever possible.
A beautiful bridge and picturesque houses in Colmar, Alsace