In the post below: how to spend a day in Colmar: what shouldn’t be missed to visit, what Alsatian food to eat, and what local wine to drink. Where to look for a great park to take children to roam freely.
Also: from November 24th look how the old town will turn into a fairy tale – it is time for the Christmas market and beautiful holiday decorations.
Day in Colmar with a family
1. Worth seeing and trying in Colmar, top 8 places:
Fishmonger district: the most picturesque district in the heart of the old town and the Little Venice, the name given to the course of the river Lauch, running through the Fishmonger district:
The Koïfhus, the oldest public building in Colmar, and one of the most precious! Former customs house, it is more than 500 years old. We were lucky to spend a night right across it (video below in the post).
Eglise Saint-Martin, Gothic, 13th-century, catholic church:
The Pfister House is nearly 500 years old and is a wonderful example of Renaissance architecture in Colmar. Look for the paintings inspired by the Bible and portraits of emperors on the facade:
Montagne Verte: great park, square, and playgrounds for families:
Bartholdi! Did you know that the designer of the Statue of Liberty was born in Colmar?
The town adores him and has plenty of “Bartholdi traces”. Look for trail markers in the heart of the city, a replica of the Statue of Liberty (a memorial to the sculptor), Bartholdi museum, and statues at the local park:
Covered Market, pictured below, is a brick building designed in 1865 at the river Lauch. Look for high high-quality local cheeses, baked goods, meats, wine, and souvenirs. There are also small cafes and bars, we liked having lunch there.
Parc du Champ de Mars – a wonderful place to visit during the warm time of the year: spacious, green, with a huge square filled with fountains. Plus, refreshments, a playground, carousel:
2. Day in Colmar: local food and wine
Top Alsatian food to try in Colmar:
- Choucroute
- Cordon bleu
- Vol-au-vent
- Spaetzle
- Bretzel (for a snack)
- Kougelhopf (a traditional pastry)
The most popular menu item remains tarte flambee/flammekueche. It’s not pizza (!) and both, kids and adults love it. Good with local wine or local beer:
Alsace is famous for its white wines. They are traditionally served in a glass with an elegant green stem. Don’t leave Colmar without trying those guys:
- Pinot Gris
- Gewurztraminer
- Riesling
Winter is a great time to try some hot wine and spice bread, and in summer ice cream is always a hit.
3. Where did we like to spend a night in Colmar
We rented a small place through Airbnb, with a kitchen, 1 bedroom, and a folding sofa in the living room. We wanted to try how locals lived hundreds of years ago. And it was something! What we have got:
- Slanted floors, in all directions and in every room, including the shower. It made me dizzy and scared a little…
- Spiral staircase inside the building/apartment; a cramped space
- Low window (at ankle height) and super thick walls
- Precious, incredible view of the center in every window:
View from the window in a short video below:
In 2 months we spent 2.5 days and 1 night in Colmar. And would be glad to see it again, we liked it a lot. The really good thing is that the town is small and it’s possible to see everything in one day, without any rush.
Thank you for reading!
Make sure to check prices, schedules, and conditions before you go
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