Colmar, France

Another day another train! I’m off for a day trip to Colmar. Just about a 30 minute train ride from Strasbourg and trains heading there and back 2 per hour. No need to book in advance.

I’m absolutely certain Disney modeled the town in Beauty and the Beast on Colmar. It’s old city center is basically traffic-free and with its quant squares surrounded by pastel half-timbered house and historic buildings it’s truly magical. It’s easy to walk from the train station into the old town, but there are also buses and a cute little train or taxi that is waiting outside of the station to get you closer. I don’t think there are any straight streets in Colmar but it’s super easy to navigate based on church steeples and the pretty river running through town. I ripped Rick Steves walking tour out of my France guide book and was on my merry way - just Belle looking for that cad Garçon 😂

Colmar is a really old town and fortunately was spared bombing during WWII. I started my tour at the Customs House (Koïfhus) where due to its status as a trading powerhouse had this beautiful building where much of that took place. The bright green tiles on the roof were gorgeous, and that plaque above the door with the double eagle of the Holy Roman Emperor is a sign that it was an Imperial city. That’s a statue of General Lazarus done by Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi who also did our beautiful Statue of Liberty and was from Colmar. The General is clutching a bundle of local Pinot gris grapes. He’s the man who brought that grape from Hungary to Alsace. Today Pinot gris accounts for more than 15 percent of wine production here. So for that you get to be in the square!

This area is called Tanner’s Quarter and dates back to the 17th century when they used the area just underneath the roofs to dry their freshly tanned hides. Very smelly so it was at the end of the town close to the river where they dumped their waste products. Restored in the 1970’s and now the history is protected.

The bottom half of this building is the remains of the original city walls. Later it became part of the building.

The Old Market Hall which dates back to 1865 had lots of great options from wine, meat, cheeses, bakery items, flowers, fish etc. Tempting to throw a picnic together and sit by the river.

Next a walk through Petite Venise - a collection of Colmar’s most colorful homes along the canal. And so many beautiful flowers!

Lunch for me at one of Rick Steves recommendations- Le Petit Schlossberg. A little away from the most touristy areas and a nice table outside to eat my mushroom and cheese Alsatian tarte flambée. Looks like a pizza but they don’t call it that and the crust is very thin - almost like a cracker. They use a lot of Muenster cheese in France but I’ve been a bit afraid of it because on the food tour I did in Paris Stephanie mentioned she never selects it because it has such a strong smell and taste. I find that so unusual because my experience in the US has been that’s it’s almost tasteless! I guess I really should try it here but I steered clear of it on my tarte. I was under a red umbrella so that’s why it looks tinted in red.

The Maison Pfister is the home of the richest man in 1537. He was a merchant and wanted to display his wealth for all to enjoy.

The second wealthiest merchant in Colmar built this house in 1609. It’s called Maison des Têtes or House of Heads. This man had quite a sense of humor as this house is decorated with 100 faces and masks.

Of course they had a number of churches - this one dating back to 1235. The Church of St. Martin.

I could post about 50 more pictures of half-timbered colorful homes but instead how about another statue from Bartholdi (Statue of Liberty) from outside his home - now a museum in Colmar. It’s called The Great Pillars of the World representing patriotism, hard work, and justice.

Ok just one more pretty pic of the flat bottomed boats you can ride in on the river. Almost like a gondola. A great day in Colmar and well worth the trip. I still have the music from Beauty and the Beast playing in my head!