The second biggest city of Alsace, Colmar has many of the captivating Franco-German features of its bigger sister Strasbourg but with perhaps even more old world flavor. Especially noted are the beautiful canals called ‘La Petite Venise’. (2025)
Like much of Alsace, Colmar has neighborhoods filled with half-timbered buildings from centuries past. Especially famous is the area known as ‘La Petite Venise’ where tourist can take boat tours through canals winding past the old homes. also find it fascinating that one tradition apparently just in Colmar is decorating with lots of random objects.
Colmar is also famous as the city of Bartholdi, the French sculptor who designed the Statue of Liberty. Many of his other works can be found around the city including this famous fountain beside the old town covered market.
Of particular note to art and religious history enthusiasts is the famous Isenheim Altarpiece, a multi-layered work whose units could be flipped to show different scenes according to the church season. Housed in a former church that has now become the celebrated Unterlinden Museum.
A celebration of traditional Alsatian culture
These very old buildings of the city (La Maison des Tetes 1606 and La Maison Pfister 1537) have a lot of intricately carved woodwork.
