This post is the third and last of three in my France 2024 series. The first post on Paris strolls is here. The second post on my three days in Strasbourg is here.
Getting There
From Strasbourg, I took a train to Colmar, one of the prettiest towns in France. The train ride took 30 minutes. Colmar is renowned for its well-preserved old town, its numerous architectural landmarks, its museums and its Alsatian wine.
Exploring Colmar
I picked up a map from the Information Centre in Colmar train station and started walking towards Colmar town centre. The 6.1 km (3.8 miles) discovery trail is marked with a bronze directional sign on the ground. The day started with sunny skies then turned cloudy and rainy. Fortunately I had an umbrella with me and enjoyed a late lunch at Café de la Lauch while it rained hard.
Here’s a sampling of what I explored and discovered in Colmar.
Bruat Fountain: Unveiled in 1864, the Auguste Bartholdi fountain, which is topped by the statue of Armand-Joseph Bruat (1796-1855), an admiral in chief of the French navy during the Crimean war, was destroyed in 1940. The allegories of the four continents and the fountain’s basin were recreated in 1958.
Directional sign on Colmar Discovery Trail – The Statue of Liberty (a gift to the U.S. from the people of France) was designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi who was born in Colmar.
The House of Heads built in 1609 owes its name to its unusual 105 grotesque masks. The building was once used to trade wine.
Colmar Tourist Office
Pfister House was built in 1537 by the milliner Ludwig Scherer. The house iconography is the perfect example of bourgeois tradesmen’s fondness for Renaissance humanist culture.
The Former Guardhouse was built in 1575. Its decorative details reflect the Renaissance architecture in the Upper Rhine.
Built between 1235 and 1365 the Saint Martin’s Collegiate Church is an important example of Gothic architecture in Alsace. The church has been restored several times.
The Koïfhus was built in 1480 in Gothic and Renaissance styles. It was once the town’s business and political hub.
A colourful Brasserie des Tanneurs in Colmar
Restaurants and shops in Colmar
Colmar Covered Market (on the right) was established in 1865. In the market hall, traders sell fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, cured meat, cheese, baked goods, fish and delicious local produce all year.
Boating on the River Lauch by Poissonnerie Quay
The Fishmongers’ District: A pretty row of half-timbered houses stand along the River Lauch. Most of them were homes to boatmen and fishermen who would put their traps in the river.
Krutenau: The former market gardener neighbourhood. The market gardeners would sail along the River Lauch to transport their goods to town on flat-bottomed boats.
Little Venice: A rural community of winemakers, market gardeners and boatmen used to live here. It is the most romantic part of Krutenau neighbourhood.
I greatly enjoyed Colmar and my late lunch at Café de la Lauch. The Flammekueche (tarte flambée) and coffee were delicious.
Link-Up
This post is my contribution to Dan’s Thursday Doors photo challenge.
I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or public art from around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #168 below.
Natalie the Explorer 