Colmar, france
Attractions Guide

The old historic center of Colmar is full of lovely half-timbered medieval structures of many colors, making walking through the old town a very enjoyable experience. The highlight of Colmar's old town is La Petite Venise (or Little Venice), where you can see many of these elegant homes lined up along the canal.

La Petite Venise is extremely picturesque, and one of the top ways to experience this area's beauty is by taking a canal boat tour. You can admire the lovely homes along the canal from several amazing vantage points, including The Fishmonger District, the Rue Turenne Bridge, and the Pont St-Pierre Bridge.

Adjacent to the Rue Turrene Bridge is one of the city's main plazas, which is centered around the Roesselmann Fountain and is surrounded by half-timbered medieval houses. Another scenic plaza surrounded by medieval homes is the Fontaine Schwendi fountain plaza.

Near the Fontaine Schwendi fountain is a beautiful pedestrian street, the Rue des Marchands (Merchants Street), which is lined with gorgeous and colorful half-timbered medieval buildings which host many shops and restaurants. Along this street is one of Colmar's most iconic medieval structures, the charming Maison Pfister house.

The city is home to several 13th century churches, the largest being the Romanesque Saint Martin Church. Nearby you can also see the Eglise des Dominicains built in the same time period, which has been converted into an art museum and is surrounded by more colorful homes.

Colmar's top museum is the Unterlinden Museum, which hosts an impressive collection of art, sculptures, and artifacts from the medieval and Renaissance eras. The museum is housed within a former Dominican Monastery built in the 13th century, which also hosts a beautiful cloister.

Another popular museum is the Toy Museum, which displays the history of toys ranging from the 1800s to present.

One more museum to consider visiting in Colmar is the Musee Batholdi, an art museum dedicated to the French sculptor Auguste Batholdi, located across from the Maison Pfister house.