Colmar, France

Quai de la Poissonnerie, Colmar, France
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Colmar,_Quai_de_la_Poissonerie.jpg
Author: Guy MOLL


Colmar is a charming town in the Haut-Rhin district in Alsace, France. It is today a popular tourist destination. The city has a beautiful Old Town that is well preserved. It has numerous historical buildings and landmarks.

The modern city of Colmar covers 66.57 sq km (25.7 sq mi) and has a population of 66,000 (2011 estimate). The city dates back to the 9th century. It became a Free Imperial City under the Holy Roman Empire in 1226. The city converted to Protestantism following the Protestant Reformation of 1575.

Colmar, Alsace, France
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Colmar_-_Alsace.jpg
Author: Tizianok


Following the Franco-Prussian War, Colmar was annexed by the German Empire in 1871. It was returned to France following World War I, but was annexed once again by Germany under the Nazis in 1940. The battle of Colmar Pocket dislodged the Germans from the city in 1945.

Colmar was the home of famous painter Martin Schongauer and renowned sculptor Frédéric Bartholdi, who designed the Statue of Liberty. A hoard of precious objects hidden by Jews during the Black Death was rediscovered in 1863. It became known as the Colmar Treasure. The collection includes one of the few surviving Jewish marriage rings, along with silver coins, table ware, and other jewelry.

Colmar Old Town
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Colmar_002.JPG
Author: Michael Schmalenstroer

Visiting Colmar, France

Colmar is located to the south of Strasbourg. You can reach it by taking a train from there, as well as from Basel in Switzerland. Also, as the city is located close to the border with Germany, you can take a bus from the German border at Breisach, which is connected by train to the next major German town, Freiburg.

Timber-framed buildings of Colmar
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FR_Colmar_20080828_001.jpg
Author: HNH

Places of Interest in Colmar

Inspiration from Colmar

The Colmar Tropicale is a resort in Pahang, Malaysia, was developed to re-create the look and feel of Colmar in a tropical climate.

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