“An afternoon in Colmar…”
My brother, his wife and son came to visit us in Switzerland. Since I know how much of a wine aficionado my brother is, I couldn’t resist but to suggest a visit to the vineyards of Alsace, France! Now, my brother has never visited France, so a trip to the city of Paris was in the making. Unfortunately, I’m 8 months pregnant! Because we live in Switzerland, I certainly didn’t want to be too far from my hometown in case of an emergency, so, Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé, and other sightseeing attractions were in our schedule instead, including a visit to the famous Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg! That meant that we could only spend the afternoon in Colmar before heading out to our final destination.
About Colmar…
Colmar is the biggest commune belonging to the wine region of Alsace, France. It was founded by the Romans, taken by the Swedish during the Thirty Year’s War in Europe, then by the Germans, the French, again the Germans; ultimately, after World War II ended, the Germans gave it back to the French. Despite being passed around like a hot potato, Colmar retained its medieval cobblestone streets and 1/2 timbered houses practically intact. Today, Colmar still looks like something taken out of a painted picturesque scenery from the 15th century!!! It’s so colorful, cozy and very old! It’s definitely a medieval village surrounded by the old antiquities it has to admire melange with all the trendy stores and lively cafés filled with stories told by their tourists and locals alike.
Here are some pictures of Colmar during our summer visit:
There are so many things to do in Colmar besides drinking Vin d’Alsace, or eating traditional Tarte Flambée for that matter. Here’s a picture of us devouring le Tarte Flambée Traditionelle like 6 hungry hyenas, not to mention, a little bit of some grand Vin d’Alsace…!
Sure, we are all there for the wine (I know I am!), but just so you know, I’ll throw in a couple of suggestions:
- Take a boat tour on the Colmar Canal
- Visit Le Marché Couvert and buy local produce. This is a great way to snack while strolling around old Colmar!
- Visit the Museum of Unter Linden (the former Dominican Convent). There you can see the Isenheim altarpiece and the Virgin at the Rose Bush.
- Visit the Bartholdi Museum- Fréderic Auguste Bartholdi was the sculptor that designed our glorious Statue of Liberty-one of the many prides and joys of Colmar!
- You’re in Wine Country! SPEND THE NIGHT! Stay in Colmar for a day or two!
For more information about Colmar, France, visit their website at Colmar Alsace France Tourist Office-Home. It’s in English.
I leave you now with other pictures of Colmar…
