Colmar is a border city in France that is nestled physically and culturally against both France and Germany and Switzerland. It is the capital of the Alsacian wine region and is surrounded by vineyards and lovely pastoral landscapes. The charming city itself is pulled right from the pages of a colourful storybook, with little traditional houses in an astonishing array of pretty rainbow shades, floral displays and beds of bright blooms dotted all over, and a canal that runs through the historic centre of the city. It is said canal that has given this part of the city the nickname of “Little Venice” and, if you are exploring Colmar, it is an absolute must to ensure that you spend some time there in order to fully enjoy the picturesque prettiness and charming atmosphere for which the city is famous. Just browse our vacation rentals near Colmar and come explore this fairytale destination for yourself!
Hit the cobbled streets of Colmar and wander past the colourful half-timbered houses of the city until you find the canal and the Little Venice district of the old town in the southeast of the city, which stretches from the covered market, along the Quai de la Poissonnerie, to the vicinity of the bridge on Boulevard Saint-Pierre. With most of the houses that can be seen today dating to the 14th to the 18th centuries, the area was originally inhabited by a rural community of wine-producers, market gardeners, and boatmen. The colours of the houses still reflect those old inhabitants and a rather charming tradition; the colour of the house would correspond the occupant’s business so that illiterate visitors to the district could find the stores that they were looking for. Blue houses were for fishmongers, green for market gardeners, white for bakers, yellow for cheese mongers, and pink ones for ladies. In addition, the little hearts that can be seen cut out of the window shutters on some houses reflect the tradition of marking homes with girls that were lonely hearts and, when they found a fiancé, this shapes was changed into a lozenge instead, which was a symbol of fertility.
Today, the area is home to lots of restaurants, bakeries, and shops, and is also where popular boats trips along the canal are offered. It is the best place to go and enjoy a meal in the most incredible and idyllic of settings as you explore this utterly charming city in France.
Today, the area is home to lots of restaurants, bakeries, and shops, and is also where popular boats trips along the canal are offered. It is the best place to go and enjoy a meal in the most incredible and idyllic of settings as you explore this utterly charming city in France.
Photo credit: Xiyang Xing / CC BY 2.0
