Colmar town centre: what to see, what to do?

Located in the Haut-Rhin, just a few kilometers from the German border, Colmar attracts visitors from all over the world. This picturesque city is often considered one of the most beautiful cities in the region. Discover the historic sites, shops, restaurants and unique atmosphere of Colmar city center!

Colmar city center: tourist itinerary

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Shaped by a millennium of European history, Colmar city center is full of fascinating unusual and tourist places. Stroll through its charming little streets to admire the superb half-timbered houses of Old Colmar! At the corner of Rue Mercière and Rue des Marchands, the Pfister house is certainly the most famous. Dating from the 16th century, it is the first example of Renaissance style architecture in Colmar. This picturesque building is located a stone's throw from the Saint-Martin Collegiate Church, a sumptuous Gothic church located on a pleasant pedestrian and green square.

Are you a fan of art and archeology? The Colmar museums have something to satisfy your curiosity:

• Dedicated to the creator of Miss Liberty, the famous New York statue, the Bartholdi museum is installed in the artist's birthplace. A little further north, the Statue of Liberty of Colmar, erected on the centenary of Bartholdi's death, welcomes visitors entering the city.
• Located in a former Dominican convent, the Unterlinden museum highlights modern art and archeology.
• With its unique collection of retro toys, the animated toy and little trains museum is ideal if you are visiting Colmar with family!
• The natural history and ethnography museum has an admirable collection of taxidermied animals, minerals and objects from around the world.
• The Hansi museum pays tribute to the famous Alsatian humorous cartoonist, famous for his illustrations, caricatures and watercolors.

For a romantic walk, take a tour on the quays of little Venice of Colmar: with its canals lined with pretty flowered buildings, this part of the old town is worthy of a postcard landscape. To be discovered on foot, by boat or by small tourist train (departure near the tourist office)! In its maze of alleys and small cobbled squares are nestled many workshops and galleries of local artists. This district also houses the city's covered market where you can buy and taste every day fruits and vegetables, butchery, charcuterie, cheese, bakery-pastry, fishmonger and other local delights.

Where to go out in Colmar city center?

The city center is certainly the ideal place to taste the Colmar specialties and Alsace. Sauerkraut, baeckoff, tarte flambées and kouglof can be enjoyed at lunchtime and evening in the Colmar restaurants! At night, the café terraces come alive with the festivals organized in the city or at the exhibition center (Festiculture, Colmar wine fair, etc.).

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If you are visiting the region during the holiday season, do not miss for anything in the world the sumptuous Colmar Christmas market. With its stands of artisanal products, its decorations and illuminations, its rides and entertainment for young and old, it transforms the city center into a magical place.

Finally, the Champ de Mars park is one of the favorite places for Colmarians to take a break in the heart of the city. With large shaded alleys, a pretty carousel dating from 1900 and a pink sandstone fountain from the Vosges, it is also a popular place to cool off in the summer thanks to the water jets installed in the center of the Place Rapp.

Shopping in Colmar center

To discover the small designer boutiques and independent shops of Colmar, go to the northwest of the city center, rue Vauban. This large shopping street brings together the most diverse stores: thrift store, winegrower's cellar, bookstore, etc.

The Place Jeanne d'Arc is also lined with many shops. There are many major ready-to-wear, decoration and jewelry brands, as well as souvenir and regional product shops.

Finally, just north of Colmar, 10 minutes from the city center, the Shop'in Houssen shopping center concentrates more than 60 shops. It is easily accessible by car via the A35 or by public transport (bus line 2).

Your hotel in Colmar center

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Looking for a hotel in Colmar center and its surroundings? Near the Alsace wine route, the exhibition center, the airport and the Colmar station, our establishments welcome you all year round for a pleasant stay with family, solo or as a couple!

Modern and bright, our rooms have a private bathroom and are accessible 24/7 thanks to the terminals located at the entrance of our hotels and available when the reception is closed. Enjoy a large cozy bed with high-end mattress and pillows, a flat-screen television connected to a bouquet of varied channels and unlimited Wi-Fi connection, for a night under the sign of comfort and serenity!

Looking for a hotel in Colmar with parking? All our establishments provide you with a private parking space at no extra cost. Practical for parking your private vehicle or rental car!

Book your hotel in Colmar now and take advantage of exceptional rates for the duration of your stay.