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Colmar
Also known as Kolmar
Colmar (; ; or ) is a city and commune in the Haut-Rhin department and Alsace region of north-eastern France. The third-largest commune in Alsace (after Strasbourg and Mulhouse), it is the seat of the prefecture of the Haut-Rhin department and of the subprefecture of the Colmar-Ribeauvillé arrondissement.
AI overview
Colmar is a city in the Alsace region of northeastern France and serves as the administrative center (prefecture) for the Haut-Rhin department. As the third-largest city in Alsace after Strasbourg and Mulhouse, it plays an important role in the local governance and administration of its region.
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Travel guide
Understand
thumb|260px|Maison Pfister (Pfister House), built in 1537 Alsace has changed nationalities many times in the course of history between France and Germany. Colmar has been French for most of its modern history, however its population used to be predominantly German. It was annexed to France after Germany lost World War I and during World War II Hitler reclaimed it. It was the last town in France to be liberated during World War II in Europe, on February 2, 1945. It is quite shocking to see photographs from the time with Nazi flags hanging through the streets.
A reaction to Nazi cultural suppression led to the Frenchification of Alsace (and Colmar with it). Despite this, you will still hear a lot of German spoken in Colmar, some because of the numerous tourists from neighbouring Germany and Switzerland, but some spoken by native Alsatians, speaking their German dialect called Alsatian. Alsatian is the local minority language, although it is endangered, with ever fewer speakers among the young generations. Alsatian is not identical to standard German, but it is to a certain extent mutually intelligible. In some parts of the city, as well as in Strasbourg, street signs are written in French with Alsatian German underneath. Among the minority languages of France, Alsatian German is the most enduring (followed by Breton, Occitan, Basque and Catalan). Many Alsatians will be delighted to be addressed in German rather than in French (though not all of them). If you do not speak Fren…
Get around
All of Colmar's attractions are concentrated in its old town. For a medieval city, it is surprisingly big, but you can nonetheless get around on foot with no difficulty.
See
thumb|Gate to the Maison des Tetes You should allow yourself a day to stroll along Colmar's old streets and many many shops. Make sure to keep an eye out for dates painted onto the side of buildings. Some of the oldest date back to the 1300s. thumb|Little Venice
Do
Wandering about Colmar's old streets is the best way to explore it. There is a variety of shops of different sorts. The Alsatian cuisine is also omnipresent (in restaurants as well as specialist stores).
Buy
Most recommended is to buy clothes and shoes in Colmar. The variety is satisfactory and the prices lower than in neighbouring Germany, Switzerland and even Strasbourg. Apart from these, you can find typical crafts which can be bought as souvenirs. Notable is the typical Alsatian pottery. It comes in a coloured variety, usually blue, green or cream coloured, and decorated with motifs of storks (the regional bird) and flowers. Pottery is also available in a pale blue style, but this type has a stronger German influence. Typical wine glasses for the region are short glasses with green stems. Look for tablecloths, tinware and other such households reproduced with depictions of children and adults in typical Alsatian dress. Food and wine are also major components of the Alsatian production, so look below for relevant tips.
~15 min read
Article
26 sectionsContents
- History
- Geography
- Climate
- Population
- Main sights
- Architectural landmarks
- Secular buildings
- Religious buildings
- Fountains
- Monuments
- Museums
- Library
- Transport
- Education
- Music
- Economy
- Parks and recreation
- Sports
- Notable people
- International relations
- Twin towns – sister cities
- Replicas of historical buildings in Malaysia
- In popular culture
- See also
- References
- External links
Colmar (; ; or ) is a city and commune in the Haut-Rhin department and Alsace region of north-eastern France. The third-largest commune in Alsace (after Strasbourg and Mulhouse), it is the seat of the prefecture of the Haut-Rhin department and of the subprefecture of the Colmar-Ribeauvillé arrondissement.
Colmar was first mentioned in the 9th century and grew into an important medieval trading town within the Holy Roman Empire. In the 17th century it was annexed by France under Louis XIV, though it retained a distinct German character due to its location and culture. The city shifted between French and German control multiple times, before being permanently restored to France in 1945.
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On the map
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