Traveling in France: Colmar (Part 1 of 4)

Recently, we visited the Alsace-Lorraine region in eastern France.  We went to both Colmar and Strasbourg to see the famous  traditional Christmas markets.  We enjoyed seeing the markets in both towns and so much more.  

Christmas markets are not a long-standing tradition in most of France.  However, in the border region of Alsace, which is a mixture of cultures, Christmas markets have been around for several centuries.  Today, Alsace is part of France.  However, over the centuries, the border has moved eastward and westward, depending on the ascendancy of France or Prussian/German political power.  More importantly, the Alsace region, where Colmar and Strasbourg are located, has a unique culture, language and history that survives today and is neither 100% French nor 100% German.

Let's start our tour in Colmar.  

The first thing we noticed in Colmar is the prevalence of medieval architecture in the center of the town.  Where we walked, we saw streets lined with half-timbered buildings, like the buildings pictured below.  

Some of the buildings were decorated for the season.

We wandered into an alley and discovered a picturesque building from the 1300's.

We also discovered a house built in 1537, the Maison Pfister, with frescoes on the facade.  

Below is a building with an interesting architectural feature, a corner turret.

 Église Saint-Matthieu in the background.

Of course, not all of the architecture in Colmar is medieval.  Here are two lovely examples of more modern styles.

Art Nouveau

Colmar has a neighborhood known as Petite Venise, or Little Venise, because of the canal that runs through it.  The canal once connected farms to a covered market in Colmar.  Flat bottom boats were used to transport vegetables to the market.   

Today, Petite Venise is a pictoresque neighborhood.

Visitors can enjoy a ride on the canal in flat boat.  

We chose not to take a boat a ride.  Some of the boats did not seem seaworthy.

When we visited, we enjoyed a concert presented by local school students.  The students embarked on flat boats and sang to an appreciate crowd.  

You can watch the students depart and hear them sing by clicking on the videos below.

The event was especially festive because of the virtual snow.

Falling "snow" projected on a building that also served as an Advent calendar.

The main reason for visiting Colmar was seeing the Christmas Market, La Magie de Noël.

The streets and squares of the town were lined with chalets selling crafts, food and drink, such as vin chaud ("hot wine").   

The market included rides for children, plus an animated nativity scene and also live animals.

There was even a mailbox for sending letters to Père Noël ("Father Christmas").

All of the products sold in the market were locally made regional specialities, like Alsatian cookies.

Mr. Bill is alive and well in Colmar.

While visiting the Christmas market, Jean-Claude even made a new friend.

Next Up:  Churches in Colmar.