Colmar, France is one of the prettiest town anyone would have visited.
On Beautiful month of Christmas let me take you to this Gorgeous place., where whole city center feels like one giant festival of lights, laughter, and mulled wine.
Colmar’s Christmas Markets are among the best known in the Alsace region, and perhaps one of the most photographed Christmas markets in all of Europe. The reason for that is simple of course – the Christmas markets in Colmar are absolutely stunning as you can see the photos.
Colmar was apparently the inspiration for the village in the Disney film Beauty and the Beast. While Walking through its streets is like seeing childhood fairy stories come to life. There’s a wooden turret which would be just perfect for Rapunzel to let her hair down from, tiny cottages that would make the ideal home for seven dwarfs and a candy-coloured bakery that Hansel and Gretel would love to get their teeth into.
About the Colmar Christmas Market
Aside from the fact that Colmar is picture-perfect, most people visit Colmar in winter for its Christmas markets that run for about 5 weeks, from the last week of November through late December. In 2021, the markets are scheduled for November 26 through December 29.
Framed by fairytale half-timbered houses and richly decorated canals, Colmar’s six Christmas markets have something to offer everyone, whether they’re looking for unique handmade gifts or a gourmet bite to eat.
Between and among the markets, the whole city is lit up. In some places, there are shockingly bright colors, and in others, the soft, white lights illuminate the streets.
One of the great things about the Colmar Christmas markets is that they are close together—all six are located along a path that’s just over a half-mile long (1 km). While several of them have similar types of foods, gifts, souvenirs, and ornaments, there are differences among them. Without a doubt, it is worth visiting them all, if time allows, because all of the surroundings are stunning in their own way.
Where is Colmar ?
Colmar is located very close to the French-German border in the Alsatian region in North-Eastern France. I think that is what makes it so unique. Colmar definitely has some influences from both the French and German sides. Many people consider Colmar to be the capital of Alsatian wine.
In real life, Colmar is a small town where France meets Germany, and ownership of the region has been passed back and forth between the two countries over the years. And the result is a unique mix of their two cultures – think of it as France with a twist.
Things to do in Colmar
Colmar doesn’t have huge list of must-see attractions, but what it does have is scenic spots by the bucketload. Everywhere you look there are colourfully painted waterside houses, wooden shutters, twisting cobbled streets and window boxes draped with blooms.
Colmar is the perfect place to wander around and see what you come across. The locals seem proud of their homes, and everything is neatly painted and maintained. Some buildings are decorated with hanging lamps, clocks and hearts then there are a few who’ve have taken it to the extreme by hanging bikes, chairs and who knows what else out front. In Colmar it seems your house is an artwork as well as a place to live.
When to Visit Colmar
There’s no specific time for visitng Colmar, in fact there is not really a bad time for visiting Colmar. Summer is peak season, with warm dry days around 20–25°C (68–77°F). A host of festivals, including the Colmar International Festival and Alsace Wine Fair in July, mean the town can get very busy in summer. So expect crowds and if you’re planning on staying in Colmar try to book accommodation well ahead.
Winter means cold temperatures with averages just above freezing, but the Christmas markets mean late November and December are a popular time to visit. January and February are much quieter but you might get to see Petit Venice in the snow. And spring and autumn mean pleasant temperatures around 16–20°C (60–68°F), though spring can be rainy.
How to Reach Colmar
Colmar is really easy to get to by train – it’s 35 minutes from Strasbourg, 45 minutes from Basel or 2 hours from Zürich. There are some direct trains from Paris Gare de l’Est to Colmar and more with a change in Strasbourg (all around 2.5 hours). If you’re travelling by plane, Strasbourg has a small airport with flights from various French and central European destinations, or the closest main airports are in Paris, Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg or Zürich.
Where to Stay in Colmar
You can prefer a hotel, the Hotel le Colombier* is a good choice. It’s a stylish four-star right in the middle of Petit Venice with some rooms overlooking the canals . An old Alsatian house five minutes’ walk from the centre of Colmar. It’s been given a bright and modern makeover, with a well-equipped kitchen, dining/living room and two spacious double bedrooms .
Food in Colmar
Like the Alsace itself, Colmar’s local cuisine mixes French and German influences. Among the dishes not to miss are flammekueche (a thin-crust pizza topped with bacon, onion and crème fraîche), baeckeoffe (meat and potato stew), choucroûte garnie (sauerkraut with pork and potatoes) and bretzels (tasty snacks shaped like a pretzel which taste more like a doughnut).
We mixed up eating out and self-catering, picking up supplies of fruit and veg bread and cheese at Colmar’s covered market. If you fancy splashing out, Colmar has 10 Michelin-starred restaurants, with two-star JY’s having the most impressive canalside location. More low-key are La Soi with its delicious tarte flambée and the rustic Le Caveau Saint Pierre for traditional Alsatian dishes. And save room for Pâtisserie Gilg’s amazing cakes.
I know for a fact that magical fairytale-like places do exist and I have seen one of those at Colmar.
No wonder why ,It is called one of the prettiest towns in Europe.
In all honesty, every single feature surrounding you is blasting with color and life. Add to that a touch of quirkiness and you have the perfect recipe for astonishment.
That is exactly how anyone would feel when they visit Colmar.