About Colmar
Located in the ‘wine capital’ Alsatian Region, east of France, Colmar is one of the most popular historical and tourism centers of the country with its foundation dating back to the 9th century. Situated at the west side of the Rhine, the city had been occupied by the Swedish, Prussian, German and Nazi empires in the past. After the Battle of Colmar in 1945, which was against the last of the occupant forces, the Nazis, it remained within the borders of France.
The city, which carefully preserved its historical heritage and old architectural texture in defience of the wars and occupations in its past, also stands out with its natural beauties. Because of this reason, Colmar is also called as ‘The Secret Paradise of France’. Particularly, the Old Town Area dazzles people with its view out of a fairy-tale.
As it is situated on the ‘Alsatian Wine Route’, Colmar is a very popular location for vineyards and wine testing. Famous for its fountains and canals, it is also known as the ‘Little Venice of France’. The gondola rides in the city are a rather popular tourist activity. The architectural texture of the city reflects the combination of Germanic and French styles. Colmar is also the birthplace of Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, the famous sculptor who made the Statue of Liberty in USA. The house of the artist, which is converted into a museum today, draws intense interest from the tourists visiting the city. Collagiate Saint Martin’s Church, La Petite Venise (Little Venice), Musee de Bartholdi, Toy Museum, Unterlinden Museum, Maison des Tetes (House of the Heads), Maison Pfister (Pfister House) and Dominican Church are the primary points of interest in the city. The city is under the influence of warm and mild climate. While the city has usually dry summers, precipitation is noticably higher during the rest of the year. Colmar Houssen Airport is located 1 kilometer away from the city centre.
