A highlight along the Alsace Wine Route, Colmar’s compact and lovingly preserved medieval center is renowned for its postcard-worthy prettiness. Come here to admire the town’s half-timbered buildings painted rainbow colors, fishing boats bobbing along the flower-lined canal ways, and a maze of cobblestone lanes dotted with small cafés and artisan shops.
The colorful heart of Colmar earns its nickname from the canal-like Lauch River that divides its two banks, each lined with half-timbered fishermen’s homes that seem plucked straight from a fairytale. Soak up its quintessential Alsatian charm that's an easy day trip from Rhine River cruise ports.
With its lattice of canals and half-timbered townhouses, La Petite France on Grande Île is one of Strasbourg’s most picturesque areas and is an integral part of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage site. At the mouth of the River Ill, the historic district is the city’s oldest area, dating back to the 16th-century when it was inhabited by fishermen, tanners, and millers.
The Strasbourg Cathedral of Notre Dame (also known as the Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg, or simply, Strasbourg Cathedral) is the second most-visited cathedral in France, after Notre Dame in Paris. Up to 4 million people visit each year to admire its 465-foot (142-meter) spire and dramatic red facade sculpted from Vosges sandstone.
Perched high in the Vosges Mountains, overlooking the Alsatian plains, the striking pink sandstone towers of the Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg are an unmissable sight. Built in the 12th century and extensively renovated in the 19th century, the fairy-tale fortress is a popular attraction along the Alsace Wine Route.
Among Europe’s most popular Christmas markets, Strasbourg’s annual Christkindelsmärik sees the city transform into a whirlwind of festivity. More than 2 million yearly visitors flock to the seasonal market, which includes craft and gift stalls andvin chaud (mulled wine) vendors, as well as an ice rink and carolers.
Covering 64 acres (26 hectares in central Strasbourg, the Orangerie Park (Parc de l’Orangerie is the city’s oldest and biggest public park. Dating from the 18th century—and some claim—planted in 1804 to the plans of Versailles’ garden landscaper, André Le Nôtre, it offers flower-lined lawns, a lake, pavilion, stork sanctuary, and family attractions.
Built for then-Bishop оf Strasbourg, Cardinal Armand Gaston Maximilien de Rohan, 18th-century Palais Rohan has hosted an impressive guest list throughout its history—Louis XV, Marie Antoinette, Napoléon Bonaparte, and Charles X. Now, the riverfront landmark on Grande Île plays host to three important cultural institutions: Musée des Beaux-Arts,xa0 Musée Archéologique, and Musée des Arts Décoratifs.
Named after one-time Strasbourg resident Johannes Gutenberg, who famously invented the movable-type printing press in 1439, Place Gutenberg remains an important commercial and navigational center of Strasbourg’s Old Town, strategically located close to the landmark Cathedral of Notre Dame. Today the square is best known as a meeting place, lined with cafes and restaurants, but a statue of the square’s namesake still takes prize place at its heart—designed by David d'Angers in 1840.
With many of its half-timbered buildings dating back to medieval times, Gutenberg Square is also celebrated for its striking architecture, most notably the Renaissance-style Chambre de Commerce (Chamber of Commerce) and the 16th-century Hotel de Commerce, from where writer Arthur Young watched the destruction of the magistrates' records during the Revolution. Place Gutenberg is also the center of many of the city’s seasonal festivities and events, hosting games and fetes during the summer months, a Christmas market and carousel over yuletide and a number of flea markets and book fairs throughout the year.
The attention-grabbing, exuberant house on Rue des Marchands is a must in Colmar. Built in 1537 for wealthy hatter from nearby Besançon named Ludwig Scherer, the house boasts extravagantly ornate frescoes (representing Germanic emperors and Biblical scenes) and medallions with typical medieval features; it is, however, regarded as the finest example of Colmar’s architectural renaissance. Pfister House (Maison Pfister) also boasts a beautifully carved balcony, long wooden galleries, octagonal turret, a two-story corner oriel, and ground-floor arcades. The house is named after the family that lived in it and restored it in the late 19th century. It was made a historic monument of France in 1927.
Occupying a 13th-century Dominican convent in the Alsace town of Colmar, the Unterlinden Museum (Musée Unterlinden) features a large collection of European art, spanning the period between the Middle Ages and the 20th century. Its best-known work is the altarpiece of Isenheim, created with a mix of sculpture and painting in the early 16th century.
A trio of bridges arching over the canal ways of the River Ill, the Strasbourg Covered Bridges (Ponts Couverts) are an iconic symbol of the city, marking the gateway to its central Grande Ile. Somewhat confusingly named, since none of the three bridges remain covered, the bridges once formed an important part of the city’s medieval fortifications and featured wooden canopies from where soldiers could protect the dam below.
Today the bridges are a lasting vestige of medieval Strasbourg, and while their ramparts were destroyed back in the 18th century, the remains of the 14th-century square towers that once linked the bridges together still stand. The historic bridges are best viewed from the grass-topped terrace of the nearby Vauban Dam (Barrage Vauban), which offers panoramic views of the surrounding La Petite France district, or on a boat cruise around the city’s canal ways, passing beneath the arches of the fabled bridges.
One of Strasbourg’s key historical landmarks, the Vauban Dam (known locally as the Barrage Vauban was built in 1686. Designed by military engineer Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, the covered bridge crosses the River Ill and also functions as a defensive fortification. It now houses a gallery and its rooftop is accessible to visitors.
One of Strasbourg’s most photographed buildings, Maison Kammerzell stands out for its unique architecture. Dating back to 1467 and largely rebuilt in the 16th century, the historic residence now houses a popular restaurant serving traditional Alsatian cuisine, along with a hotel.
The Toy Museum (Musée du Jouet), a small, playful space in the heart of Colmar, is aimed at visitors both young and old. Home to a collection of playthings that date from the 19th century to the present day, the museum (housed in a former movie theater) offers exhibits about everything from dolls to model trains to board games.
Amid Strasbourg’s artful jumble of historic buildings, St. Thomas Church (Eglise St. Thomas stands out for its red brick façade and mix of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. Dating back to the 12th century, the protestant church is one of the many highlights of Strasbourg’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Grand Île.
Although locals most refer to it as a cathedral, Colmar was never truly the seat of a bishop and therefore cannot be called as such; it really is more of a rather large collegiate church dedicated to Saint Martin than anything else. It was a cathedral for less than a decade during the French revolution, hence the name of the square on which it is located. Built in the late 13th century in this iconic pink sandstone that is endemic to Alsace, the Saint Martin’s collegiate church is one of the most important Gothic works in Alsace and was even made a historic monument in 1840. A major fire in 1572 destroyed the framework, the south tower, and the roof. The 71-meter high tower was rebuilt shortly after in a lantern shape, a characteristic feature that make the church instantly recognizable. Archeological works dug out remains from the Carolingian era in 1972, and discovered foundations of a previous church from the Romanesque times. The church boasts several noteworthy features, including a massive Baroque organ, a typically Alsatian ambulatory, and two distinctly antisemitic images that act like a testament to the lost Jews of World War II.
Located at the intersection of Colmar’s two major roads back in the medieval days, the Old Customs House (Koïfhus)—also referred to as the "Ancienne Douane"—always had a strategic mission. The former customs house was built in 1480 and was mainly used for two things: the ground floor was a massive warehouse used for storage, and the second floor served as a tax office for import/export and a meeting area for the magistrate and the emperors of Alsace, which later on became the Colmar Chamber of Commerce. Several buildings were added onto the existing one throughout the years, creating an amalgam of architectural styles and proving that the Old Customs House was significant enough, both commercially and locally, to justify extensive renovation and expansion works. The roof, which consists of colorful varnished tiles, is particularly striking. Wondering which part is the oldest? Look for the two-headed eagle of the Empire, which surmounts the two main entrances. The Old Customs House was made a historic monument of France in 1974. It nowadays houses small shops and cultural events, like the much-acclaimed Alsatian Christmas markets.
Set up in 1907 to preserve the region’s unique cultural heritage, Strasbourg’s Alsatian Museum (Musée Alsacien) is a fascinating tribute to Alsatian folk arts and traditions, displaying more than 5,000 items dating mostly between the 14th and 19th centuries. Housed in a trio of 16th- and 17th-century timber-framed mansions, the museum comprises a warren of rooms, each one providing a snapshot of traditional Alsatian life.
Exploring the museum takes visitors on a journey through the region’s cultural history, from the rural farms and vineyards of the Vosges valleys to the homes and craftsmen’s workshops of medieval Strasbourg and Colmar. Period furniture and clothing, ceramics, toys and household items make up the bulk of the collection, but there are also exhibits devoted to wine production, carpentry, rope-making, art and handicrafts.
At the heart of Strasbourg’s La Petite France district, tucked amid the half-timbered houses and snaking canals of the historic neighborhood, the Tanners House, or Maison des Tanneurs, is one of the area’s most famous landmarks. A lasting vestige of the old tanners district, the former tannery was built in 1572 and is known for its timbered galleries and slanted roofs, where dyed hides were once draped to dry in the sun.
Transformed into a restaurant in 1949, the Tanners House is now home to La Maison de la Choucroute, which serves up traditional Alsatian cuisine in authentic surroundings, with the original 16th-century beams complemented by antique furnishings and window boxes overflowing with geraniums. For the most atmospheric spot, book a table on the open-air terrace, from where the views stretch along the riverfront.
Fort de Mutzig was built by Germany in the late 1800s to defend Strasbourg and Metz during the Franco-Prussian War. It is comprised of a number of dispersed units that are connected by tunnels, which provided shelter and also allowed for the dispersal of artillery—a design that later influenced the layout of the Maginot Line.
Encircled by the River Ill and the Canal du Faux Rempart, the Grande Île or “Big Island,” is the UNESCO–listed historic center of Strasbourg and home to the majority of the city’s top attractions. The islet serves as the prime focus of sightseeing tours and hosts the city’s world-famous Christmas market during the festive season.
Inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s classic bookThe Little Prince, this destination is a theme park with a twist. Marketing itself as the world’s first “aerial park,” it offers rides and attractions designed to take you up into the sky.
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