Colmar: Culture, Architectural History and Museums

Culture and Architectural History

The pedestrian zone in Colmar’s old town is home to outstanding Gothic buildings such as the Saint-Martin Collegiate Church and the Dominican Church. The Dominican Church houses Martin Schongauer’s work “Madonna in the Rose Bower”. The Maison des Têtes is decorated with 106 grotesque heads, most of them restored, on its window surrounds, tracery and the panels of the central bay window. The sights range from Gothic churches to the details of a single building.

The Koïfhus was built in 1480 and served as a transfer and storage point for imported goods. Colmar’s railway station building was constructed in 1903. Its features include a keep, carved symbols, a central entrance hall for travellers and stained-glass windows. These buildings represent different aspects of the city’s history: religious architecture, the handling of goods and passenger travel.

Museums and Collections

The Musée Unterlinden first opened to the public on 3 April 1853 in the renovated church of the former monastery. The Musée Bartholdi focuses on Auguste Bartholdi and his work: it is located in the artist’s birthplace and displays, across more than twelve rooms on three floors, designs, sculptures, drawings, paintings, engravings and objets d’art, among other things. The exhibits may change.

The toy collection at the Musée du Jouet spans the 19th century to the present day. A model railway layout extends across the entire second floor. Individual displays in this collection may also change in the future. The three museums each have a different historical focus: the founding of a museum in a former monastery church, the work of a sculptor, and a toy collection spanning several eras.

Tours and Getting Around

A 25-minute guided tour in a flat-bottomed boat passes through the Petite Venise district to the Quai de la Poissonnerie. Operating periods may vary. The Petit Train touristique Blanc offers a seasonal round trip of about seven kilometres through Colmar, lasting 35 minutes; audio commentary is available in 16 languages. The timetable may change, so it’s worth checking the latest information before planning your trip.

The tour durations are easy to compare: the boat trip is listed as 25 minutes, while the round trip on the Petit Train takes 35 minutes. This can help you decide whether a shorter guided tour or a longer circuit fits your day better. For travel from the railway station to the city centre, the free Cœur de Ville shuttle runs every 15 minutes from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Saturday. As frequency and operating hours may change, check the timetable in advance.

Covered Market, Cuisine and Cycling Routes

Colmar’s covered market brings together around 20 traders selling fresh produce: fruit and vegetables, meat, cold cuts, cheese, baked goods and pastries, fish, and other regional specialities. The mix of traders may change. Culinary specialities include Baeckeofe, sauerkraut, Matelote du Rhin, Coq au Riesling, gingerbread, Kougelhopf and Munster cheese. The covered market and regional specialities offer different highlights: a selection of fresh produce on the one hand, and specific dishes and products on the other.

Cycling can also be part of your travel plans. Colmar and its surroundings have numerous facilities for bicycles, as well as many cycling routes through the city and the surrounding area. If you’re planning a particular route, check the latest information relevant to it; cycling infrastructure may change over time.

Discover more destinations: Rouffach, Markirch, Galfingue, Kaysersberg, Husseren-Les-Châteaux, Moosch, Oberlarg, Willer-Sur-Thur.

For the broader travel overview: Haut-Rhin.