Koïfhus
- February 4, 2002
- Rated 4 of 5 by
rhiannon1968 from locarno, Switzerland
A long time ago Colmar was the richest and most important city of the whole Alsace region. The Koïfhus, which translates into the "old custom hall" was built in the 15th century in the middle of the (then not) old town. It's also called Salle de la Décapole (room of the 10 men ruling - more or less): it's where the ten most important Alsatian men of the middle ages - the representatives of the imperial towns of Alsace - used to meet and take all the most important decisions. Today this flower-covered building is still very important: it's the symbol of Colmar's former economical and political power - which neighbouring Strasbourg now holds. In the back streets of the Koïfhus you can visit the old tannery quarted and see the buildings where the people used to hang out the leather to dry.
From journal Colmar, Alsace off-the-beaten-path