Located in the Alsace wine region, Colmar is a quaint little town with many charming half-timbered houses. The folksy village so attracted erstwhile Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir that he decided to recreate this little town in Bukit Tinggi (40 minutes from Malaysia's capital-Kuala Lumpur) as a holiday resort.
With about 100,000 inhabitants, Colmar is the third largest town in the Alsace region. Located in the northeastern part of France, Colmar is set on a plain between the Vosges mountains and Lauch River. It used to be a bustling port town linked by canal with the nearby Rhine River. Now it is an industrial town dealing in manufacturing of textiles, machinery, and processed foods. It serves as a base for touring the vineyards of the Alsace region. It gives one the feeling of walking through an open-air museum with beautifully preserved medieval streets of houses despite the wars that happened up until World War II. Many have colourful ornamentation. So when travelling through this town, don't just look ahead, but look up as well!
Quick Tips:
Be sure to try the local specialty,
chouchroute, a Franco version of sauerkraut, which comes served with a variety of boiled meats including a thick slice of ham, a portion of pork knuckle, and bratwurst. Finish off your meal with a platter of cheese and crackers accompanied with the local gewurstraminer or riesling-the kings of white wines. You may want to also consider getting yourself a few bottles of the local
kirsch, which comes in various flavours, including aniseed. And Alsace being the birthplace of
foie gras, you'd be ensured the very best quality.
A worthwhile side trip out of Colmar would be visiting the many villages on the wine route. And on the way, make a stop at the amazing 14th-century Haut-Koenigsburg Castle with its surrounding stone fortress and collection of medieval furniture, stained glass chapel, and tapestry of St. George slaying the dragon and a rarely seen chain-mail vest, one of the most complete pieces I've ever seen.
Best Way To Get Around:
On foot! Follow my suggested 1.5-hour walking route to catch all the best that the town has to offer. This charming little town is worth taking time to explore; at every corner you will be surprised by something new. On my second trip to Colmar this year, I took a wrong turn getting back to my hotel and discovered a Jewish quarter, which had a Jewish synagogue and a monument dedicated to the Jews who lived and contributed to the buildings around Colmar. The best way to get to know a place is to get lost, and along the way, discover something new.