On one of my recent trips I went to Colmar in the French region of Alsace, which is a picturesque little town in the surroundings of Strasbourg. Its medieval core remained intact and is therefore a real tourist spot absolutely worth a visit. Cheerful half-timbered houses and multicoloured rhombus-patterned roofs of cathedrals are a typical view. Some of the wooden façades are painted or even feature wood-carved figures; they represent the architecture of the German Renaissance. One of the historical quarters of Colmar is „La Petite Venise“ (engl.: „Little Venice“) which is famous for the old houses at the small river crossing it. Boats similiar to Italian gondolas filled with tourists go up and down the channel, passing under the countless bridges. Another common sight in Colmar are storks portrayed on buildings (they inhabit the region and can be seen in the countryside). St. Martin’s Church has a nest on its roof that continually provides a home for a stork couple that raise their young inside. The storks are named „Martin“ and „Martine“ since they owe their home to the cathedral of Saint Martin of Troyes.
After some walking and sight-seeing, when you’re tired and up for a break, you can enjoy a coffee with a delicious éclair, as I did. There are many cake shops and this is definitely something I love about France. Furthermore Alsace’s specialty is not only its wine but also flammkuchen, a dish composed of bread dough covered with sliced onions and lard.
But colourful buildings, tasty cakes, pretty flowers and selfie-taking tourists are not the only thing I encountered in the streets and corners of Colmar – there were also animals like the pug twins carried in a stroller or the reserved cat waiting for its owner at the door. But now I let you discover Colmar yourself, have a look!