# Essential Colmar Travel Guide: What to See & Do **Colmar Travel Guide: Storybook Streets, Vineyards, and Living History** Colmar is one of France’s most distinctive small cities. Located in Alsace near the German border, it brings together canals, vineyards, art, and centuries of political change in a remarkably well-preserved setting. French and German cultural influences are evident throughout the city, adding to its distinctive character. ## Discover Colmar’s Historic Center Colmar began as a medieval settlement and later grew wealthy through trade, wine production, textiles, and craftsmanship. Its strategic location brought imperial privileges, wartime occupation, and repeated changes of allegiance between France and Germany. Despite this turbulent history, Colmar escaped much of the destruction that affected other European cities. Its historic center still features timber-framed houses, Renaissance details, and cobbled lanes, making it a rewarding place to explore on foot. Beyond the main squares, quieter side streets reveal some of the city’s most memorable architectural details. Wandering through these less busy areas offers a closer look at the buildings and historic atmosphere that define Colmar. ## Explore Little Venice and the Fishmongers’ Wharf The Lauch River winds through Colmar’s old town, creating the picturesque quarter known as Little Venice. Canals, historic buildings, and waterside views give this part of the city its distinctive character. Nearby, the former Fishmongers’ Wharf recalls Colmar’s commercial heritage. Together, these areas show how the city’s waterways once formed an important part of everyday trade and urban life. ## Visit the Unterlinden Museum The Unterlinden Museum connects Colmar’s medieval artistic traditions with later European art. It provides another perspective on the city’s cultural history and complements the architecture and historic streets found outside its walls. ## Follow the Legacy of Auguste Bartholdi Colmar was the birthplace of sculptor Auguste Bartholdi, creator of New York’s Statue of Liberty. His former home is now a museum, while fountains, monuments, and a replica of the Statue of Liberty celebrate his influence throughout the city. ## Discover the Alsace Wine Region Colmar is surrounded by Alsace vineyards and backed by the Vosges Mountains, making it a natural base for discovering the region’s wine villages. The landscape adds another dimension to a visit, extending the experience beyond the historic center. For travelers looking for things to do in Colmar, the city’s greatest appeal lies not in a single attraction. Instead, history, architecture, landscape, food, and everyday life remain woven into its streets, creating an atmosphere that feels both distinctive and enduring. ## Things to do in Colmar 4 places in Colmar with a Neywo audio guide. Each one starts telling its story as you reach it. - Ancienne Douane (Old Custom House) — historic house - Eglise Saint-Martin (St. Martin Church) — church - Maison Pfister (Pfister House) — historic house - Musee Unterlinden (Unterlinden Museum) — museum ## Walk Colmar with Neywo Neywo turns Colmar into a self-guided audio tour. Stories arrive as you reach the place they belong to, and the route reshapes when you wander off it. ## More in Grand Est - [Metz](https://neywo.com/destinations/france/grand-est/metz.md) - [Nancy](https://neywo.com/destinations/france/grand-est/nancy.md) - [Reims](https://neywo.com/destinations/france/grand-est/reims.md) - [Strasbourg](https://neywo.com/destinations/france/grand-est/strasbourg.md) - [Troyes](https://neywo.com/destinations/france/grand-est/troyes.md) ## Elsewhere in France - [Beauvais](https://neywo.com/destinations/france/hauts-de-france/beauvais.md) — Hauts-de-France - [Boulogne-sur-Mer](https://neywo.com/destinations/france/hauts-de-france/boulogne-sur-mer.md) — Hauts-de-France - [Calais](https://neywo.com/destinations/france/hauts-de-france/calais.md) — Hauts-de-France - [Chantilly](https://neywo.com/destinations/france/hauts-de-france/chantilly.md) — Hauts-de-France - [Le Touquet](https://neywo.com/destinations/france/hauts-de-france/le-touquet.md) — Hauts-de-France - [Lille](https://neywo.com/destinations/france/hauts-de-france/lille.md) — Hauts-de-France - [Montreuil-sur-Mer](https://neywo.com/destinations/france/hauts-de-france/montreuil-sur-mer.md) — Hauts-de-France - [Saint-Omer](https://neywo.com/destinations/france/hauts-de-france/saint-omer.md) — Hauts-de-France - [Wimereux](https://neywo.com/destinations/france/hauts-de-france/wimereux.md) — Hauts-de-France - [Auvers-sur-Oise](https://neywo.com/destinations/france/ile-de-france/auvers-sur-oise.md) — Île-de-France - [Paris](https://neywo.com/destinations/france/ile-de-france/paris.md) — Île-de-France - [Versailles](https://neywo.com/destinations/france/ile-de-france/versailles.md) — Île-de-France --- HTML: https://neywo.com/destinations/france/grand-est/colmar App: https://app.neywo.com Español: https://neywo.com/es/destinations/france/grand-est/colmar.md Français: https://neywo.com/fr/destinations/france/grand-est/colmar.md