Colmar Old Town

Where it is & how to get there

• Train: Colmar is about 30 minutes by TER from Strasbourg; the old town is 15–20 minutes on foot from the station.
• On foot: The whole old town is pedestrian-friendly and compact.
• Little train: A tourist train tours the old town in season.

The story of Colmar's old town

Colmar grew rich in the Middle Ages from the Alsace wine trade, and its merchants built the Koïfhus, the old customs house, and grand Renaissance homes like the Maison Pfister and the Maison des Têtes, decorated with over a hundred carved faces.

Alsace changed between France and Germany several times, and you can see both influences in the architecture. Colmar is also the birthplace of Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty, whose house is now a museum.

Best time to visit

Tips before you go

• Look up: the carved details on the facades are the highlight.
• Look up for stork nests, a symbol of Alsace, on rooftops and chimneys.
• Visit the Unterlinden Museum for the Isenheim Altarpiece by Grünewald.

What's around Colmar's old town

• KoïfhusThe old customs house with its colourful tiled roof.
• Maison des TêtesA 1609 house covered with carved heads.
• Bartholdi MuseumThe birthplace of the Statue of Liberty's sculptor.
• Alsace Wine RouteVillages like Eguisheim and Riquewihr are 15–20 minutes away.

Questions travellers ask