Little Venice and Fishmongers’ Wharf, Colmar (must see)
Colmar is at the heart of the Alsace Wine Route. The Little Venice (La Petite Venise) district of the old town lies along the banks of the Lauch River canal. The cobbled canal side road is lined with multi-colored half-timbered houses. In all honesty, "Little Bruges" or "Little Amsterdam" might be a more apt name for the district as it has but one river.
The Lauch River extends 45 kilometers from the Vosges Mountains. The most romantic way to enter the district is to purchase boat tickets at the pub where the flat-bottomed boats are moored. The boatman sculls the craft along the canal while relating some of the stories of Colmar.
A good walk starts at Old Custom Square (Place de l'Ancienne Douane). Pass by Auguste Bartholdi's statue of General Lazare de Schwendie. He poses in full 16th-century armor, looking like Don Quixote. Walk along the Street of the Tanners. Come to the Quay of the Fishshop (Quai de la Poissonerie) via a bridge over the Street of the Tanners.
The brightly colored half-timbered houses were the homes of the fishing guild. Here is the famed Covered Market of Colmar. The Street leads to Krutenau, the fruit, and vegetable market. It was once the village of the market gardeners. Over the Abreuvoir Bridge (Pont de l'Abreuvoir) and down the Herse Street (Rue de la Herse), turn right to la Little Venice.
There is a stunning view of the district from the Saint-Pierre Bridge. After the bridge, follow Saint-Pierre Boulevard to Manege Street (Rue du Manege). Make a right turn and arrive at the Square of the Six Black Mountains (Place des Six-Montagnes-Noires).
The Lauch River extends 45 kilometers from the Vosges Mountains. The most romantic way to enter the district is to purchase boat tickets at the pub where the flat-bottomed boats are moored. The boatman sculls the craft along the canal while relating some of the stories of Colmar.
A good walk starts at Old Custom Square (Place de l'Ancienne Douane). Pass by Auguste Bartholdi's statue of General Lazare de Schwendie. He poses in full 16th-century armor, looking like Don Quixote. Walk along the Street of the Tanners. Come to the Quay of the Fishshop (Quai de la Poissonerie) via a bridge over the Street of the Tanners.
The brightly colored half-timbered houses were the homes of the fishing guild. Here is the famed Covered Market of Colmar. The Street leads to Krutenau, the fruit, and vegetable market. It was once the village of the market gardeners. Over the Abreuvoir Bridge (Pont de l'Abreuvoir) and down the Herse Street (Rue de la Herse), turn right to la Little Venice.
There is a stunning view of the district from the Saint-Pierre Bridge. After the bridge, follow Saint-Pierre Boulevard to Manege Street (Rue du Manege). Make a right turn and arrive at the Square of the Six Black Mountains (Place des Six-Montagnes-Noires).
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Colmar. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Little Venice and Fishmongers’ Wharf on Map
Sight Name: Little Venice and Fishmongers’ Wharf
Sight Location: Colmar, France (See walking tours in Colmar)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Colmar, France (See walking tours in Colmar)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Colmar, France
Create Your Own Walk in Colmar
Creating your own self-guided walk in Colmar is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Bartholdi's Statues in Colmar
Auguste Bartholdi is one of the most famous artists from Colmar. His works, such as the Lion of Belfort in Belfort, France, and the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, are known around the world. Colmar is decorated with open-air pieces sculpted by the artist.
Many of Bartholdi's statues are found in fountains that occupy spaces in city squares or on significant street corners. Some of... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.9 Km or 3.7 Miles
Many of Bartholdi's statues are found in fountains that occupy spaces in city squares or on significant street corners. Some of... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.9 Km or 3.7 Miles
Colmar Introduction Walking Tour
Charlemagne was well acquainted with Colmar in his wars with the Saxons from 772 to 804 AD. Carolingian emperor Charles the Fat held an assembly there in 884. It was a free imperial city under Emperor Frederick II in 1226. Captured and held by Sweden in 1632, it was conquered at last by Louis XIV of France in 1673.
In 1871 it was annexed by the German Empire as a result of the Franco-Prussian... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
In 1871 it was annexed by the German Empire as a result of the Franco-Prussian... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles