On December 19th, I took a short 30 minute train from Strasbourg to Colmar. Colmar is in the Alsace region in Northeast France, very near the border with Germany. In fact, it's gone back and forth between France and Germany more than a few times in it's history, so you see influences from both countries throughout Alsace.
When I arrived, I waited for a taxi for more than 30 minutes, tried unsuccessfully to connect with an Uber, and finally decided to just walk the 1.2 miles from the train to my hotel, which was fine until it started to rain a few minutes into this decision. Luckily, I was able to check in to my hotel room, so I could dry off and get situated before heading out.
Once I headed out, I discovered that (1) my hotel was in a great location, and (2) everywhere you look in Colmar is a fairytale and even more charming that I could have imagined!
Colmar is consistently voted one of the top Christmas markets in Europe. I have to say after visiting my fair share of Christmas markets over the past 4 years, it was the best organized. There are signs like this all over to direct you to the various markets.
I wondered through some of the markets and headed toward the La Petite Venise portion of the town where I came across the Old Market Hall. Locals buy produce, fish, cheese, meat, etc. here.
There are also a couple of stands that are restaurants, and I had lunch at one.
This is a very Alsatian food... Tarte Flambée (cheese, onions and bacon/ham).
This salad was truly amazing. I have been (unsuccessfully) trying to recreate the lemon vinaigrette that was used as dressing.
Petite Venise is just so picturesque!
I know boats do canal tours, but I don't know if they do them in December. I never saw one.
I pretty much spent two full days saying "is this even real?".
I didn't buy a macaron here, but they sure are pretty. I think this picture, and the earlier one of the Pretzels (or Bretzels as they are called in France), are a good example of how the German and the French really meld together here in Alsace.
Part of what you must experience as part of a visit to Colmar, are the surrounding villages. One of the benefits of going at Christmas, is these villages have markets and are considered part of the Noel Colmar, and as such, there are Christmas shuttles that you can take for cheap to and from the villages.
Unfortunately the only shuttle that runs during the weekdays is the one to Eguisheim. Eguisheim is said to be the village that Disney used as inspiration for the Beauty and the Beast Village.
See the nests on the top of the church and buildings? Those are stork nests (and they are huge nests!). They are all over the Alsace region.
Wondering around the cobblestone streets was like walking through movie sets.
Some of the feel is easier to get in video than in still pics
And then you look up and see this!
Like a movie set, I'm telling you!
After taking the holiday bus back to Colmar, I walked around enjoying the sights after dark.
I had a Jambon and Fromage Crepe (ham & cheese) for dinner, and then shopped around the markets until time for bed.
My hotel for two nights was the Hotel Mercure Colmar Centre Unterlinden. Honestly I wasn't super jazzed about any of the hotels when I looked them up for booking, so I ended up blind booking this one. It was the perfect location. You were a 2 minute (or less) walk to a market. The lady working the front desk went above and beyond what I've had 5 star hotel concierges do to help make my trip perfect (more on that tomorrow).
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