Fashion, book, movie and music addicts!: Colmar

If Strasbourg was lively and dynamic, Colmar is wonderfully quaint, picturesque and romantic. I heartily agree with all who say that it is absolutely beautiful. Lying almost at the foot of the verdant mountains of Les Vosges, Colmar is full of medieval streets lined with dozens of fully restored half-timbered houses whose balconies were filled with flowering pots. Just before hitting the heart of the old town, we came across a little river that wound its way till the quai des Poissoneries which provided the first (of many) photo-taking opportunity! All along the banks were pretty houses, most of which now host restaurants that overlook the peaceful river scene.

Starting from the old Customs House with its green variegated roof, which is now used for temporary exhibitions and concerts, we made our way all along the rue des Marchands, la Grand Rue and rue des Clefs where you have the loveliest of the town’s houses. Colorful doesn’t even begin to describe it. You don’t need a set route, part of the pleasure is just wandering around the streets. Best thing to do is to look up at the facades of the different houses. Take particular note of Maison Pfister which has remarkably painted exterior panels.

A peek of the old Cathedral...

The beautiful Maison Pfister...

Beautiful houses aside, Colmar is the birthplace of Frederic August Bartholdi, now famous for the Statue of Liberty. Funnily enough, just before entering the outskirts of the town proper, there is a 12-m high replica of his most famous work, standing smack in the middle of a traffic roundabout near the highway. Apparently it was erected in to commemorate the centenary of his death. In the town proper, there is a museum dedicated to his life and works. Time constraints prevented us from visiting this time around but I’m sure there will be another occasion to pay it a visit.

The one museum that is absolutely not to be missed is the wonderful Musee Unterlinden. Its claim to fame is the fabulous Issenheim Altarpiece created by Matthias Grunewald in 1512. Germans know the Issenheim Altarpiece, the way French people know the Mona Lisa. Composed of several panels, which cannot be displayed all at the same time, it is an extraordinarily powerful piece of religious work that must be regarded in its totality. It features scenes from the New Testament and the most powerful one is the scene of the Crucifixion. My favorite though was the nativity scene. Absolutely beautiful and radiant even after all these centuries.

The Museum's wonderful cloisters seen from a second floor window...