Grand Rue (High Street), Colmar
Colmar鈥檚 High Street鈥攊sn鈥檛 long, but it鈥檚 been pulling its weight for centuries. This 1,600-foot stretch has been the city鈥檚 main commercial spine since the Middle Ages, funneling goods, gossip, and grandeur between the Old Custom House and Merchants' Street. Back then, merchants, guild masters, and itinerant traders crammed its length, doing deals on the ground floors of the same half-timbered buildings where they slept upstairs. The fa莽ades are still here鈥擥othic, Renaissance, and Baroque鈥攍ike a century-spanning architectural lineup that refuses to be replaced.
A stroll takes you past the Customs House, the Church of Saint Matthew, Sandherr House, Kern House, and the House of the Saint John鈥檚 Knights. You鈥檒l also spot the Roesselmann Fountain and the Flower Market Square, each with a backstory worth lingering over. Stray a few steps from the main drag, and you鈥檒l bump into the Collegiate Church of Saint Martin or drift toward the 鈥淟ittle Venice鈥� district, where canals, courtyards, and caf茅 terraces tempt you off-course.
In its current form, High Street blends history with a little retail theatre. Brightly painted beams and intricate carvings set the scene for boutiques selling local wine, pungent cheeses, and the kind of handcrafted souvenirs that might actually survive the trip home. Come December, the Colmar Christmas Markets crank up the atmosphere鈥攍ights, garlands, and timber chalets turn the street into a festive set piece. But the real magic is that, even with the holiday trimmings gone, High Street still feels like an unbroken link to Colmar鈥檚 past, a place where you can quite literally walk through the city鈥檚 commercial history without ever leaving the present.
A stroll takes you past the Customs House, the Church of Saint Matthew, Sandherr House, Kern House, and the House of the Saint John鈥檚 Knights. You鈥檒l also spot the Roesselmann Fountain and the Flower Market Square, each with a backstory worth lingering over. Stray a few steps from the main drag, and you鈥檒l bump into the Collegiate Church of Saint Martin or drift toward the 鈥淟ittle Venice鈥� district, where canals, courtyards, and caf茅 terraces tempt you off-course.
In its current form, High Street blends history with a little retail theatre. Brightly painted beams and intricate carvings set the scene for boutiques selling local wine, pungent cheeses, and the kind of handcrafted souvenirs that might actually survive the trip home. Come December, the Colmar Christmas Markets crank up the atmosphere鈥攍ights, garlands, and timber chalets turn the street into a festive set piece. But the real magic is that, even with the holiday trimmings gone, High Street still feels like an unbroken link to Colmar鈥檚 past, a place where you can quite literally walk through the city鈥檚 commercial history without ever leaving the present.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Colmar. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: 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.
Download The 黑料吃瓜网 App
Grand Rue (High Street) on Map
Sight Name: Grand Rue (High Street)
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.
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
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