Place de la Cath茅drale (Cathedral Square), Colmar
Cathedral Square only picked up its grand name in 1934. Before that, this 13th-century space went by the more modest 鈥淣ew Square鈥�, even though it sat atop the old Mount of Olives cemetery. Back in 1553, part of the burial ground was cleared to make way for a lively marketplace squeezed between Saint-Martin Church and the Ossuary鈥攁 bone storage solution that鈥檚 every bit as macabre as it sounds.
Just off the square is the Waldner-Stephan Court, where a venerable Judas tree has been holding its ground since 1791. Legend insists Judas himself ended things on a tree of this kind, and the springtime purple blossoms are said to mark Christ鈥檚 tears. Today, the old tree stands behind iron railings, with a plaque making sure no one forgets its long life.
One architectural showpiece here is the Guard House. Originally a chapel dedicated to Saint James in 1286, it got a Renaissance upgrade in 1577, complete with a veranda and ornate portal. Over the centuries, it鈥檚 doubled as a town hall, a police station, a nut market, and even a platform for magistrates. Now that is some reliable architecture.
The addresses here read like a mix of history and everyday life. At No. 6, the RUC bookstore tempts browsers with more than 45,000 titles spread over five floors, all linked by a grand central staircase. No. 16 is the Adolph House, a survivor from around 1350 with pointed Gothic windows and a neighbourly old well from 1592 standing next door.
For those thinking less about architecture and more about appetite, No. 11 is home to Yann鈥檚 Workshop, a patisserie large enough to make any diet nervous. And right at the foot of the church, l鈥橝mandine offers both a brewery and a brasserie鈥攊deal for ending your square-side wander with something in a glass and something on a plate.
Just off the square is the Waldner-Stephan Court, where a venerable Judas tree has been holding its ground since 1791. Legend insists Judas himself ended things on a tree of this kind, and the springtime purple blossoms are said to mark Christ鈥檚 tears. Today, the old tree stands behind iron railings, with a plaque making sure no one forgets its long life.
One architectural showpiece here is the Guard House. Originally a chapel dedicated to Saint James in 1286, it got a Renaissance upgrade in 1577, complete with a veranda and ornate portal. Over the centuries, it鈥檚 doubled as a town hall, a police station, a nut market, and even a platform for magistrates. Now that is some reliable architecture.
The addresses here read like a mix of history and everyday life. At No. 6, the RUC bookstore tempts browsers with more than 45,000 titles spread over five floors, all linked by a grand central staircase. No. 16 is the Adolph House, a survivor from around 1350 with pointed Gothic windows and a neighbourly old well from 1592 standing next door.
For those thinking less about architecture and more about appetite, No. 11 is home to Yann鈥檚 Workshop, a patisserie large enough to make any diet nervous. And right at the foot of the church, l鈥橝mandine offers both a brewery and a brasserie鈥攊deal for ending your square-side wander with something in a glass and something on a plate.
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Place de la Cath茅drale (Cathedral Square) on Map
Sight Name: Place de la Cath茅drale (Cathedral Square)
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