History
Occupation of the old Neolithic era on the site called " Rufacher Huben", tumulus of the Hallstatt era razed to ground, on the current site of the northern industrial park.
Colmar, quoted for the first time in 823 under the name of " Columbarium " or " Dovecote ", was the centre of a vast royal domain, which was in the 10th century half of which was offered to the bishopric of " Constance ", and half to the abbey of Payerne (Switzerland).
The courtyards of " Payerne's Oberhof " and the " Constance's Niederhof " were the cores of the future city.
Fortified in the beginning of the13th century, it became an imperial town.
The constitution, fixed into 1360 after hard internal fights, gave the main part of the power to the professional corporations.
Colmar was one of the principal cities of the " Décapole " at the end of the Middle
Age, with its prosperous business of wines, an important artistic bloom, illustrated in particular by Martin Schongauer, painter and engraver.
In the 16th century, the Reform did not manage to definitively supplant Catholicism.
Annexed to France, in 1679, Colmar becomes the headquarter of the Sovereign Council of Alsace, the highest judicial authority of the province.
Chief town of the department of Haut-Rhin in 1791.
Between 1871 and 1918, under the German occupation, the city distinguished itself by a particularly marked francomania, whose satirical draughtsman Jean-Jacques Waltz, called " Hansi ", is the expression thereof.
Sightseeing
During the winter 1944 -1945, Colmar was in the centre of the combats of the "Liberation", aiming at reducing a pocket of German resistance, but fortunately without undergoing major destruction contrary to nearby localities.
Once the peace returned, after 1945, the industrialization and the construction of new districts becomes extensive, after being widely started during the German occupation period.
The old town is remarkably preserved and really deserves that one lingers there.
Picturesque town, chief town of the Wines of Alsace.
The wayfarer will be able to contemplate there at leisure the remnants of medieval ramparts along the " Lauch ", the small river which crosses the locality.
Many remarkably preserved buildings :
- the house " Adolph " of circa 1350, thought to be the oldest house in town, square of the cathedral.
- the house " by the Swan " known as " Schongauer's house " dating from the end of the 15th century, with its box window, also on Schongauer's street.
- the " Koïfhüs " or " Former Customs' House " dating about 1480.
- the " Pfister's house " with its mural paintings of 1537, its wooden gallery, its staircase turret of 1603, on Merchants' street.
- a house with rich gate of Renaissance style of 1566, Berthe-Molly's street.
- the building of the " Corps de Garde " or Guard House : with its beautiful loggia of Renaissance style of 1575 above the doorway, on Cathedral square.
- the house " A la Rose " of the 16th century, at number 32 on Merchants' street; a house with wooden gallery going back to 1598, " Berthe Molly's street ".
- the " Maison des Arcades " going back to 1606: with its oriel windows of angle and pinions with volutes to the number 15, " Grand Rue ".
- the Mansion of the Knights of Saint John of 1608: with its loggia of Renaissance style on 2 floors, " Saint-Jean's street ".
- the famous " Maison des Têtes " or " House of Heads "of 1609 with its rich decoration (of 105 masks!), a wonderful oriel window rising two floors high and topped with a balcony, of Renaissance style, on " Rue des Têtes".
- a house with wooden gallery, on Merchants' street; the house "Bartholdi ", of the early 18th century: sheltering the museum " Bartholdi "; the hotel of " Ribeaupierre " with a beautiful oriel window of angle of the beginning of the 17th century, on " Augustins' street; the house " Kern " with the gable Renaissance of the beginning of the 17th century, square of the Fruits' Market; the Renaissance houses of Turenne's street, in particular the n°13 with an oriel window of angle of the beginning of the 17th century; the former " Poêle des Laboureurs " or " Headquarter of the former Ploughmen's guild "with its wealthy gate of Renaissance style going back to 1626, on" Vauban's street "; the house said " At the Sun " with oriel window of angle of 1668," Church's street "; half-timbered houses with wood sides: opposite " Former Customs' House " or " Koifhüs ", in the district of the Tanners (recent exemplary restoration plan completed between 1968 and 1974), like the " Bakers' street " and the " Metal workers' street ".
Do not forget to visit the particularly picturesque district of " Little Venice " on the banks of the Lauch river, with its quay "de la Poissonnerie ".
Many public monuments :
- the ancient hospital of 1735, next to the Franciscans' church.
- the County Court, former palace of the Sovereign Council of Alsace, going back to 1771, on Fruits' Market square.
- the former hotel of the Chapter of Basle of the 18th century, " Rue des Blés ".
- the Town Hall, former hotel of Pairis, from the end of the 18th century, " Rue des Clefs ".
- the college Bartholdi (former college of the Jesuits) with its church of 1750, its theatre and library by " Ixnard " going back to 1787.
- buildings of the Prefecture of style neo-Louis XIII, going back to 1869.
- the Court of Appeal of neo-baroque style built in 1906 with its wooded and flowery park.
Many monuments with statues sculpted by Bartholdi:
- General Rapp (1771 - 1821), Napoleon's aide de camp, born in Colmar, dating 1855, square of "Champ de Mars ".
- Admiral Bruat (1796 - 1855), commander of the French fleet during the Crimea War, born in Colmar, dating 1864, in the park of the square of "Champ de Mars ".
- " Rabmannele " or "Alsatian wine grower " in dialect, of 1869, at the angle of the " Former Market Hall ",corner of " rue des Ecoles " and " rue du Vigneron ".
- Roesselmann, 1888,
- Adolphe Hirn, 1894,
- Lazare of Schwendi, 1898, on the fountain.
Miscellaneous informations
Altitude 194 m. 65 136 inhabitants. Flowerdecked town **** 2003.
Guided Visits of Colmar and surroundings : F - D - E - I - GB : from April to October and during the Advent.
International Music Festival (1st fortnight of july),
Congress hall.
Accueil des Villes Françaises : AVF Colmar
Touristical Train : From Easter untill November 1st, guided visit of the old Colmar.
- Guided Night Visits of the historical center of the illuminated city. Proposed by the Tourist Office : untill September 30th.
Alsatain Folk evenings : every Tuesday evening at 20:30 from Mid May untill Mid September, place de l'Ancienne Douane. Free Access.
Flee Market : the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month, place de l'Ancienne Douane. Free Access.
Weekly Markets:
- On Thursday morning, place de l'Ancienne Douane at the Market Hall, market with "BIO" market , some "BIO" products : vegetables, fruits, goat cheese, dairy products, marmelades, sirups and breads.
- On Saturday morning, place Saint Joseph, market with "BIO" market , some "BIO" products : vegetables, fruits, goat cheese, dairy products, marmelades, sirups and breads.
Bandstand, place Rapp, world music, free concerts.
Festival of hallcast Music: second or third week of May.
Princes' Rallye : old timers car international rallye.
Paris-Colmar by foot: saturday June 7th, at 14:00 hours, place de la Mairie.
Music Festival : the 21st of June, free concerts downtown.
Mini Wine Fair: degustation of the wines of the Hardt vineyard of Colmar. Place de l'Ancienne Douane, from 10:00 till 23:00. Free access. From last week end of June till second Saturday in August .
Summer Fair : from the third Saturday of July till the second Sunday of August.
Bastille Day : the 13th of July in ther evening and the 14th : fireworks, concert, public bals , military parade.
Wine Fair : 1st fortnight of August, international and french artists on stage, animations et shows every evening.
[ back ]
|
