Discovering the Beauty of Colmar France & Riquewihr: A Complete Guide
Discovering the Beauty of Colmar France & Riquewihr: A Complete Guide
Table of Contents
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Informations
Riquewihr is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in eastern France. In 2009 it had a population of 1,232 inhabitants.
Colmar is a city in eastern France, the prefecture of the Haut-Rhin department, in the Alsace territorial collectivity in the Grand Est region. After Strasbourg and Mulhouse, it is the third largest city in Alsace. Colmar has a semi-continental climate. This city is located in the great Alsatian plain, at the foot of the Vosges mountains, facing the massif called “Le Grand Ballon”.
Temperature: From April to June and then again from September to November, you can get everything best in the country.
Language: The official language is French.
Currency: Euro
Food Prices:Meal in a cheap restaurant=14 EUR,Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant=50 EUR
You can find more information about the visa here.
Things to do
Riquevir Dolder
The Dolder is a medieval gate tower in Riquewihr, Alsace and the town’s landmark. The Dolder was built in 1291 as the western end of the fully preserved city fortifications of Riquewihr. The half-timbered façade on the city side is particularly striking.
Butterfly Gardens
On the wine route between two of the greatest Alsatian sites, Ribeauvillé and Riquewihr, we present you a fascinating collection of exotic butterflies that live freely amidst a lush flora, a delight for the eyes. The visitor walks among hundreds of butterflies from Africa, Asia and America, discovering the hidden life of these jewels of nature. The biggest butterflies in the world are waiting for your visit. To learn a little more, watch the video accompanying our commercial.
Museum Thief Tower
The Haut-Koenigsbourg
The Haut-Koenigsbourg is a castle near Orschwiller in Alsace, a good 10 km west of Sélestat, which was reconstructed at the beginning of the 20th century. With around 500,000 visitors a year, it is the most visited castle in the region and one of the most frequented tourist sites in all of France.
Wineck Castle
Wineck Castle, also Weineck or Windeck, is the ruin of a late Romanesque hilltop castle in the Alsatian department of Haut-Rhin. Standing on a rock plateau, it towers 330 meters above sea level over the small town of Katzenthal, five kilometers north-west of Colmar. It is the only Alsatian castle that stands in the middle of vineyards, which is where its name comes from: Wineck means “Weineck”. The surrounding granite vineyard Wineck-Schlossberg produces a Riesling and is one of the top Alsatian wines.
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Colmar France
La Petite Venise
“Little Venice” is the name of the course of the Lauch in Colmar. This name undoubtedly comes from the original orientation of the houses on either side of the river, which flows towards the south-east of the city. This district starts behind the department store, runs along the Fischufer and reaches the Turenne and Saint-Pierre bridges. It is therefore at the beginning of Krutenau, whose etymology comes from the places of vegetable growing around the cities. Originally animated by a rural community of winegrowers, gardeners and boatmen, Krutenau stretches around the Turenne road, which the Marshal crossed in 1674 during his triumphant entry into the city. Boat trips are possible in this area.
church of Saint Martin
The Roman Catholic collegiate church of Saint Martin, often called Martinsmünster, is the dominant sacred building in the city of Colmar in Alsace and one of the most important Gothic buildings in the Haut-Rhin department. Today it serves as a parish church. After the French Revolution it was briefly the cathedral of a diocese and is sometimes still referred to as the Cathédrale Saint-Martin. The current building was erected between 1234 and 1365, the conspicuous crowning of the bell tower was added in the Renaissance style after a fire in the roof trusses in 1572.
Musée Unterlinden
The Unterlinden Museum is an art museum in Colmar, Alsace. It has a large collection of objects from the Neolithic to the present, especially from Upper Rhine sacred art from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. The museum uses the buildings of the former Dominican monastery Unter den Linden, which was built in the first half of the 13th century. After its dissolution during the French Revolution, most of the buildings were subsequently demolished. In 1853 the museum was opened in the parts of the monastery complex that were still preserved
Champ de Mars
The Champ de Mars is a public park in the French city of Colmar in Alsace. It is located between the “Place Rapp” north and the buildings of the Haut-Rhin prefecture to the south.
Musée du Jouet
This is a place that will make young and old agree: located in the heart of downtown Colmar, the Toy Museum presents a collection of toys from the 19th century to the present day. Along a thematic tour, you will discover or rediscover the toys that marked your childhood. From old bears, to the first Barbies, via video games, Playmobil, scale models, robots or small trains, the toys and games on display come from all over the world and belong to different generations of children. A curiosity of the museum, a network of trains extends over the entire second floor!
market hall
Church of the Dominicans
After the Martinsmünster, the Dominican church is the second largest and architecturally the second most important church in the city of Colmar in Alsace. The former collegiate church of a dissolved Dominican monastery is now widely known as the site of Martin Schongauer’s “Madonna im Rosenhag”, an undisputed major work of German painting, but also contains other valuable art treasures. The Gothic church of the monastery founded in 1277 was built between 1289 and 1346.
statue of Liberty
12 m high resin replica of the Statue of Liberty in memory of the Colmar sculptor Auguste Bartholdi.
Fontaine dédiée à l'Amiral Bruat
Auguste Bartholdi is solicited and proposes a fountain monument. The inauguration took place on August 21, 1864, the day Bartholdi received the Legion of Honor medal from the hands of Admiral Julien de la Gravière. The Champs de Mars monument dedicated to Admiral Bruat is the first fountain in Colmar with a continuous water jet. A statue of the Admiral, in bronze, surmounts the fountain.
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Where to stay
A good night’s sleep is particularly important when you are travelling. France offers its guests a host of luxurious, charming and also out-of-the-ordinary accommodation.
Whether in the heart of the city, near the lake or surrounded by nature – France’s hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses guarantee a relaxing and invigorating stay.
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Luxury hotels we recommend in Colmar:
hotels we recommend in Riquewihr:
Where to eat
Before we introduce you to the best known restaurants in France, some unique restaurants and we will tell you everything you need to know about traditional food in France, what are the dishes you should not miss, but also about deserts.
French cuisine is unique and extraordinary, because here we find many traditional dishes and to mention them all i would have to write a whole separate article just about French cuisine. I will now mention some of the most famous dishes that we also have tasted during our visits and we think they really taste better when they are prepared with the typical ingredients from France. Of course you can get inspiration from here and try to cook these recipes yourself at home.
What is the most famous food in France? It’s the humble, staple, French food—the Baguette! The French take their Baguettes very seriously.
Ratatouille (Provençal Vegetable Stew)-Ratatouille is packed with healthy fresh produce, including tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, courgettes, eggplants, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, bay leaf, and thyme, all cooked together on the stove.
French onion soup – This is a traditional French soup made of onions and beef stock, usually served with croutons and melted cheese on top.
Confit de canard is a tasty French dish of duck – although some chefs use goose or pork – and is one of the finest French dishes. The meat is specially prepared using ancient preservation and slow-cooking process (confit). This sees the duck meat marinated in salt, garlic, and thyme for around 36 hours and then slow-cooked in its own fat at low temperatures.
Potatoes Dauphinoise– Potatoes with cream and cheese with a hint of garlic and thyme.
Cordon bleu is a dish of meat wrapped around cheese (or with cheese filling), then breaded and pan-fried or deep-fried.
Quiche Lorraine – Is a savory tart named after the Lorraine region.
Camembert de Normandie– Cheese from the Normandy Region
“Coq Au Vin” dish— translates to, “rooster and wine.” This traditional French dish is a stew comprised of champignons, red wine, white onions, chicken or pork blood, and rooster or hen meat.
Escargot is a French meal that is served with cooked land snails, vegetables, and an assortment of different sauces.
France desserts you should try – Mousse au Chocolat, Crème de Marrons (Sweetened Chestnut Purée), Crêpes, Profiteroles, Eclairs, Macarons and Croissants.
Where to Eat
The Best Restarurants in Riquewihr: American Diner’s Food Truck, Cafe De La Marne, Les Restaurants Du Coeur, Le Bellevue, L’autrefois, De L’auberge Frankenbourg, Casa Gina, L’authentique Sophie, Envie Sushis.
The best restaurants in Colmar : Les Têtes, JY’s, Wistub Brenner,Kreuz-Post Restaurant, kaiserstühler hof breisach, Gasthaus zum Kaiserstuhl
, Auberge de l’Ill, À l’Echevin, Aux Trois Poissons.
Saving Tips
1. Transit companies often have an office on campus where you can sign up for the monthly or yearly pass when the school year starts.
2. Students and/or those under 26 qualify for special fares when subscribing for public transit. To get these fares, you usually have to show your student card or identity card when subscribing.
The Imagine’R card: reserved for students who live in Île-de-France, this special pass gives unlimited travel throughout Île-de-France for less than 350 euros per year.
The ticket jeune: reserved for those under 26 and valid for 24 hours on a Saturday, Sunday or bank holiday, it lets you travel freely within a limited zone for just 4 euros.
3. To still enjoy a good meal at the restaurant without breaking the bank, check out restaurants that offer a “Menu du jour” (menu of the day). It will usually include 2 to 3 courses, maybe a drink, and will cost around 10 to 15 euros.
4. Last-minute tickets are usually super expensive and can be 5 times more expensive than they were at first. You can book a train ticket 3 months before, and it’s not cheaper to book a round trip ticket, so you can book one way first, when the tickets are available, and the return ticket later.
5. On the first Sunday of every month, a collection of museums and monuments around the city of light, open up their doors completely free of charge. These days can get pretty busy, so make sure to arrive at least half an hour before the opening time, or risk a three-hour long queue- particularly for Paris favorites like the Louvre.
6. Paris Museum Pass for the most cost effective way to see everything since admission fees can really pile up. The Paris Museum Pass is available in 2-, 4- and 6-day options and gives you access to over 50 museums and monuments in the capital and the surrounding area.
7. If you’re looking to save money in Paris, then never pay for WiFi! Instead, plenty of restaurants, cafés, bars and shopping centers throughout the city offer WiFi completely free of charge.
8. If you want to enjoy a drink, but don’t enjoy high prices, then make sure to head out for beers, cocktails or even non-alcoholic drinks at Happy Hour.
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Shopping
The traditional French shopping week comprises six days, Monday to Saturday, with shops generally open from 9 a.m. to Midday, and 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. In towns and villages, it is still the rule that shops close at lunchtime.
However things are changing, and in urban shopping areas, most large shops such as department stores now operate what is called “la journée continue”, and do not close at midday.
Shopping in Riquewihr:
Féerie de Noël- Christmas articles, Couleurs d’Alsace,Conte de Fee, Au Four Banal, Le Paradis de Teddy- Gifts, coco vanille.
Shopping and crafts in Colmar:
SAVONNERIE SCALA – Just a 10-minute walk from downtown, handmade soaps and cosmetics factory products are naturally rich in glycerine, tailored to the needs of your skin, and environmentally friendly.
DOUCEURS ET PLAISIRS D’ALSACE – foie gras, jams fame Christine Ferber, the bredeles, eggs stork chocolate etc. In addition to these goodies, you’ll find a wide selection of wines, spirits and beers. Finally cloths typical patterns, plush-like storks and other gifts like these baskets that you fill yourself with ideas.
LE MONDE DES MINÉRAUX – Jewelery creations made from semi-precious stones. You will also find our collector’s minerals, decorative objects and pictures here
Transport
Traveling by train is often just as quick as driving, and generally very reliable and quite reasonably priced too.
In most French cities, public transit generally involves buses and tramways. The networks are usually dense in the town center, and easy to take.
With 14 lines, the Paris Metro is one of the most extensive in the world. It operates until 1 am during the week and until 2 am Fridays and Saturdays. A night bus network then takes over. Outside of Paris, five French cities have metro lines: Marseille, Lille, Lyon, Rennes and Toulouse.
To go through the ticket gates, enter the gate to the left of a green arrow, insert your ticket into the slot… and don’t forget to remove your ticket afterwards: you must keep your ticket with you until you exit the network.
French buses are rarely as reliable or frequent as trains, so if you’re looking to explore beyond the larger towns, hiring a car (even if only for a few days) may be the most practical option.
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Getting here
France has one of the most developed air travel infrastructures in Europe, with a large number of airports across the country. France has 34 airports, and the airports with the biggest traffic are in Paris (Orly and Charles de Gaulle).
However, in case you’re planning a ski holiday or visit to some smaller and less known places in the country, you should consider using some of the smaller airports like Nice or Toulouse.
Nice
As Lyon is France’s third biggest city, France’s renowned high speed train, the TGV, was soon brought to this busy international airport. From here you can travel directly to Paris or Marseille. Or cross the Swiss border into Geneva or down to Turin in Italy.
Toulouse
Bordeaux
Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport is located in south-western France. It’s a popular tourist spot for families, but also for surfers as it is famed for its great waves.
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Getting to France by train or bus
You can get to France by train or bus easily from most of the big cities in Europe. Wherever you are, you can easily find connections to Paris or the other big cities in France.
Traveling by train is often just as quick as driving, and generally very reliable and quite reasonably priced too. Even better, you don’t have to worry about headaches over parking, traffic, motorway tolls or unexpected breakdowns, all excellent ways to ruin your holiday.
Compared to some other European countries, train travel in France is relatively inexpensive, particularly on non-TGV Intercités routes. Catching the train can also make a nice change if you’re planning to travel internationally, as well, with day and sleeper trains available across France’s borders. If you live near Paris, you can also catch the express commuter train service, the RER (Réseau Express Régional), which directly links the satellite areas with central Paris.
If you travel around much of France on public transit, you’ll soon discover that the bus is the most prevalent form of transport in the country. Whether you’re moving between suburbs in a large city or traveling through rural French villages, you’ll probably find that the bus is your best option.
French buses are rarely as reliable or frequent as trains, so if you’re looking to explore beyond the larger towns, hiring a car (even if only for a few days) may be the most practical option.
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