Colmar, France

 

22-23.08.13

Middle of Petite Venise

Boat launch.

A café, waiting for you!

Colmar is the best preserved city in Alsace.  As a trading post and river port, Colmar had its heyday in the 16th century, when wine merchants shipped their wine along the waterways running through the picturesque canal quarter, now known as "Petite Venise". 

K&M on a small bridge spanning the canal.

 





 



Swans waiting for crumbs from the restaurant patrons.  Looks like an idyllic setting until someone told us they saw a rat the size of a cat swimming those waters...

 



I like the crémant (almost like champagne).
 

Karl prefers the muscat.



Talk about crowing with pride!

 

 

We stopped in the market place for lunch and found all sorts of delicious treats!

 

 

 

In case we've forgotten that we're in the Alsace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The entire town has this amazing architecture of half-timbered pastel houses and sculpted pillars.  Window boxes with colourful flowers and well-swept doorways.  Neat, tidy, and beautiful.

What could be more appealing than hearts and flowers!

Even a "closed" sign looks appealing with these hearts and colourful fabric.

I wonder what you call the tradesman that makes these wonderful signs.  Most are in intricate wrought iron.

Colmar is in the middle of the Wine Route, so there are obviously many places to taste the local offerings.

Dinner at "La Maison Rouge".

 

We started off with the famous "tarte à l'oignon" (onion tart) as an appetizer, but it was the size of a quiche and could have been a meal in itself.  The main meal was a slice of "veau à la forestière", which is veal with a thick mushroom gravy.