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Colmar town-Author; Peter K Burian-

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Colmar Town, France

Colmar  is a city and commune in the Haut-Rhin department and Grand Est region of north-eastern France.

The third-largest commune in Alsace, it is the seat of the prefecture of the Haut-Rhin department and of the subprefecture of the Colmar-Ribeauvillé arrondissement.

Colmar is situated on the Alsatian Wine Route and considers itself to be the “capital of Alsatian wine”

1. Well known for its architectural landmarks

Town of Colmar- Author; Sinava-

The city is renowned for its well-preserved old town, its numerous architectural landmarks, and its museums, among which is the Unterlinden Museum, which houses the Isenheim Altarpiece.

2. Colamr was first mentioned in the chronicles about Saxon wars by Charlemagne

Portrait of Charlemagne- Author; Theodoro Matteini-

Colmar was first mentioned by Charlemagne in his chronicle about Saxon wars. This was the location where the Carolingian Emperor Charles the Fat held a diet in 884.

Charlemagne, a member of the Carolingian dynasty, was King of the Franks from 768, King of the Lombards from 774, and the first Holy Roman Emperor from 800.

Charlemagne succeeded in uniting the majority of western and central Europe and was the first recognized emperor to rule from western Europe after the fall of the Western Roman Empire around three centuries earlier.

3. Was granted status of a free imperial city by Emperor Fredrick II

Painting of emperor Fredrcik II- Author; Unknown-

Colmar was granted the status of a free imperial city by Emperor Frederick II in 1226. In other words, it was made a self-ruling city with complete autonomy.

In 1354 it joined the Décapole city league. The city adopted the Protestant Reformation in 1575, long after the northern neighbours of Strasbourg and Sélestat.

4. Colmar town was taken under the rule of the Swedish army in 1632

Image by Siggy Nowak from

During the Thirty Years’ War, it was taken by the Swedish army in 1632, which held it for two years.

In 1634, the Schoeman family arrived and started the first town library. In 1635, the city’s harvest was spoiled by Imperialist forces while the residents shot at them from the walls.

5. It was conquered by King Louis XIV in 1673

Original potrait of King Louis XIV of France- Author; Anonymous-

The city was conquered by France under King Louis XIV in 1673 and officially ceded by the 1679 Treaties of Nijmegen.

In 1854 a cholera epidemic killed many in the city. With the rest of Alsace, Colmar was annexed by the newly formed German Empire in 1871 as a result of the Franco-Prussian War and incorporated into the Alsace-Lorraine province.

It returned to France after World War I according to the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1940, and then reverted to French control after the battle of the “Colmar Pocket” in 1945.

6. Has been continuously governed by very conservative parties.

Colmar town- Photo by Sergey Konstantinov on

Colmar has been continuously governed by conservative parties since 1947. These are the Popular Republican Movement (1947–1977), the Union for French Democracy (1977–1995) and the Union for a Popular Movement (since 1995). It had only three mayors during that time.

7. The Colmar treasure was discovered hidden during the black death was discovered in the town in 1863

Treasure- Image by JamesDeMers from

The Colmar Treasure, a hoard of precious objects hidden by Jews during the Black Death, was discovered here in 1863.

The Black Death was a bubonic plague pandemic occurring in Western Eurasia and North Africa from 1346 to 1353.

It is the most fatal pandemic to have been recorded in human history, causing the death of 75–200 million people, peaking in Europe from 1347 to 1351. Bubonic plague is caused by a bacteria spread by fleas

8. Colmar town has an oceanic climate

Image by Pera Detlic from

Colmar features an oceanic climate. The city has a sunny microclimate and is one of the driest cities in France, with annual precipitation of just 607 mm (23.9 in), making it ideal for Alsace wine. It is considered the capital of the Alsatian wine region.

The dryness results from the town’s location next to mountains, which forces clouds arriving from the west to rise, and much of their moisture to condense and fall as precipitation over the higher ground, leaving the air warmed and dried by the time it reaches Colmar.

The city is, therefore, closer to a continental climate and winter and summer temperatures can sometimes be the coldest or hottest in France.

9. Part of the old town area is the town’s main sight

Old town of Colmar- Author; Zairon-

Mostly spared from the destructions of the French Revolution and the wars of 1870–1871, 1914–1918 and 1939–1945, the cityscape of old-town Colmar is homogenous and renowned among tourists.

An area that is crossed by canals of the river Launch (which formerly served as the butcher’s, tanner’s and fishmonger’s quarter) is now called “little Venice” (la Petite Venise).

10. The town has amazing architectural landmarks

Town of Colmar- Author; Zairon-

Colmar’s secular and religious architectural landmarks reflect eight centuries of Germanic and French architecture and the adaptation of their respective stylistic language to the local customs and building materials.