France Trend – France Attractions and Tourist tips

Law court

“This is the High Court of Justice and Parliament of Alsace, the sovereign council designed to mark the royal wish to assume possession of the province, established in Colmar in 1698, in the former municipal house known as the “Wagkeller”. This building, which was completely remodelled between 1764 and 1771 under the supervision of the architects Chassain and de Rungs, after the dissolution of the parliaments under the Revolution, became the seat of the Appeal Court in the 19th century. It currently houses the District Court.”

Covered market

“In brick and freestone, with a metal frame, supported by cast-iron pillars, the hall of the covered market was built between 1863 and 1865 by the architect Louis-Michel Boltz and is typical second Empire work. The doors open onto the canal, to enable the market gardeners to unload their flat-bottomed craft. In the south-west corner, a niche was created in 1869 to receive the statue of the Petit Vigneron, by Bartholdi.”

Former St-John "Commanderie"

“The Hospitaller order of Saint Jean of Jerusalem settled in Colmar between 1191 and 1210, and constructed the buildings of their Commanderie in the second half of the 13th century. The original chapel which was completed in 1268 was remoddelled in the 16th century; some aspects of the street and courtyard facades remain, including the portal with geminate tympanum. The remainder was rebuilt in the 19th century and the building now houses a private educational establishment.”

Quay Poissonnerie

“The Poissonnerie quay, where fish caught mainly in the Ill were stocked and sold, is documented back to the 14th century. Part of this district was damaged in a large fire in 1706, but some houses were rebuilt with the use of older materials. The whole area has undergone urban renovation campaigns between 1978 and 1981, and now falls within the conservation area.”

Pfister house

“A jewel of the Renaissance, this residence was built in 1537 for Ludwig Scherer, with its painted facades, its glassed angular oriels, its delicately sculpted Gallery that supports some attractively worked corbels; this is a true jewel of Alsace architecture.a wealthy hatter from Besancon. The paintings that decorate the facade, attributed to Christian Vacksterffer, represent the Germanic Emperors of the 16th century, the Evangelists, the Church Fathers, allegorical figures, and biblical characters and scenes. Its current name comes from the merchant Francois-Xavier Pfister, who acquired it in 1841.”

Water tower

“The Colmar water tower is representative of the Wilhelminian neo-Gothic style, typical of the period of annexation of Alsace by the German Empire after the 1870 war. This massive tower, 53 metres high, built between 1884 and 1886 under the supervision of the architect J.B. Huen and the engineer H. Grüner, remains the oldest and most imposing of the surviving water towers in Alsace. With a capacity of 1200 m³, its reservoir ceased to be used in 1984.”

Court of Appeal-Colmar Tourism

“In the 19th century, the Royal, subsequently the Imperial, Court of Colmar, based itself in the palace of the former Sovereign Council of Alsace. After the annexation by the German Empire, the institution assumed the name of Oberlandesgericht, the High Court of the State of Alsace-Lorraine. Work was started on this building in 1902. This imposing edifice was a neo-baroque inspiration, and is typical of the Wilhelminian official architectural style. The building was completed in 1906 and still houses the highest jurisdiction of the departments of Eastern France.”

Colmar tourist train

In the square you can pick up an easy 4-mile English tour through the Old Town. We understand that the train does not stop, so you will have to return to take photos unless you have a fast camera.

We needed a tour that could work for a group of people of all ages and mobility. This is our solution, I believe. At least, it is a good way to get your bearings and an overview of the Old Town in the pedestrian-only zone.

DATES AND TIMETABLES INDIVIDUAL PRICES:

Trains run from Easter to All Saints’, every day at the following times :
9:00 – 9:30 – 10:00 – 10:30 – 11:00 – 11:30 – 12:00
13:30 – 14:00 – 14:30 – 15:00 – 15:30 – 16:00 – 16:30 – 17:00 – 17:30 – 18:00
Individual prices:
5.50 each 3.00 each
(2 to 12 years old)
Group prices (minimum 15 people) :
1 driver and 1 guide free of charge for 60 people
15 to 60 people : 4.50 each
61 to 120 people : 4.00 each
up to 121 people : 3.50 each

School prices :
under 12 years : 3.00 EUR each
12 to 18 years : 4.00 EUR each
Owner : Anne LUDMANN – DANICHER
Head office :
Sarl TRAIN’S
9b rue Adolphe Hirn – Logelbach
68124 WINTZENHEIM
Annual holidays :
23rd December 2006 – 31rd January 2007.

Town Library in colmar

“Founded in 1803, the municipal library is housed in the former Dominican convent buildings, which were rebuilt between 1733 and 1742 around the medieval cloister. Its ancient origins are a result of the bringing together of the prestigious monastic libraries of Haute Alsace, and it contains over 1200 manuscripts, the oldest of which dates from the 8th century, more than 2700 early printed books and almost 5000 prints from the 16th to the 18th centuries.”

Place de la Cathédrale(Cathedral Square)

“This Renaissance structure with its remarkable loggia, was built in 1575, from the framework of the Saint Jacques chapel, which sheltered the ossuary of the former cemetary of the collegiate church of Saint Martin. Originally intended to be a town hall, this building then housed the town guard. A nut market was once held under the arcades of the eastern part.”

Église Saint-Matthieu

Each year, the Church of St. Matthew is famous for a high quality sound remarkable, hosts many music concerts including the International Music Festival of Colmar.
Built in the thirteenth century, the church is a manifesto of the architecture of the mendicant orders, with its simple lines and cleaned. Restored some years ago, the church was then restored to its original state, free from any modern addition.

it was built in 13th century. Gothic and Renaissance stained glass windows and mural paintings, as well as a wooden and painted ceiling.

Rue des Clefs

“Built between 1778 and 1782 as the town residence of the Cistercian abbey of Paris, in the Orbey valley, this vast building became the regional centre of administration during the revolution, before housing the Haut-Rhin Préfecture from 1800 to 1866. In this capacity it received a wide variety of official visits, the Kings Charles X (1828) and Louis-Philippe (1831), then the Prince-President Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte (1850). As the Town Hall since 1866, between 1918 and the present day it has been visited by most of the Presidents of the Republic.”