landmark
Eguisheim
A concentric wine village of cobbled lanes spiralling around its castle, voted favourite village of France.
6 km · about 10 min drive
EuropeFranceGrand Est
Colmar
Grand Est, France · Europe
About Colmar
Colmar works well as a base: 10 minutes from Ingersheim, 9km from Route des Vins d'Alsace.
Colmar is in Grand Est, France, with about 65,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Ingersheim, about 4 km away.
Colmar (French pronunciation: [kɔlmaʁ]; Alsatian: Colmer [ˈkolməʁ]; German: Colmar or Kolmar) is a city and commune in the Haut-Rhin department and Alsace region of north-eastern France. The third-largest commune in Alsace (after Strasbourg and Mulhouse), it is the seat of the prefecture of the Haut-Rhin departmentRead more
and of the subprefecture of the Colmar-Ribeauvillé arrondissement.
Colmar was first mentioned in the 9th century and grew into an important medieval trading town within the Holy Roman Empire. In the 17th century it was annexed by France under Louis XIV, though it retained a distinct German character due to its location, predominant language, and culture. The city shifted between French and German control multiple times, before being permanently restored to France in 1945.
The city is known for its well-preserved old town, numerous architectural landmarks, its blend of French and German heritage and its museums, among which is the Unterlinden Museum, which houses the Isenheim Altarpiece.
Colmar is located on the Alsatian Wine Route and considers itself to be the capital of Alsatian wine (capitale des vins d'Alsace).
Where to Stay in Colmar
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Colmar?
Within an hour or so of Colmar: Eguisheim (6 km), Maison Ferber (6 km), Route des Vins d'Alsace (9 km), Riquewihr (10 km).
Are there any good drives near Colmar?
The nearest famous roads are Route des Vins d'Alsace, Alsace Wine Route and Route des Crêtes (Vosges).
Where is Colmar?
Colmar is in Grand Est, France, about 4 km from Ingersheim.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 65,405
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- France
- Region
- Grand Est
- Timezone
- Europe/Paris
- Coordinates
- 48.0808, 7.3558
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in France
Carrying a warning triangle and hi-vis vest in your vehicle is mandatory. Motorway emergency phones connect to official breakdown services only.
Full driving guide for FranceTags
Worth the detour from Colmar
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
cafe
Maison Ferber
Village bakery in Niedermorschwihr where Christine Ferber, the 'jam fairy' revered by top pastry chefs worldwide, hand-cooks over 200,000 jars a year in copper pots; gourmets detour off the Wine Route for her kougelhopf and mirabelle preserves.
6 km · about 10 min drive
famous road
Route des Vins d'Alsace
A 170 km wine road threading flower-decked villages and vine-clad hills below the Vosges mountains.
9 km · about 15 min drive
landmark
Riquewihr
One of the most beautiful villages in France, a perfectly preserved medieval wine village enclosed within 16th-century ramparts.
10 km · about 20 min drive
famous road
Alsace Wine Route
A 170-kilometer scenic wine road winding through vine-covered hills and storybook villages from Marlenheim to Thann.
10 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
Kaysersberg
Half-timbered wine village on the Alsace Wine Route, voted France's favourite village in 2017, with a fortified medieval bridge over the Weiss and a ruined imperial castle above the vines.
10 km · about 20 min drive
castle
Chateau du Haut-Koenigsbourg
A towering medieval fortress restored by Kaiser Wilhelm II, commanding panoramic views over the Alsatian plain from its Vosges mountain perch.
19 km · about 20 min drive
famous road
Route des Crêtes (Vosges)
A ridge road built for military supply in the First World War, running the length of the Vosges summits with views to the Black Forest and, on clear days, the Alps.
26 km · about 30 min drive
Driving roads near Colmar
- Right hereRoute des Vins d'AlsaceA 170 km wine road threading flower-decked villages and vine-clad hills below the Vosges mountains.
- Right hereAlsace Wine RouteA 170-kilometer scenic wine road winding through vine-covered hills and storybook villages from Marlenheim to Thann.
- 26 kmRoute des Crêtes (Vosges)A ridge road built for military supply in the First World War, running the length of the Vosges summits with views to the Black Forest and, on clear days, the Alps.
- 28 kmGrand BallonThe highest summit of the Vosges at 1424 m, crowning the Route des Crêtes with all-round Alsace views.
- 40 kmMont Sainte-OdileClifftop abbey at 764 m on a Vosges spur, Alsace's holiest site, with terrace views across the Rhine plain and the mysterious 10-km 'Pagan Wall' megalithic enclosure in the woods below.
- 48 kmBallon d'Alsace SummitGrassy 1,247 m summit at the meeting point of Alsace, Lorraine and Franche-Comte, reached by a classic hairpinned climb first raced in the 1905 Tour de France; views stretch to Mont Blanc on clear days.
Driving in France
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.85/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€10.00/100km
When to drive here
April to October
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