The Magic of Colmar Christmas Market

Colmar Christmas Market

Let us tell you about the magic of Christmas in Colmar. If there was ever a place where you would find Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Belle and Snow White all hanging out together then Colmar, Alsace would be the place. Colmar is so fairytale that you almost expect sweet singing blue birds to magically appear to put on your coat for you. The cobble-stone streets make you feel like you have just stepped into an actual storybook and you can see how places, like this magical village, would have inspired many of the fairytales that we grew up loving. Add to this the magic of Christmas and you will be in heaven. So let us show you around the Colmar Christmas Market in this extentive travel guide to one of Europe’s best Christmas markets.

Is Colmar worth visiting in December?

Colmar Christmas Market is consistently named one of the best Christmas markets in Europe so, visiting in December should be on everyone’s bucket list. Glittering Christmas decorations and twinkly lights will sweep you up in the magic of Christmas. You will be left spellbound as you stroll through warmly illuminated streets and alleyways with the air around you has the cinnamon-scented smell of Christmas.

Colmar’s spectacular hertitage provides the perfect backdrop for the festivities as the entire town looks like it belongs in a Christmas storybook. Situated right in the historic town centre, Colmar’s six Christmas markets radiate warmth and an inviting atmosphere where you are sure to make some enchanting discoveries. Each with its own particular theme, the markets will envelop you in the magic of Christmas. It truly is a fairytale setting.

How to get to Colmar Christmas Market

The great thing about Europe is how accessible it is. There are a few airports which are close to Colmar. You can choose between Basel, Strasbourg, Baden, Stuttgart or Zurich. To be fair you could even fly to airports such as Frankfurt and get the train or rent a car.

We chose to fly into the Euroairport at Basel (which is not actually in Switzerland but is in fact in France) and the journey to Colmar will take about 45 minutes. There are a number of low-cost airlines, such as Ryanair that fly into Basel. We managed to get our flights with Ryanair for €30 return so how can you say no!

How to get to Colmar from Basel airport

There is not a lot of information at the airport on how to get to Colmar from Basel airport but with a bit of research before you leave it is really easy. Initially it seems confusing as there are three ways to exit the airport, the French side, the German side and the Swiss side.

You can exit the Swiss side, go directly to Basel and get the train from there but that involves changing currency and this is completely unnecessary.

The easiest way is to exit the airport from the French side and find the Flixbus going to Saint Louis directly outside. It will cost €2.50 to get to Saint Louis train station. Inside you can purchase your ticket to Colmar. The train services Mulhouse, Colmar and Strasbourg and costs €13.60. Don’t forget to validate your ticket in the yellow machine before boarding the train.

Christmas in Colmar

If you frequently read our blog you will know that we are big fan of Christmas….like HUGE! We had been so jealous of the beautiful pictures of this fairytale place taking over our Instagram feed every year so we knew that we had to go and experience the magic of Christmas in Colmar for ourselves.

Christmas Markets in Europe

Have you ever experienced a Christmas market in Europe? If not, you are seriously missing out! Even the Grinch would be full of festive cheer here. The atmosphere is just infectious. It really is the most magical time of the year and it is just full of possibilities.

Christmas markets in Europe are a time-honoured tradition and both young and old come every year to enjoy them. There are of course the big ones that you surely have heard about like Hamburg Christmas Market, Frankfurt and Cologne but nearly every city in Europe has their own.

Even a Cotswolds Christmas is a magical experience and we throughly enjoyed Warsaw Christmas Markets.

Traditional decorations and twinkly lights adorn every city and town. Rustic wooden stalls are set up selling everything from Christmas decorations, trinkets and crafts to the most delicious wine and food.  So grab yourself a glass of Glühwein or Vin Chaud to keep warm and explore the magic of Colmar Christmas Markets .

Christmas Markets in Colmar

We have been to quite a few Christmas markets in Europe, it really is our favourite time of year to visit, but Colmar is one of the most magical that we have been to.

Walking the streets of Colmar is like watching all of your childhood fairy stories come to life. Streets are lined with colourful gingerbread houses that even Hansel and Gretel would love to sink their teeth into. There is a wooden turret that you can just imagine Rapunzel letting down her hair from and tiny timber-framed cottages that you could see the seven dwarves living in.

What makes Alsace so special?

The Alsace region of France is unique in that, it is so close to the German border, both cultures mix to create this fairytale land. Alsace is one of the most beautiful regions in France. It is known for its Christmas markets, its castles, its wine road and its close proximity to Germany. It is also known for its high-quality gastronomy, especially its sauerkraut, its Flammekueche, and its delectable white wines.

The Alsace region has been passed back and forth between France and Germany over the years. Colmar itself was conquered by France in 1673 but was again annexed by Germany from 1871 to 1919 and again during World War II. It was the last town in France to be liberated at the end of the war and has belonged to France since but there is no denying the German influence still evident in this town.

Colmar is a much smaller city than Strasbourg but what it lacks in size it makes up for with oodles of Christmas charm. Colmar simply outdoes everyone at Christmas! There may not be a huge list of attractions in Colmar but this is made up for by the amount of scenic spots in this fairytale town.

Best things to eat at Colmar Christmas Markets

These are some of our favourite traditional Alsatian foods that you simply have to try during your time visiting the Colmar Christmas Markets.

• Mannele – Delicious brioche ssimilar in shape to a gingerbread man. Mannele have raisins or chocolate chips for eyes and are best accompanied by a hot chocolate. Local chocolaterie Jacques Bockel makes their own, non-traditional version from chocolate with different, tasty fillings like hazelnut and salted caramel. You simply have to try them!
• Vin chaud – A staple of Alsace Christmas markets, and indeed symbolic of every European market we’ve visited, is vin chaud. Also known as gluhwein in German-speaking countries or glogg in Nordic countries, this amazing mulled wine is everywhere. In Alsace, white vin chaud seems to be just as popular, if not more so, than red. Both have spices, citrus notes, and sometimes honey to add a bit of sweetness. This is what gives the entire town the enticing smell of Christmas.
• Kugelhopf – Though it originated in Austria, this sweet raisin-filled yeast bread has become a specialty of the Alsace region of France, where it is often served for breakfast or brunch. It’s traditionally baked in a tall, decorative tube pan, which gives the cake its characteristic angled and ridged pattern. Perfect for having withyour morning coffee.
• Bredele – These traditional dry cookies come in lots of different shapes and flavours, including cinnamon, vanilla, anise, and more. They come shaped as stars, bells, hearts, and other seasonal items.
• Pain d’epices – Similar to gingerbread, pain d’espices literally means “spiced bread.” There are different recipes served throughout Colmar Christmas Market. Some are a little sweeter, some taste more of orange, and some with come with glazed, candied cherries.

Things to do in Colmar at Christmas

As previously mentioned there is not a huge list of attractions but here is a small list of things to do in Colmar in the unlikely scenario that you do get bored wandering these picturesque streets.

Museum Unterlinden

The Unterlinden museum is housed in a building that originally was a 13th century Dominican convent that later became a public baths in 1906. Today it houses the Isenheim Altarpiece by Matthias Grünewald and features a large collection of local and international artworks and manufactured artifacts from prehistorical to contemporary times. The museum bears the quality label Musée de France and is one of the most visited in France outside of the Île-de-France.

Bartholdi Museum

Wandering the streets of Colmar we kept seeing little arrows on the ground with pictures of the statue of liberty. The statue of liberty again popped up when we were browsing postcards in the beautiful shops of the town. It turns out that Colmar is the home of Auguste Bartholdi who is the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty. His birthplace has been turned into a museum which houses more of his astonishing sculptures.

Little Venice

Perhaps the most romantic and picturesque area in Colmar is the region known as Little Venice. The canals, lined with colourful gingerbread houses, are decorated at Christmas with cute little mini-holiday scenes to really add to the magic of Christmas in Colmar. There is also an indoor food market here which is certainly worth a visit.

Toy Museum

Relive your childhood in the Musee du Jouet which is housed in a former cinema. The museum presents a collection of toys from the 19th century to the present day, showing the way society has changed over the years. On three floors, visitors can discover antique toys or characters from cartoons; from vintage teddy bears to, our personal favourite, the first Barbie dolls!

You will also find video games, Playmobil, scale models, robots and a pretty impressive miniature train set. The toys and games exhibited here come from all around the world and belonged to different generations of children.

Explore Colmar’s Churches

There is no shortage of beautiful churches to explore in Colmar. I personally, am not particularly religious but I do find such beauty in these churches and I also have a tradition of lighting a candle for my mum, who passed away, in every city that I visit.

Whatever your reason you will not be disappointed by the beautiful churches in Colmar. They are even more magical at Christmas as you will find beautifully decorated Christmas trees and festive nativity scenes inside.

Go Vintage and Antique Shopping in Colmar

You will find a vast array of both vintage and antique shops here in Colmar all selling a selection of both quality and authentic goods.

Explore the nearby villages of Eguisheim and Riquewihr

Near Colmar are many other beautiful small fairytale villages in France, including half-timbered, picturesque Eguisheim and fortified town Riquewihr. There is also the beautiful medieval castle of Haut Koenigsbourg in the region so grab a local bus and get exploring!

Book a tour of Strasbourg and all of the villages of the Alsace region worth seeing.

Go Rainbow hunting

Not literally! But did you know that the colour of each house signified the family’s occupation. For example, blue for fishermen, yellow for bakers, green for farmers, red for butchers, pink for brothels and white or tan for tanners. Apparently even further back in time houses were painted either white or red to indicate which faith you belonged to.

In another cute tradition, hearts on the doors meant that the woman inside was getting married so no heart meant you were available. Who needs Tinder!

Where to say in Colmar

There is no denying how busy this region is at Christmas time so it is best to book in advance. We recommend Reflets Sur La Lauch Appartments located in the beautiful Little Venice region of Colmar.

So what are you waiting for? It is time to put on your best Christmas jumper and go explore the magic of Christmas in Colmar.

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Until next time you crazy kids!

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