Colmar & Eguisheim

It’ll be another scorcher today as the heatwave continues.  Central France gets the 40s while we’re relatively ‘comfy’ with the 30s.  Well actually it’s cookin’ even in the shade.  After breakfast we drove the massive 13kms to Colmar (pronounced ‘Koll-mar’). Close to the Rhine River but actually on the La Lauch River, Colmar has been called the prettiest town in the world.  Its historic core has been beautifully preserved. (Fortunately, Colmar was mostly spared from the destruction of the French Revolution and the wars of 1870–1871, 1914–1918 and 1939–1945).
As we entered the city (and just past the airport) is the roundabout that features a 12m (39 ft 4 in) replica of the Statue of Liberty (the original is 93m high).

Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, the French sculptor who designed the Statue of Liberty was born in Colmar.

This replica of the Statue of Liberty in Colmar, was dedicated on July 4, 2004, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his death. It stands at the north entrance of the city on a roundabout opposite the airport on D83 (Route de Strasbourg).

It’s hard to believe that it was 20 years ago that Kath & I climbed the steps to the crown of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbour!

A car carrier at the roundabout. Could they squeeze any more in?

Colmar is situated along the Alsatian Wine Route and calls itself Le Capitale des vins d’Alsace (the capital of Alsatian wine).

Ok there’ll be no jokes about the big coq!

Finding a car park was not easy.  I’d targeted a monstrous open air car park but when we got there it was full. There were 100s of spaces but I guess the locals use it when at work. Fortunately there was a parking building very close by which only cost us €3 for the morning.  It turned out to be a winner because apart from it being new and convenient, it also kept Hermann out of the sun.
We made our way towards La Petite Venise.

The area that is crossed by the canals of the La Lauch River is now called “Little Venice” (la Petite Venise).

Kath on the bridge at Rue Turenne.

It’s mid morning and the temperatures are high 20s already. A small Place at the junction with Grand Rue.

Moving into Rue Des Marchants.



Maison Pfister (Pfister House), a handsome bourgeois residence dating to the Renaissance (1537).


Pissed pig.

Interesting building on the corner of Rue des Merchants and Place de l’École.

A patisserie on Place de l’École. Some ideas for Mrs JB??  Hold that thought til late July!

Butcher’s shop.


On Rue des Tetes…. the Maison-des-Têtes (House of the Heads), which owes its name to the 111 carved heads decorating its façade (1609).


The original Shrek?


Sale (another one). T-shirt caught the eye. MCS or MC’s?

Opposite Église des Dominicains (Dominican Church).

Looking towards Église des Dominicains. (1289–1364).

Église des Dominicains art.

Pig!!!

Rue des Serruriers.




Storks!

More storks!

Jet rails over Église Saint-Martin (Saint Martin’s Church). (1234–1365)

Dodgy church art on Église Saint-Martin (Saint Martin’s Church).  Warped minds these church people.

More cathedral art.

Opposite the cathedral.

Street art.

More weird cathedral art.

Opposite the cathedral. What’s up around here?

Building art.

Coppas.

More weird stuff.

Église Saint-Martin. We poked our noses in the door to see what was going on. It’s very dark in this cathedral.  A good place to cool down from the heat outside, nothing more.

Who buys a pink Bambina???


Rue de l’Église.

And looking back at the cathedral.

At Grand Rue.


This place certainly shows up well on a good day in summer!

We need a drink and under one of those sun umbrellas will be perfect!

Ahh yes … a local Colmar brew to quench the thirst.  Nice.


Here at at Place de l’Ancienne Douane is a fountain statue created by Bartholdi.

Grand Rue.

Building storks!  They just love them here.

The old customs house (Koifhus) dates back to 1433.

From within the old customs house building.

Moving on.

Another detour out of the 30C+ heat  – into L’Etal Aux Epices on Rue des Écoles.

A bit of this, a bit of that. Market stuff.


Here you go Justin!  The secret of Justin (Justin’s Secret).


The outside of this ‘covered market’ building dates back to 1865.

At the corner another of Bartholdi’s statues.

A postie’s bike. They still use these?

The covered market building backs on to a canal.  Goods used to be off loaded from boats directly into the building.

Back to Hermann we go.  This was a really nice walk around Colmar.  Recommendation: Plan ahead and you easily can catch the best of it in a morning.

We drove another 7kms to the beautiful little town of Eguisheim.  (pronounced ‘Egg-iss-hyme’). Highly recommended!  It’s all about the wine here. (Happy with that!). 🙂

Street names to match.


The infamous corner on Rue du Rempart Sud with “Le pigeonnier” (pigeon house).

And of course the ‘been there’ photo.

It’s a beautiful stroll down this street.


Street art.

Storks up high and higher.

And over here.

Moving on.

Bar closed but fyi.. click on the photo to read the board.

And in towards the Place du Château Saint-Léon.

Stunning.  Ahhhh some cool water!  Gimme some!

Oh so cool and refreshing when it’s 32C.

Eguisheim was apparently the birthplace of the 11th-century Pope Leon IX – the pope who insisted on celibacy for priests.  I mean – what on earth was he thinking!!  But, don’t panic! Fortunately Eguisheim is also considered as the birthplace of wine growing in Alsace. Ahhh… now we’re talking sense!

Storks on top of the chapel.

Storks loitering around a shop!

Right, it’s time to taste some wine.  Let’s not muck around. The big name here in Eguisheim is Beyer.

Yes Leon is big, but so is Emile (since 1580.  He ages well).

One of these, one of these, oh and one of these <repeat>.

Our Brazilian born French hostess was very informative and friendly.

She even took our picture!

Nice and cool down in the old cellar.

Ok it’s time to get our 3 bottles back to base!  There’s drinking to do.
Eguisheim oh so pretty!

Last minute street art.


Almost at the car and the pharmacy’s sign confirms the current temperature. It would soon reach 35C.

On the road with air con working well.

Our 3 bottle purchase. Beautiful. All up about €26.

One down, now some nibbles.  Gotta have the Crusti Crocs!

Soon enough it was dinner. Muzza goes for the beef skewer (brochette).  Check it out!  They’re big slabs of beef on this thing!  Sheesh it certainly drew attention to the table when they brought this out!

Gotta walk this off.  It was a BIG feed!  A stroll around Riquewhir at 9pm.  The streets are virtually deserted. Bliss.  The tour buses have gone.  Best times to wander around Riquewhir are before 9:30am and after 5:30pm.



Righto, blog done. Time for some zzzz’s.  We check out of Riquewhir tomorrow morning. It’s been a perfect base for visiting all parts of Alsace.  Bonne nuit!