A Spontaneous Trip to Colmar - and the Magic of Curious Travel
This past weekend, I hopped on a bus from Switzerland and found myself wandering through Colmar, France, a town so charming it felt like I was stepping into a real-life fairytale.
I couldn’t believe I was there. I had just arrived in Europe a few days earlier, already itching to explore everything, so when I saw this trip posted, I booked it immediately. I didn’t have time to plan or research much before, but I went with curiosity and excitement of exploring one of Europe’s most charming Christmas markets.
As soon as I arrived, I understood the hype. Everything looked like it belonged in a storybook - colorful, gingerbread-style houses, canals winding through town, quaint bridges, cozy cafés, and Christmas trees sparkling with lights.
Every corner held something beautiful and detailed: Colorful, historic homes, twinkling ornaments and decorations, and food stalls serving warm and delicious treats. I kept walking around with my mouth open, just taking it all in.
I was drawn here by the beauty, but what stuck with me most were the connections made through exploration - to history, childhood memories, the world - and how it all made me feel. Colmar turned out to be much more meaningful than expected.
Childhood Dreams Come True
Growing up, Beauty and the Beast was one of my favorite movies. I loved Belle - curious, independent, always reading and dreaming of adventure. Walking through Colmar made me feel like my younger self again: Giddy, curious, wandering with a sense of wonder.
One of my favorite Disney characters is Belle (Beauty and the Beast)
The cobblestone streets, the wooden houses, the warm glow of the market… everything reminded me of Belle’s village. I literally pictured people poking their heads out windows, yelling, “Bonjour!” When I later discovered that Colmar was one of the inspirations for Beauty and the Beast, I got chills. I almost cried. It felt like stepping inside a place I had loved long before I ever knew it existed…
It reminded me of why I love travel so much - it doesn’t just show you the beauty in the world, but reconnects you to parts of yourself you forgot. In Colmar, I felt connected to the imaginative, brave, curious parts of me that love to get lost in life.
Wandering Colmar, feeling like real-life Belle!
Connections with History
While wandering around, something confused me… I kept seeing little Statue of Liberty replicas in gift shops. I remembered that France had gifted the Statue of Liberty to the U.S., but why this town? Then we stumbled on a mural of the statue and a man beside it. We guessed he must be important, but didn’t know why.
Later, we learned the man in the mural was Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty, who was born in Colmar. That discovery pulled me down a curiosity spiral about the history of the statue, the friendship between France and the U.S., and the shared values behind the gift.
A mural of Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty
It was funny because this was the same kind of history I once found boring in school… but seeing it in real life, on the streets of a charming town, made it suddenly feel alive and deeply connected to who I am and where I’m from.
Travel has that power, turning what could be seen as boring facts into magical wonders.
The Local Flavors of the Christmas Market
Colmar’s Christmas markets are truly special. They’re spread out across town, each with its own vibe, and filled with the smells of spices, sweets, sizzling meats, and baked breads.
Colmar is also known for its white wines, especially Riesling and Gewürztraminer, so of course I had to try them… along with the famous white mulled wine, which I actually liked better than the traditional red.
Menu with hot drink options, in French and translated into German and English.
Food-wise, we tried these Alsatian favorites:
Tarte flambée (a thin, crispy flatbread with crème fraîche, onions, and bacon, which reminded me of thin pizza)
Bretzels (pretzels - a German influence)
Local cheeses and Christmas cookies
Tarte flambée, but a Vegetarian version
I discovered that this region’s cuisine is really a blend of French finesse and German heartiness, which makes sense because it has alternated between France and Germany many times in history. It was fun to taste these different foods and connect them to where they originated.
Tip: The markets get very crowded - go earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon for the coziest experience.
The Architecture - and Why It Feels Like a Fairytale
Before visiting, I kept hearing about Colmar’s “half-timbered houses” but didn’t really understand what that meant. Once I saw them, I had to look up why they are made that way because they truly look like gingerbread houses come to life. It was fun to discover that most of Colmar’s charm historically served a purpose (not just for aesthetics).
What I learned made me appreciate them even more:
The style comes from German medieval building traditions - a reminder that Alsace has been influenced by both France and Germany for centuries.
Builders would construct a sturdy frame using half of the wood beam then fill the spaces with plaster, brick, or clay.
These wood beams remained exposed, giving the houses their iconic pattern.
The upper floors often stick out over the street - a fact I learned was to get away with paying lower taxes since they were based on ground-floor size!
Colors weren’t random, but different shades signaled profession, religion, or social status.
Admiring the architecture and design of the houses in Colmar
Walking through Colmar, you can literally see the blend of German structure and French charm.
And then there are the canals… once used for trading wine, wood, textiles, and farm goods, which give parts of the town the nickname Little Venice.
Colmar is not just a beautiful town, but one that tells a story of the past.
💛 What This Trip Taught Me
Sometimes it’s the bucket-list hype that leads us somewhere, but it’s the unexpected connections that stay with us, the way a place ties into your childhood, your identity, your curiosity.
When we travel with openness, we start to see how interconnected everything is:
a French town inspiring a movie from our childhood…
a sculptor from a tiny village shaping an American icon…
a region blending two cultures in its buildings, food, and language.
Colmar reminded me why I believe in traveling deeply and curiously, not to just check off sights… but to feel and learn something, and understand the world (and ourselves) a little better.
And if you want a taste of its magic for yourself, here are some tips…
One of the Christmas stalls selling mulled wine, and other drinks
🌍 Practical Tips for Your Trip to Colmar
How to Get There
From Switzerland: easy trains from Basel, Zurich, or Geneva
From Paris: TGV (fast train) in ~2 hours
By car: perfect if you want to explore the Alsace Wine Route
Best Time to Visit
December: magical Christmas markets
Spring: blossoms + slower pace
Summer: lively, festive, colorful
Fall: vineyards + golden foliage
What to See
Petite Venise (Little Venice)
Christmas Markets (seasonal)
Unterlinden Museum
Statue of Liberty replica
Alsace Wine Route towns (Eguisheim, Riquewihr, Kaysersberg — more fairytale villages!)
Ready to plan your trip to Colmar?
I can help you!
If you want help planning a trip to Colmar (or anywhere in the Alsace region), I’d love to help you make it meaningful, memorable, and deeply curious.
