How to Visit Little Venice in Colmar, France
Last Updated on 18th December 2024 by Sophie Nadeau
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Picture perfect Little Venice is one of the most popular districts of Colmar, and for good reason. Pretty as a postcard, this delightful neighbourhood looks like it’s been plucked straight out of a French storybook thanks to its timber-framed houses and charming eateries. Here’s your guide on how to visit Little Venice in Colmar, as well as what to know before you go.
Little Venice is known as La Petite Venise in French.
Contents
A history of Little Venice in Colmar
Around the world, places are named Little Venice when they are quaint and surrounded by water. Of course, the little Venice of Colmar is no different thanks to the presence of a beautiful waterway, the River Lauch.
No one knows quite how the Little Venice of Colmar got its name, but the leading theory is that it probably originated from the first set of houses lining the banks of the Lauch. Most of the houses you see today were built between the 14th and 18th-centuries.
During the Middle Ages, the route of the River Lauch was redirected so as to pass directly through the centre of Colmar, thus leading to more opportunities for the inhabitants and greater prosperity.
The district lies in the southeast of the city and encompasses the area from Koïfhus, going right through the fishmongers’ district, up until bridges Turenne and Saint-Pierre.
What does the architecture of the houses mean?
Look closely at the candy-hued merchants’ houses today and you’ll see that some of the pastel shutters have cookie cutter shaped hearts punched out of them!
These were created to signify that there was a single woman living in the house. When the woman had married, the heart shape was transformed into a lozenge (a kind of diamond).
In the past, when fewer people were able to read, different coloured houses would help people distinguish which business sold what. Blue is for the fishmongers, white is for a baker, green ones are for the market gardeners, red is for a butcher, and yellow ones are for the cheese vendors.
Marché Couvert
For many people, visiting the covered market can be a highlight of strolling around Little Venice as it offers up the opportunity to sample a number of local French food. It’s also a great place to escape from the rain in case of bad weather (which is a common ocurrence during the winter).
The covered market dates back to 1865. Inside, there are a number of greengrocer and cheese sellers, as well as sit down cafés and eateries where you can eat a ready made dish to warm you up after time exploring the rest of Little Venice.
How to visit Little Venice
The best time to visit the city is undoubtedly during the summertime when everything is in full bloom and beautiful flowers line the banks of the river. Christmas is also a popular time to visit thanks to the fact that Colmar is home to one of the best Christmas Markets in Europe.
As this is just a district of the city, you can explore for free 24/7. Whatever the time of the year you go, but especially during the period of the Colmar Christmas Market, the area remains one of the most popular places to visit in the Alsace and is extremely busy. Nearby (350 metres away to be precise) one of my favourite spots in the city is rue des Marchands.
This is why I recommend visiting as early in the day as possible and place it as the first thing to do in my suggested one day in Colmar itinerary. The district is only a few streets and so won’t take very long to see. If you would prefer to explore Colmar with a guide, then book a guided tour like this one.
Another way to explore Little Venice, and Colmar generally, is by going to a boat tour. This boat company will allow you to discover the district in a flat bottomed boat and booking is advised ahead of time as space fills up fast.
If you want to stay in a hotel right by the River that even boasts a waterside restaurant serving French cuisine, you can consider staying in this cottage style hotel which dates back to the 16th-century.
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