A Storybook You Can Actually Walk Through
If you’ve ever dreamed of stepping into a fairy tale at Christmas, Colmar, France is about as close as it gets. Nestled in the Alsace region, it’s a place where tall, timber-framed houses lean toward each other across narrow lanes, strings of lights loop like garlands between rooftops, and every square overflows with food, crafts, and carols. Colmar is often ranked among the top Christmas destinations in Europe—and after visiting in 2024, I understand why.
A Little History Between the Lights
Colmar isn’t just a stage set for Instagram. The town first appears in records around the 9th century and has been tugged back and forth across borders ever since—sometimes German, sometimes French, always proudly Alsatian. In 1698 it became the judicial center of the region, giving it a kind of stately importance. Voltaire lived here for over a year in the 1750s, probably scribbling sharp words while bundled against the cold.
Fast-forward a couple centuries, and Disney animators looked here for inspiration when creating Belle’s village in the animated Beauty and the Beast. Walking its lanes, you see why: it’s whimsical, colorful, and feels like a backdrop that’s waiting for a song to break out.
Getting Lost (Happily)
Colmar isn’t a large town, but the streets seem to fold in on themselves. The tall buildings, colorful facades, and endless side alleys make it ridiculously easy to lose your sense of direction. A guide in Bern once warned me, “Drop a pin on your phone before you wander.” That advice rang in my ears as I bumped into fellow travelers in random corners of Colmar, all of us laughing as we asked: “Any idea where the entrance is?”
But here’s the truth: if you’re going to get lost anywhere, let it be in Colmar at Christmas. Every corner offered something to pull me in—a glowing stall, the scent of mulled wine, or an entire street transformed into a scene from a snow globe.
Six Markets, Six Moods
One of Colmar’s charms is that it doesn’t settle for a single Christmas market. Instead, the town scatters six different themed markets throughout its squares and streets:
- The Children’s Market, with a carousel and rides that make it pure magic for families.
- The Food Market, dedicated to Alsatian specialties—sausages, pretzels, and steaming mugs of vin chaud (mulled wine).
- The Artisan Market, an indoor treasure trove of handcrafted goods perfect for souvenirs.
- And others tucked into squares, each with its own flavor and focus.
Traditions and Treasures
Like most European Christmas markets, Colmar has a commemorative mug unique to that year. It’s part tradition, part collector’s item, and absolutely impossible to pass up. Mine came home with me, a small piece of Colmar’s spirit now living in my cupboard.
I also stumbled into a cheese shop where wheels of golden treasure filled the shelves. Tempting, of course, but this trip wasn’t about stocking up—it was about soaking up. And Colmar is saturated with Christmas spirit. The only negatives? The crowds (inevitable) and, oddly, the perfection of the place. At times it felt almost too storybook, as though a film crew might pop out from behind a stall.
For contrast, I’d say I preferred Strasbourg’s markets, which felt like a real city celebrating Christmas rather than a movie set built for it. But that’s a post for another day.
Getting There
Colmar is less than three hours by train from Paris, making it an easy side trip if you’re in the city for the holidays. For many, it’s the highlight of an Alsatian Christmas tour that might also include Strasbourg, Obernai, or smaller villages along the wine route.
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