Little Venice and Fishmongers’ Wharf, Colmar (must see)

Colmar is at the heart of the Alsace Wine Route. The Little Venice (La Petite Venise) district of the old town lies along the banks of the Lauch River canal. The cobbled canal side road is lined with multi-colored half-timbered houses. In all honesty, "Little Bruges" or "Little Amsterdam" might be a more apt name for the district as it has but one river.

The Lauch River extends 45 kilometers from the Vosges Mountains. The most romantic way to enter the district is to purchase boat tickets at the pub where the flat-bottomed boats are moored. The boatman sculls the craft along the canal while relating some of the stories of Colmar.

A good walk starts at Old Custom Square (Place de l'Ancienne Douane). Pass by Auguste Bartholdi's statue of General Lazare de Schwendie. He poses in full 16th-century armor, looking like Don Quixote. Walk along the Street of the Tanners. Come to the Quay of the Fishshop (Quai de la Poissonerie) via a bridge over the Street of the Tanners.

The brightly colored half-timbered houses were the homes of the fishing guild. Here is the famed Covered Market of Colmar. The Street leads to Krutenau, the fruit, and vegetable market. It was once the village of the market gardeners. Over the Abreuvoir Bridge (Pont de l'Abreuvoir) and down the Herse Street (Rue de la Herse), turn right to la Little Venice.

There is a stunning view of the district from the Saint-Pierre Bridge. After the bridge, follow Saint-Pierre Boulevard to Manege Street (Rue du Manege). Make a right turn and arrive at the Square of the Six Black Mountains (Place des Six-Montagnes-Noires).