A large town in the south of the Alsace region of France, Colmar boasts a charming old town that gives visitors a real glimpse of what it would have been like to live there several hundred years ago. The colorful, half-painted, half-timbered homes here offer countless photographic opportunities, and are described as “Petite Venise.” Also, a variety of local restaurants provide visitors with a taste of authentic Alsatian cuisine, while the town is conveniently situated on the Alsace wine route, so be sure to add a few other stops to your itinerary!

The famous Renaissance artwork, the Issenheim Altarpiece by Matthias Grunewald, is housed in Colmar’s Unterlinden Museum, while the vierge au buisson de roses by Martin Schongauer is housed in the Dominican church. Also of note, the Collegiate Church Saint Martin and the Temple Saint Mathieu boast magnificent workmanship that is not to be missed.