Petite Venise is the jewel of Colmar — Lauch canals lined with colourful half-timbered houses, reflections in the calm water and a timeless atmosphere. Your Elsass VTC private driver takes you there from Strasbourg, Barr, Basel or Mulhouse for total immersion, without worrying about parking in the city centre.
In summer and during the Christmas market, the centre of Colmar is saturated. Your driver drops you off directly at quai de la Poissonnerie or place de l'Ancienne Douane, then leaves — no parking to look for, no time lost walking from the outer car parks.
The wine cellars and estates around Colmar offer tastings of Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Crémant d'Alsace. Enjoying the wines to the full without having to drive afterwards is exactly what an Elsass VTC private driver offers along the whole Wine Route.
Combining Petite Venise with Eguisheim, Kaysersberg or Riquewihr in one day is the most popular option. A full-day chauffeur service allows you to see everything without compromising comfort.
In practice, travellers staying in Strasbourg reach Colmar in about 45 minutes with Elsass VTC. Many plan a morning in Strasbourg city centre and an afternoon at Petite Venise — your driver coordinates both stops effortlessly.
EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse (EAP) is about 35 minutes from Petite Venise. Your Elsass VTC driver welcomes you on arrival and takes you straight to Colmar, luggage included — no transfers, no shared shuttle.
The Colmar Christmas market attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors in December. Your driver takes care of the arrival and the return during this peak period — you enjoy the lights of the illuminated Petite Venise, he takes care of the rest.
The Petite Venise district is one of the most striking sights in Alsace. Along the Lauch canal, the 16th- and 17th-century half-timbered houses mirror themselves in the calm water in a scene that photographers from around the world come to capture. The ochre, red and gold facades, the geraniums in the windows and the flower-covered pontoons form an exceptional architectural ensemble that has survived the centuries almost intact. Your Elsass VTC driver drops you directly at the entrance to the district, whether it is a transfer from Strasbourg, Basel or the surrounding villages.
First mentioned in the 9th century, Colmar was raised to the status of imperial free city in the 13th century. This status gave it considerable autonomy and prosperity. This mercantile wealth explains the density of Renaissance patrician mansions that still punctuate the centre, such as the famous Maison des Têtes. Petite Venise, for its part, owes its face to the market gardeners, boatmen and tanners who once populated this faubourg crossed by the Lauch and transported their goods by water. Colmar is also the birthplace of Auguste Bartholdi, sculptor of the Statue of Liberty — a museum is dedicated to him in the centre, a few steps from Petite Venise.
Quai de la Poissonnerie is the heart of Petite Venise. It is here that the colourful half-timbered houses lean literally over the water, their foundations sunk in the canal. In the past, fishermen sold their catch there from their boats; today, walkers stop to photograph the reflections and the flower boxes. The boat ride offered by local guides is one of the most popular experiences.
Adjacent to Petite Venise, the Tanners' quarter retains its tall houses with multi-level attic roofs, characteristic of the hide drying practised until the 19th century. These imposing buildings, mainly dating from the 16th century, form one of the most photographed streets in Colmar. Further north, place de l'Ancienne Douane — known as Koïfhus — hosts seasonal markets in a remarkably preserved Renaissance setting.
A few minutes' walk from the canals, the Unterlinden Museum houses one of the major works of Western art: the Issenheim Altarpiece by Matthias Grünewald, painted between 1512 and 1516. This monumental polyptych strikes visitors with the intensity of its colours and the expressionist violence of its representations. A full visit of the museum easily takes two to three hours.
From late November to early January, Petite Venise turns into a Christmas fairytale setting. Strings of lights are reflected in the canals, wooden chalets offer bredele and Alsatian mulled wine, and the half-timbered houses light up in golden shades. December's record crowds make parking virtually impossible — your private Elsass VTC driver is the obvious solution.
Colmar is the natural hub of the central Alsace Wine Route. From Petite Venise, your driver can take you to Eguisheim, one of the most beautiful villages in France, in about 10 minutes, or to Kaysersberg, voted France's most beautiful village in 2017, in 20 minutes. Further north, Riquewihr and its intact medieval ramparts are reached in 30 minutes from Colmar. A discovery tour combines Petite Venise and several villages in a single memorable day.
EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse (EAP) serves Colmar in about 35 minutes. Strasbourg-Entzheim Airport (SXB) is about 55 minutes away. Elsass VTC provides airport transfers with real-time flight tracking — your driver is present as soon as you land, whatever the delay. Colmar station, linked to Strasbourg in 25 minutes by TER, is also served for your train arrivals and departures.
Petite Venise is not only the most photographed district in Colmar. It is also one of the most gourmet districts. Winstubs and traditional restaurants line the canals. Here you can enjoy tarte flambée, baeckeoffe, choucroute garnie and bouchées à la reine. Several Colmar addresses feature in the leading gastronomic guide, and the city hosts one of France's oldest wine fairs every autumn. Using a private driver makes perfect sense here: you match your meals with the local wines without ever worrying about the return journey.
Wine lovers will be happy to extend the experience with a cellar visit. From Colmar, the vineyards of Eguisheim and Turckheim can be reached in a few minutes. A half-day chauffeur service allows you to enjoy two or three tastings in a row without driving — the ideal way to discover the seven Alsatian grape varieties directly from the winegrowers: Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir.
Petite Venise can be discovered all year round, but each season creates a different atmosphere. In spring and early summer, the banks of the Lauch are adorned with flowers and boats — the ideal moment for a morning stroll before the visitors arrive. July and August are the liveliest: waterside terraces overflow and boat trips sell out. Then comes autumn, the harvest season, with its golden light — undoubtedly the best time to combine the district and the Wine Route. Finally, winter transforms Petite Venise into one of Europe's most magical Christmas settings.
Whatever the period, the historic centre of Colmar remains largely pedestrian and its parking is limited. Arriving with a private driver avoids the tedious search for a space: you are dropped off as close as possible to the canals or the Unterlinden Museum, then picked up from the same spot at the end of the visit. For a full day, the chauffeur service is the most flexible option.
Petite Venise in a few figures: one of the 10 most photographed sites in France — Colmar, second tourist town in Alsace — Unterlinden Museum, top 10 most visited museums in France — Christmas market among the 10 most beautiful in Europe.
Circular village listed among the most beautiful villages in France, surrounded by Grand Cru vineyards. A natural combination with Petite Venise for a half-day on the Wine Route. (10 km — Half day)
Most beautiful village in France 2017, Schlossberg castle and fortified medieval bridge. 20 minutes from Petite Venise, ideal to combine in the late morning or early afternoon. (20 km — 2 to 3 hours visit)
Medieval town with intact ramparts, pearl of the Wine Route. Its 16th-century lanes and Riesling cellars make it an essential stop from Colmar. (15 km — 2 hours visit)
Town of minstrels, dominated by three ruined castles. Renowned Grand Cru vineyards and lively Grand'Rue. 15 minutes north of Colmar. (12 km — 2 hours visit)
The most visited fortified castle in Alsace, at 757 m altitude. 360° view over the Rhine plain and, on clear days, the Alps. Accessible from Colmar in about 35 minutes. (25 km — 2 hours visit)
Small town in the Fecht valley, gateway to the Vosges massif from Colmar. Known for its AOP cheese and hiking trails towards Hohneck. (8 km — Half day)
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