My husband and I will be doing the Alpine tour in September. We will stay three extra days. From Chamonix, France we will rent a car in Geneva, and see Annecy. We were also going to see Colmar, but now I’m thinking we might want to explore more of Switzerland, instead. Colmar looks like a picturesque town, but during the Alpine tour, we will probably see a lot of picturesque towns. Do you think Colmar is worth it? Or should I opt to do more hiking and see more scenery in Switzerland? Ultimately we will end up in Zürich for our flight home.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
scenicwanderer,
I don't know the details of your Alpine Tour. I would guess you will see a lot of mountains and slightly less scenic towns. A good trip has variety.
Therefore I would say yes to Alsace. Colmar is a nice non-Alpine old town. It is also a very good base to explore the nearby Alsatian wine villages, which really need a car to see properly. Especially Riquewihr, Kaysersberg and Ribeauvillé. These are strung out along the "Route des Vins d'Alsace".
See this website: https://www.alsace-wine-route.com/
Posted by
Meridian, Mississippi, USA
124 posts
Scenicwanderer,
It's hard to answer questions like this. Do you think Colmar is worth it? is very subjective. What I like my not be what you like.
However, I loved Colmar. Every one of your pictures will look like a postcard. It's like a fairy tale town - Belle's village from Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" (but a lot more crowded). There's great food, covered market, canals, museums, wine, pedestrian streets for shopping, and amazing timber frame architecture.
Go to Colmar!
I hope you have a great trip whatever you decide!
Tell us more about your interest and perhaps someone could give you more suggestions or insight to help with your decision.
Posted by
OP
Delaware
38 posts
Thanks for your help! I think we will stick to our original plan and see Colmar/Alsace. We want a variety of experiences and I like to take pictures--especially of great scenery.
Posted by
Paris
7292 posts
Commenting on your plan to rent a car in Geneva from Chamonix to visit Annecy : I'm a bit confused; it is easier to simply get a bus (Ouibus) from Chamonix to Annecy. Several daily departures. Then another bus gets you from Annecy to Geneva Airport (10+ daily departures) for onward train connections North-East towards Colmar. Much faster than routing through Lyon by train all the way.
You can of course rent a car in Annecy itself to sightsee around the lake; it's not absolutely necessary.
Posted by
OP
Delaware
38 posts
The car is to get from Annecy to Colmar. I’ve never been to Europe—or out of the USA, for that matter—that’s why i’m asking for advice. The car rental can be cancelled if I don’t need it, but there didn’t seem to be a quicker way to travel that route.
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
I agree with comment from Chris from Basel.
I have done Colmar and surrounding villages and countryside. It is a great place area to visit.
We also sawit with a car.
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12313 posts
The look and feel of an Alpine town is nothing like the towns on the Route des Vins. I consider Colmar a great starting point or base to explore the wine route. Ultimately, you have to decide what you enjoy seeing most (what's worth spending your travel dollars/time on?).
I don't think you'd be disappointed at all in Alsace. The weather should be nice in September. I'd be a little worried about crowds (nothing compared to August) so would try to be a little later in September if possible. If you find it's crowded, skip the most famous towns on the wine route and visit the "lesser" towns. Every town is really nice. The famous towns normally have some small claim to fame. Otherwise they are all full of half-timbered buildings, a little like stepping back in time.
There is a great castle in the area I'd recommend. The Chateau du Haut Koenigsbourg is right up there with the best castles in Europe. Nearby is a "monkey mountain" (La Montagne des Singes). I didn't visit because I'd already seen the Barbary Apes in Gibraltar.