“To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake, it is necessary to stand out in the cold.” — Aristotle
=====================================================================(in the Grand Est region of northeastern France). Colmar, the third-largest commune in Alsace* (after Strasbourg and Mulhouse), is the seat of the prefecture of the Haut-Rhin department and of the subprefecture of the Colmar-Ribeauvillé arrondissement. The city is renowned for its well-preserved Old Town, its many architectural landmarks and its museums, among which is the Unterlinden Museum, which houses the Isenheim Altarpiece. (Colmar is located on the Alsatian Wine Route and considers itself to be the capital of Alsatian wine.)
+ During the Christmas season, the Alsace villages delight visitors with their holiday charm. Lovely decorations adorn the pastel-painted half-timbered houses, and the town squares feature festive centerpieces or Christmas trees.
Tourists can sample holiday goodies, shop for gifts, and soak up the magical ambience at traditional Christmas markets called Marchés de Noël. Any travel itinerary through Alsace in the month of December should include stops at these festive outdoor Christmas markets.
+ The historic town of Obernai hosts a Marché de Noël, where local vendors sell their artisanal crafts. Visitors will enjoy the Christmastime baked goods such as gingerbread and kougelhopf at the Marché de Noël in Kaysersberg, an attractive town with many half-timbered houses. The charming village of Ribeauvillé hosts a medieval-themed Christmas Market with gourmet treats that date back to the Middle Ages. Eguisheim, one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France (Most Beautiful Villages of France), dazzles with its festive Christmas decorations and illuminations during the holiday season. The Christmas market of Eguisheim has earned the "Cities and Villages of Christmas" designation for its authenticity. The medieval walled town of Dambach-la-Ville also hosts a traditional Marché de Noël with musical performances.
+ A favorite tourist destination in Alsace, the captivating medieval town of Colmar is exquisitely decorated for the Christmas season. Colmar is a quintessential Alsatian town, with its cobblestone pedestrian streets and quaint half-timbered houses, and has many cultural attractions.
+ With six Christmas markets (Marchés de Noël), the town of Colmar ensures a lively visit during Christmastime. The Christmas markets are in the historic center of town, so tourists can stroll from one to another.
+ Colmar is 64 kilometers (40 mi) south-southwest of Strasbourg, on the Lauch River, a tributary of the Ill. It is located immediately to the east of the Vosges and connected to the Rhine River in the east by a canal.
+Colmar has an oceanic climate that is significantly modified by the city's location far inland, with cold, dry winters and warm to hot, wetter summers.
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*Alsace is a cultural region and a territorial collectivity in eastern France, on the west bank of the upper Rhine next to Germany and Switzerland.
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