Colmar

The "most beautiful city in the world", according to Georges Duhamel, was founded in the 9th century and has suffered many setbacks. Fires, bubonic plague, uprisings against the royal families: the city suffered many setbacks before falling, during the Second World War, into an intense period of Nazification (though valiantly slowed down by numerous pockets of resistance).

After the war, in the 1960s, the town took off with the construction of a port and an airfield. A few years later, it became the scene of France's Woodstock, where thousands of peace fighters came to see Pink Floyd in concert. These twelve centuries of history have given the town an architectural heritage that is unique in Alsace. The Maison Adolph and theAncienne Douane are perfect examples of the kind of architecture that has been preserved over the years to embellish the town with a classical-medieval atmosphere. The Renaissance is also featured in the Maison des Têtes, one of the finest bourgeois houses in the département.

In summer, a stroll through the Petite Venise district, through which the Lauch River flows, is a must. Trade in your car for a bicycle, or simply use your legs - the area is best enjoyed by taking your time. It's a romantic stroll that's hard to miss.

Rue des Marchands is home to many of the city's most beautiful bourgeois houses. Its two superstars are the Maison Pfister and the Maison Chez Hansi. The former, built in the 16th century, combines stone and wood, while the latter commemorates the Duke of Austria's intervention against an uprising of noble families in 1538.

Colmar also boasts some very fine religious buildings, such as theDominican church and the Unterlinden monastery, which has now been converted into a museum where you can admire works of medieval Alsatian art.

Popular with tourists from all over the world, Petite France is unsurprisingly the most picturesque district of old Strasbourg. Built flush with the water, this is where fishermen, tanners and millers once worked. Today, a visit here reveals some magnificent half-timbered houses from the 16th and 17th centuries, with sloping roofs opening onto granaries where hides used to be dried.

Finally, Colmar's Christmas markets are among the most famous in the region. There are four of them, offering top-quality local produce and fine crafts, all in the spirit of the festive season.

Don't forget: if you want to discover Colmar and the surrounding area over Christmas, make sure you bring warm clothes. The mulled wine on offer at the markets may be invigorating, but it won't protect you from the cold for hours on end...

It's impossible to set foot in Colmar without taking the time to sample a kougelhopf, the famous raisin and almond pastry, with its easily identifiable shape. Its size makes it a dessert or snack that can be reused over several days, ideal for bringing home as a souvenir of your trip.

Savoury eaters will love bæckeoffe, a hearty dish made with a variety of meats (mutton, beef, pork), potatoes, carrots and other vegetables, all served with a spicy white wine sauce.

When it comes to wines, it would be a shame to miss out on Gewurztraminer. Generally sweet, with aromas of rose or lychee, it goes wonderfully with regional cheeses such as Munster. Alsace Riesling is also one of the children of the soil. That's why it goes so well with local specialities.

Our editors' favourites include Wistub Brenner (traditional Alsatian cuisine in the Petite Venise district), La Cour des Anges, La Cocotte de Grand-Mère and the gourmet restaurant À l'Echevin.