Petite Venise in Colmar

Petite Venise is a medieval canal district where waterways flow between streets lined with multicolored half-timbered buildings from the 14th to 18th centuries. Small bridges and stairs connect the narrow passages between houses, creating a distinctive layout where water runs through the heart of the neighborhood.

The district developed in medieval times when fishermen, tanners, and market gardeners relied on canals for their trades. Buildings were expanded over centuries, but the water system remained essential to how people worked and moved goods.

The neighborhood's name reflects its canal system, which shapes daily life much like waterways do in Venice. Today, visitors and locals gather at waterside restaurants to eat traditional Alsatian food while watching boats glide past.

Walking is the main way to explore the area, as narrow paths and stairs wind between the buildings throughout the district. Boat tours operate during warmer months and offer a different view of the buildings and waterways.

Each area of the district once served a specific trade: tanners hung animal hides near the canals to dry them out. Fishermen and gardeners used the waterways to move their catches and produce to market more easily.