The retired traveller: 2026-06-03 Colmar

Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Today we've pretty much recovered, although Pat is still having trouble with her leg. We decided to go into Colmar to take the little green train around the city. Le Petit Train Vert starts its 40 minute tour of the city center from near the Unterlinden Museum. Headsets let you choose any of 16 languages, so we could hear the narration in English. Getting in and out of the train was a bit of a challenge for Pat and I, but the driver had a stool ready for us to use.

Our arrival in Colmar

Chuck, Pat, Lynn on Le Petit Train Vert - only the sides were open, so we were protected from any sprinkles.

It's hard to get good photos from the train.

We passed by many of the landmarks of Colmar's old town as we criss crossed small roads and occasional pedestrian zones. This ride is a good introduction to Colmar at 8 Euros per person and gives ideas for places to return to. However, it's hard to take good photos out of a moving train, even if it is going slow.

Crossing the bridge in Little Venice

Little Venice

After the ride, we decided to explore the Unterlinden museum to see the famous triptych of Issenheim. This museum lends wheel chairs to visitors and because we're handicapped, our entry for us and our caregiver is free. France is really working hard on making places handicapped accessible and I see a large increase in accessibility even just since 2 years ago. We also see some people with mobility scooters like mine, or in wheel chairs. Walkers and canes are common. Our generation is aging, but still active.

This museum is housed in a former Dominican Sisters Convent. I like how the convent's structure is still preserved in its modern use. As usual, I can't resist taking photos in the well-preserved cloister.

One of the statues that used to be atop the fountain in the center of the cloister.

Back into the museum, we spent time learning about Martin Schongauer, a famous 15th century painter and engraver. He was born in Colmar, studied under his father, who was a goldsmith, then apprenticed as a painter, attended Leipzig University and later lived in Nuremburg where he learned about contemporary Flemish artists. He was considered a master and many imitated or copied his work.

Two of his altar pieces are in this museum.This one is made up of at least 24 panels.

One of the pieces which includes 4 paintings of the passion of Christ.

I didn't read the info, so I'm only guessing that this is a painting of Jesus in the temple, but I could be completely wrong.

In another room, we saw intricately carved choir stalls from the church at Issenheim as well as a tombstone from the same church. Hans Ulrich vom Hus was a knight who died about 1342. His tombstone is quite elaborately carved, so I'm wondering who this knight might be. Someone important, no doubt. And rich.

choir stalls from Issenheim church

Tombstone of Hans Ulrich vom Hus

We have finally come to the Issenheim triptych. (I wrote about it here: Unterlinden Museum )

This is a model of how the triptych is put together. The left and right panels can be folded in to cover the central motif and present another in its place. This can be done multiple times.

The final altar piece is sculptured. St Anthony is in the middle. St Augustin is on the left and St Jerome is on the right.

Our last stop in Colmar was a nearby cafe where Pat & Chuck ordered Orangina, Dave ordered a beer, and I ordered ice cream with meringue.

I won't need dessert tonight! The pink pieces are meringue (my favorite), the white is cream (I can leave that) and under the cream was vanilla ice cream. SO GOOD!