The 1-day tour in Colmar will take you across the boundary between reality and animation. Whether it's the morning reflections on the canals, the afternoon feast of light and shadow, or the fairytale glow of dusk, each moment will become an unforgettable memory. We recommend bringing plenty of storage cards and curiosity to capture every delightful detail of this Franco-German hybrid town as surprises along your journey.
St Martin's Church (Église Saint-Martin)
- Animation inspiration: The church square is where Sophie meets the scarecrow, featuring a highly distinctive architectural blend of Gothic spires and Mongolian-style copper domes.
- Travel tips:
- Free admission: Open Mon–Sat 8:00 AM–6:45 PM, Sun 10:00 AM–7:00 PM, avoiding worship times (subject to daily announcements).
Little Venice (Petite Venise)
- The animated inspiration: A cluster of colorful half-timbered houses intersected by winding tributaries of the Ill River served as the filming location for Sophie's running scene in Howl's Moving Castle.
- Must-do experiences:
- Golden hour for morning photography: Arrive between 7:30–8:30 AM to capture serene reflections in the morning mist and avoid tour group crowds. Recommended shooting spot: Fish Market Dock (Quai de la Poissonnerie), where the shuttered houses and flower-filled window sills on both banks look like frames from an animated film.
- Rowing boat exploration: Rent a rowing boat (approx. €25/hour) to navigate the narrow canals and observe the half-timbered houses up close.
Pfister House (Maison Pfister)
- Animation inspiration: A 1537 Renaissance-style building with biblical story murals on its exterior walls, serving as the creative source for the first meeting of the protagonists in "Howl's Moving Castle."
- In-depth experience:
- Architectural details: The second-floor bay windows and octagonal spiral staircase perfectly recreate the fantastical structures from the animation. We recommend using a telephoto lens to capture the wall reliefs and colorful tiles.
Canal cruise (Bateaux de la Petite Venise)
- Classic experience: A 40-minute cruise through the canal network with the captain's buided commentary on medieval tanning industry history and architectural details. We recommend choosing the first cruise at 10:00 AM for an exclusive "water fairy tale" experience.
- Ticket purchase recommendation: On-site tickets cost €15 per person, or book a package with audio guide in advance on the official website.
