Italy and Japan in France

You don't have to be an otaku to like anime movies. There are people who love the multidimensionality of Japanese productions, and calling them "fairy tales for children" irritates them. There are also people who do not understand their message, seeing only a strange line, brutality and incomprehensible symbolism. Well, both sides have their beliefs and we are left to accept that.

In 2004, Hayao Miyazaki, a Japanese director, cartoonist and comic book creator, created a full-length anime entitled Howl's Moving Castle . Two years later, the film received an Oscar nomination for the best animated film. His inspiration was the characteristic buildings of a French town called Colmar. What captivated a director from a distant country in an Alsatian town so much that he decided to set the plot of his film in the main center of the 68th department?

Little Venice in flowers

Tourists visiting Colmar are delighted with its most beautiful district - Little Venice stretching over the Lauch River, or Petite Venise . It is a wonderful place, full of romanticism, stunning with its beauty, especially in spring and summer, when the canals are covered with a lot of flowers.

The term Little Venice comes from the characteristic half-timbered buildings, somewhat reminiscent of gingerbread houses. Or maybe with andrut? In any case, the associations with sweets are not accidental, because they look sweet and adorable, like from a fairy tale for children - or from an anime. A walk along the quartier de la poissonnerie is a must on a trip around the town, and the perfect phrase that comes to mind while admiring its buildings is "beautiful".

City as painted (drawn)

Colmar is situated in a picturesque depression between the Rhine and the Vosges Massif. It is famous for the production of wine and textiles, and most of its monuments are located in the Old Town. Apart from the residential buildings from the 15th and 17th centuries, it is worth paying attention to the cathedral, as well as visiting the museum located in the former Dominican monastery.

The beauty of the district (and the city as a whole) has been the scene of French series and films several times, including "La Grande Illusion" from 1937 and "La confiance règne" from 2004. Importantly, Colmar is the hometown of Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the famous sculptor and author of the Statue of Liberty. Alsace's most famous cartoonist, Jean-Jacques Waltz ("Hansi"), was also born here. So it is safe to say that this city is painted .

Campsite in Colmar

About 2 kilometers from the city center is Camping de l'Ill *** , offering an overnight stay on the River Ill, peace and quiet, and at the same time easy access - there is a beautiful bicycle path along it. It is open from March to early January. Two people who want to spend the night in a motorhome will pay from 14.80 to 17.30 euro / day. Tourists staying at the campsite are close not only to the city of Colmar, but also to the Ballons des Vosges Nature Park. In addition, it is a great starting point for other attractions in Alsace. The border with Germany is approx. 20 km away and Mulhouse is 40 km away.

The facility has a 5-hectare area with places for tents, campers and caravans. You can also spend the night here in the cottage. Laundry is available at the campsite and free internet is available at the reception. Children have a playground at their disposal, while adults can explore the area by bike, walk along the river, fish, ride a horse or take part in canoeing or boat trips along the Alsatian canals.

Thanks to its location on the outskirts of Colmar, guests of the campsite can easily reach the main attractions of the resort known as the symbol of Alsace. While admiring Little Venice from the Steinbrück Bridge, they will quickly understand that they just have to fall in love with this flower-decorated city.