Flowers add further splashes of colour to historic Quai de la Poissonnerie or Fishmonger’s Wharf, part of the picturesque Little Venice district of Colmar in Alsace, Grand Est, France, where styles of timber framing draw on both French and German traditions.
Colmar, Alsace, Grand Est, France: floral displays add a finishing touch to one of the most picturesque parts of old Colmar, the Quai de la Poissonnerie (FIshmonger’s Wharf or Quay) in La Petite Venise or Little Venice, the city’s historic River Lauch waterfront. The quay is lined with medieval and Renaissance half-timbered houses and riverside restaurants. In the past, most of Colmar’s professional fishermen lived on the quay, united in a powerful alliance with the city’s boatmen. The fish they caught were stored in tanks before being sold here. The typical Alsatian architecture of Little Venice is a magnet for tourists, who can see traditional styles of timber framing drawn both from eastern France and from its nearest neighbour, Germany. Some of the houses have sculpted, curving timbers as in the German Fachwerk style, while in others, the timbers are straight. Most of the windows have shutters, either typically French louvres or solid boards. Some Little Venice houses can be traced back to the 1300s, while others were built at various times up to the 18th century. In 1706, a huge fire destroyed more than 40 houses in the district, but from 1978 to 1981, many of the surviving properties were restored and updated.
Size: 2818px × 2818px
Location: Colmar, Alsace, Grand Est, France.
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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