Fontaine Roesselmann

Fontaine Roesselmann stands in the intimate Place des Six Montagnes Noires, a surprisingly peaceful square that most tourists miss entirely. The 1888 Renaissance fountain honors Lazare de Schwendi, the 16th-century nobleman who brought Tokay grape varieties from Hungary to Alsace. You'll find an impressive bronze statue of Schwendi himself crowning an ornate stone pedestal decorated with allegorical figures representing the seasons and wine-making traditions.

The fountain sits at the heart of this small cobblestone square, surrounded by typical Alsatian half-timbered houses painted in soft pastels. It's genuinely quiet here, even during peak tourist season, giving you space to appreciate the intricate stonework and bronze details without crowds. The allegorical sculptures around the base tell the story of Alsatian viticulture through symbolic figures, and you can actually get close enough to examine the craftsmanship.

Most guidebooks make this sound more spectacular than it is, it's a pleasant 10-minute stop rather than a destination. The real value is the peaceful square itself and the surrounding architecture. Skip it if you're rushing between major sites, but if you're exploring this quieter part of Colmar's old town, it's worth the brief detour. The evening lighting mentioned everywhere is nice but not worth a special trip.