Marche Couvert (Covered Market)

The Marche Couvert (covered market) operates Tuesday through Saturday mornings on the banks of the Lauch River near Petite Venise. The building is a solid 19th-century market hall with iron columns and high ceilings. Inside: charcuterie stalls with Alsatian sausages, smoked meats, and pates. Cheese stalls dominated by Munster (the Alsatian washed-rind cheese that smells aggressive and tastes remarkable, especially when young and runny). Local wine by the bottle or glass. Honey from the Vosges mountains. Preserves, spices, and baked goods including kougelhopf (EUR 12-18 for a whole cake). The market is where Colmar's locals shop, not a tourist attraction, which is exactly why it is worth visiting. The quality is genuine, the prices are fair, and the vendors will let you taste before buying. Saturday mornings are the busiest and best. An outdoor farmers' market extends along the river on Saturdays.