Collégiale Saint-Martin

The Collégiale Saint-Martin is the main church of Colmar, a large Gothic building in the old centre of the Alsatian town, on the square called the Place de la Cathédrale, although the church is not officially a cathedral. It was begun in the thirteenth century on the site of an earlier Romanesque church and built over the following hundred years or so, in a Gothic style that shows the influence of the Rhineland, with strong, rather square forms and pale pink sandstone typical of Alsace. Colmar was a free imperial city at that time, and its wealth and independence are reflected in the scale of its church.

The exterior is dominated by the single tower, which rises above the crossing, with a distinctive cap, the work of a later age, and which remains one of the landmarks of the town skyline. A second tower was never completed. The south portal, the Saint-Nicholas portal, is decorated with carved figures and scenes, and the details of the stonework, with tracery, gargoyles and pinnacles, reward a close look. The overall effect is of a building that is solid and slightly austere, in keeping with the character of the region.

The interior is a tall Gothic space with a long choir. The stained glass windows, some of them medieval and some later, show biblical stories, and the light that enters them gives the interior a calm colour. The organ is used for religious services and for concerts, and the church is regularly the setting for music. Because it is a living parish church, the atmosphere is that of a place of prayer, and visitors should respect services and keep quiet.

Opening hours vary by season, with different schedules in summer and winter, and the church is closed on some days and holidays, so check in advance. Entry may be free or charged, with reduced rates for students and free entry for children and on certain days, and groups should book well ahead. A visit takes one to two hours with time to appreciate the art and the architecture.

The church is a short walk from the other attractions of Colmar. The Maison des Tanneurs, the Maison Pfister, with its painted facade, and the Petite Venise, the canal quarter with its half-timbered houses, are all close at hand, and the Unterlinden Museum houses the Isenheim Altarpiece, one of the great works of European painting. Colmar's market, in the covered hall, is another good stop.

The collegiate church suits lovers of Gothic architecture, music fans and visitors exploring the old town.