Colmar, France
After leaving Bern we boarded our ship and began our cruise up the Rhine River. Our first port of call was Colmar, France. During medieval times, Colmar was an important trading town. In the 17th century it was annexed by France, but kept much of its German traditions. The city shifted between French and German control four times between 1871 and 1945 when it became a permanent part of France. Today, French is the official language but many older residents…