Fish was discovered earlier than meat. To get meat, you need to stalk the beast, hunt. And still, there is a chance that you will die. While fish can be found in any body of water. As a rule, they are silent and safe (not including the large sea species), so that women and children could catch them. It is not surprising that Christ fed the sufferers with fish and gave them wine to drink. The people of Colmar have lived according to the precepts of Jesus for many centuries. The local Lauch River was crowded with fish. Even today, taking a city center boat trip among the half-timbered houses overhanging the river, you can see fish 30-40 cm long in the water. However, you will not see any fishermen. According to locals, the fish has become unpalatable due to the environment. Oh, those were the days...

The tradition of serving white wine with fish dishes was surely introduced by the Alsatians. There is plenty of fish here. And thanks to the Vosges Mountains, there is a very dry microclimate creating a favorable soil rich in trace elements. So this is a wonderful place for grapes, which is used for excellent dry white wines.

Fishing and related industries, like the manufacture of nets and boats, were once the bedrock of Colmar's economy. Traditionally, people connected by the same occupation settled together. Hence the streets of locksmiths and butchers, the Tanners' Quarter, and the Fishmonger District.

There are no clear boundaries here. Walking through the old center, you will wander from one block to another anyway. The Fishmonger District is located a little further along the Lauch River. Therefore, you can understand that you are entering this quarter by the decreasing number of tourists. The quarter looks newer compared to Little Venice or the Tanners' Quarter. This is actually true: at the end of the 18th century, there was a fire, which damaged more than 50 houses. The grand-scale restoration was completed only in the 70s of the 20th century. Half-timbered houses were reconstructed according to drawings and blueprints. Several houses with fake protruding elements were also restored. Until you touch them with your hand, it is not clear that the protruding beams and volumetric stucco around doors and windows are just drawings!