Unterlinden Museum (Musee Unterlinden)

As one of Colmar's most popular attractions, the Unterlinden Museum is often visited on tours to the region; independent travelers can prebook museum admission to avoid waiting in line. The museum features six permanent areas plus a changing number of temporary exhibits. There's an archaeology section with ancient objects, an area devoted entirely to the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and a section focused on decor and art in everyday life.

• The Unterlinden Museum is a must-visit for art lovers and those who appreciate medieval architecture.

• On-site facilities include a café and a well-stocked gift shop.

• The entire museum is wheelchair-accessible, and there's a scaled-down, sculpted replica of the Isenheim altarpiece for the blind and partially sighted to experience tactilely.

The museum is located in the northern part of Colmar's historic old town, about a 15-minute walk from both the Colmar Saint-Joseph Railway Station and the central station. Underground parking is available nearby at the Parking Mairie lot, and Le Petit Train Colmar, a mini "train" for tourists, departs from right by the museum.

The museum is open every day of the week except for Tuesdays and select public holidays from morning until evening, with extended hours on the first Thursday of the month. Classical-music performances are also occasionally staged here (using the museum's 17th-century Ruckers harpsichord), some of which are free to visitors. Check the website for up-to-date details.

The museum's star attraction, the Isenheim altarpiece is considered the masterwork of German Renaissance artist Matthias Grünewald, notable for his rejection of Renaissance styles in favor of traditionally medieval aesthetics. It features sculptures of saints Augustine and Anthony, among others, created by Alsatian sculptor Nikolaus Hagenauer, along with scenes from the crucifixion, viewable when the wings are closed.