Old Custom House Square and Schwendi Fountain, Colmar

Old Custom House Square (Place de l'Ancienne Douane) is a notable square in Colmar, surrounded by historic buildings that have mostly been converted into restaurants and shops. The most remarkable building is the Old Custom House.

The Old Custom House, also known as Koïfhus, is a Gothic-style building with typical medieval Colmar charm that now houses little shops, a restaurant, and cultural events. Built in 1489, it served as a customs house overseeing the import and export and collecting taxes. The building's renovation in the late 19th century added some Renaissance touches. It was named a historical monument by the French Ministry of Culture in 1930.

The Old Custom House Square houses one of Colmar's most beautiful fountains, with a sculpture originally crafted by Auguste Bartholdi. The statue of Lazarus Schwendi stands atop Schwendi Fountain. Schwendi, a lord of Hohlandsburg, can be seen waving a grapevine while a series of cannons release water into the fountain below.

According to a legend, Lazarus Schwendi was war chief between 1564 and 1568 under the emperor Maximilian II and fought against the Turks in Hungary. He had brought a vine plant from his war campaigns in Hungary. The grape variety, called Tokay, became one of Alsace's most famous wines. Auguste Bartholdi was inspired by this legend and decided to represent Lazarus Schwendi with a vine stock in his hand.

The original statue of Lazarus Schwendi, destroyed during the Second World War, was rebuilt using Bartholdi's original models after the war ended.