People learned to make leather before sewing and spinning. Throughout the ages, tanning furs and leather has been difficult but profitable. The journey from bull to soft leather is long. First, the skins were washed for a long time in flowing water (therefore, Tanners' Quarter is located on the banks of the Herberbach Canal), then they were dried. The process was accompanied by an unpleasant sight and smell. The skins were tanned, and then greased and beaten with sticks to achieve softness. Without plastic and synthetics, there were ten times more leather goods than now: outerwear, shoes, bags, wallets, saddles, quivers, and even wallpaper. Leather goods were decorated with precious stones, beads, fur. Skillful work was generously paid. Therefore, although Tanners' Quarter was not the largest in Colmar, it was certainly the richest and had the best window views. Even in the Middle Ages, citizens managed to build 6-story(!) half-timbered houses that have survived to this day. The dwellings of tanners can be recognized by the large attics, where washed skins were traditionally hung to dry.
The quarter includes two streets (Grande and Petite) and the canal embankment. The Covered Market, a 19th-century building that still fulfills its purpose, stands out among other houses. Its location is somewhat unusual: it stands on the embankment. This was done on purpose so that the peasants' boats could deliver their products directly to the market doors.
The market is open every day except Sunday and Monday. On Thursday, fruit and vegetables are sold throughout the quarter.
The Old Customs house with the square in front of it also belongs to Tanners' Quarter. The square is home to a monument to Lazarus von Schwendi, a general of the 16th century. According to legend, he laid the foundation for the famous Alsatian vineyards by bringing the Tokay grape to the region. Therefore, the general is depicted with a vine in his hand. The monument was created by Auguste Bartholdi, the author of the Statue of Liberty in the United States. Why him? The answer is simple: he was born in Colmar and never forgot his fellow countrymen.