That Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu Ka? is set in a town inspired by France’s Colmar is a badly-kept secret. Located in the Alsace region of north-eastern France, Colmar is a town with a population of roughly 67,214 (as of 2009, with a metro population of 126,957) and is best known for its well-preserved old town, museums and landmarks.
Colmar was founded in the ninth century and changed hands several times during the course of its history: it was taken by Sweden during the Thirty Years’ War in 1632, re-conquered by King Louis XIV in 1673 and annexed into Prussia in 1871 after the Franco-Prussian War. Returned to France after World War I as a part of the terms outlined in the Treaty of Versailles, Nazi Germany annexed Colmar in 1940 and finally, in 1945, Colmar was returned back to France.
The area has a sunny and dry climate as a result of its proximity to the mountains, and consequently, Colmar is home of some of the best Alsace wine. Despite its turbulent history, Colmar’s old town remains well-preserved, spared the razing and strategic bombing that leveled cities throughout Europe during wartime: Germanic and French influence is seen in its sandstone and timber-framed buildings, and its fairy tale-like atmosphere means Colmar serves as the inspiration for Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu Ka?.