Each year in December I take a long weekend for Christmas markets on the continent. Strasbourg was the destination of choice this year (Salzburg last year, Vienna my first year). Strasbourg's little known claim to fame is the European Parliament headquarters, Christmas markets and not much else. It's a beautiful French Alsace city surrounded by a river and beautiful German buildings.
My airport of choice was Basel - cheap flights galore between London and Switzerland all the time. The bus/train combo is about 2 hours, on a very nice French train through the valley between the Vosges mountains and the Black Forest (Germany). They are baby mountains, much like the Appalachians, rather than the Rockies. There was snow on the tops of the mountains, which was perfect for a Christmas weekend.
Train station just outside Basel airport. I was cheeky and got a stamp coming in from Basel and a stamp going out of the French side of the airport. Two country trip!
After settling into the hotel, it was off to the first Christmas market. I had to figure out the trams to get there...they were surprisingly futuristic for a small city in the middle of France. The first Christmas market was magical....this one had a lot more Christmas lights for sale, which makes things just glow even more.
Gorgeous
The stands in the Alsace region are required to have a certain percentage of locally sourced goods / crafts. The quality of the knick knacks, etc was so much better than a lot of the city markets I've seen. There was a funny stand with old used French Christmas CDs - including one in the middle called Country and Trucker. I'm assuming this is not French.
One of the many scrumptious food stands
I took a boat trip around the city with the swans in tow.
The boat was decked out with Christmas and mulled wine. Full tour around the city and Christmas cheer.
Lunch was ham, sauerkraut and some sort of potatoes with cheese. Love market food!
Pretzel stand. Really fun to see the German and French influences...Alsace is the best of both Germany and France - nice people (Germany), German and French food, attention to detail (German), French art, and French fashion.
Another stand in the market - hundreds of stands all prettier than the last.
Strasbourg Cathedral in the centre of town
Nativity scene inside the Cathedral - starting with the Annunciation and ending with the Wise Men
The manger scene
The Wise Men (who apparently rode an elephant to visit Jesus)
Stain glass windows in the cathedral
Amazing rose stain glass in the Cathedral
Windows and tapestries in the Cathedral.
Beautiful cityscape with Christmas lights and market along the canal
German architecture along the river
Building over the canal (missed which one it is in the audio commentary....too much mulled wine)
European parliament
Beautiful building with bridge shot on the canal tour
Beautiful building at the locks (boat actually used the locks - I've never done that before!)
Lutheran church along the river (now used as an exhibit hall)
All the medieval streets were decorated with lights and the buildings had their own Christmas displays. This elaborate display burst with bubbles.
RS restaurant - he knows how to pick them!!!
Rooster in white wine sauce...yum!
When in France, Crème Brule!
Beautiful lights in Strasborg
Lights through the streets of Strasborg
Ah, I am so much in love with Christmas in Strasbourg.
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