Alsace can be discovered in several ways: through its great wines, by going up to the Grand Ballon or by attacking its castles... But visiting Alsace, and more particularly Strasbourg, during the great period of the Christmas markets is a real delight. It is living Christmas, it is immersing yourself in a unique atmosphere, at once exciting, intoxicating and sweet: Christmas is everywhere... And the scents of spicy cinnamon revive happy memories, everyone then finds their child's soul.
Christkindelmärik from Broglie Square
First established in 1570, it is the oldest and largest part of the Strasbourg Christmas market. It is also called "Christkindelmärik", which literally means "Market of the Child Jesus". It will take you a good two hours to walk its three long alleys and stroll between the stalls. You can find everything, the best and the worst! The best: everything related to the decoration of the tree and the house. The choice is impressive, all colours, all shapes, all imaginable materials are on display, from traditional wreaths made of braided straw to trendy ball designs and small wooden or tin decorations. The worst: the so-called Alsatian sandwich shops, which are far too numerous and serve so-called local specialities
The more traditional wooden chalets are located at the back of the market, near the Opera House. Every year, a new character comes to join the huge Alsatian crib. An advice for agoraphobes or people in wheelchairs, prefer a visit in the morning, as soon as it opens (11am)
The Christmas market in the Cathedral Square
Broglie Square having become too small, the market has expanded to the Cathedral Square and the site is a perfect fit. We are back to a very distant time when a multitude of shops were located on the walls of the cathedral. It is also an opportunity to discover this essential site that should not be missed under any circumstances! It is impossible to detail all its riches here, but here are some of them: the astronomical clock, the angels' pillar, the pulpit, the magnificent stained glass windows and the sumptuous organs. This part of the Christmas market is more pleasant; the aisles seem wider, there are few or no fries and merguez vendors and everything seems more authentic
Alsatian delicacies and specialities
In ten minutes, you can reach the quays and go up along the Ill river to Petite France. The walk is very pleasant, there are beautiful shops, and the view of the city from the quays is splendid: the illuminated bridges, the arrow of the cathedral... On the way, rue et place d'Austerlitz, awaits you the market of the bredele and the vignerons of the Couronne d'or. Gourmands, let's go! The bredele are small cakes made only during the Christmas season. Each Alsatian has her own recipe and spends hours in her kitchen making them (knowing that there are more than a hundred varieties). And here are some names, in Alsatian of course, for the pleasure of the ears before that of the taste buds: spritzbredele (the most famous), nusseschnitte (with nuts), springerle, butterbredele (with butter), zimetschnitte, pumpernickel. At the Bredele market on Place d'Austerlitz, bakers and pastry chefs, in addition to offering their products, share their know-how and deliver some recipes
But the highlight is certainly reached during Advent and Christmas: on the evening of December 5, the children place a few seasonal vegetables (cabbages, carrots, turnips) on a plate that they leave in front of their front door to attract St. Nicholas' donkey! Discreetly the parents remove some vegetables (to push the staging) or drop some pieces on the stairs, and instead, the child will find a small toy, a gingerbread with a beautiful image of Saint Nicholas, clementines and sweets. Gingerbread is sometimes replaced by a mannele (translate "little man"). It is a brioche of about 20 cm in size and shaped like a man
At Christmas markets, we eat waffles instead. There are also "black heads" and all kinds of sweets. Other cakes that can be enjoyed during Christmas holidays include christstolle (a Christmas brioche made with fruit and spices and sometimes almond paste) or schnitzwecke (a bread made with a large number of dried fruits: figs, prunes, currants, pears, apricots, nuts).
A city of light
There is no Christmas without a tree, so let's meet at Place Kleber. As you enter the square, your eyes are immediately drawn to a huge, beautifully decorated tree some 30 metres high
The right time to stroll around the Christmas market, admire everything that Strasbourg has to offer and be totally immersed in this "Christmas" atmosphere (the term is often used) is around 5pm, when it gets dark. If it's cold, it's even better and if it snows then it's great. Strasbourg lights up as soon as the sun sets (if it appeared during the day). You will then understand why Strasbourg was named "City of Light". From rue des Grandes-Arcades to rue du Vieux-Marché-aux-Poissons, you can walk under curtains or star waterfalls. The rue des Hallebardes is lit by huge chandeliers under very original bells. Further on, huge golden Christmas balls shine. All the illuminations of the city are lit, and it is the Gate of Light, near the Raven's Bridge, that opens the festivities
In the city centre, the streets, house facades, windows and balconies are richly decorated and rival each other in beauty for a breathtaking spectacle. Giant Advent wreaths, Santa Claus hoods overflowing with toys, shoes patiently waiting to be filled, Santa Clauses climbing up the chimneys... The eyes of adults shine no less brightly than those of children
Smart info
When? When? The markets are open from the first weekend of Advent (Friday 23 November this year) and remain open until 24 December at 6pm. The Christmas market, on the Cathedral Square, extends the festivities until December 30. The markets are open every day from 11am to 8pm (until 9pm on Friday and 10pm on Saturday)
Getting there. By car A4 from Paris (488 km) and Brussels (430 km), A35 from
Lyon (494 km). By TGV, it takes 2h20 from Paris Gare de l'Est. By plane, direction Strasbourg-Entzheim airport
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Useful. As soon as you arrive in Strasbourg, get the Christmas Festivities Programme published by the City of Strasbourg; it is available everywhere: it is a mine of information
STRASBOURG CHRISTMAS MARKETS OFFICIAL SITE - More information on the website
STRASBOURG TOURISM OFFICE - More information on the website
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