As you may have read in my post of Nuremberg, Nuremberg’s Christmas market was my favorite Christmas market that I have ever been to by far. I was certain that it couldn’t be beaten.
I’m not here to say that it has been beaten, but I may have to say that it has a close second.
Nuremberg takes the cake for the most impressive Christmas market. I will give it that, but there was something certainly magical about Strasbourg at Christmastime.
Strasbourg is the biggest town in and the capital of the region of Alsace which is just across the border of Germany and France. The region used to be part of Germany, thus is characterized by a mixture of German and French cultures, half-timbered buildings, and tasty treats.
So, if Nuremberg wins for its Christmas market, I’d say that Strasbourg wins at Christmas decorations.
It has a most impressive center square with a huge Christmas tree with precious half-timbered houses as a backdrop to it all.
Then this one narrow street with several shops, bakeries, and restaurants brought you into a total winter wonderland, as cliché as that sounds. At night, it is this single street that shines like a beacon with its white buildings and then all of the lights and decorations along the street. Then each of the shops has decorated their fronts. It was truly a sight to see, as you can see for yourself.
The main Christmas market in front of the cathedral was cute as well, selling numerous different handicrafts and general decor inspired by the season. Sadly enough, I didn’t have sufficient time to explore the entirety of the market because I got caught up in seeing the general sights in the city.
…such as the cathedral. Strasbourg’s cathedral/Notre Dame is severely impressive. Some say that it rivals the Notre Dame of Paris, and I definitely see why. From its gorgeous gothic architecture to its rose window, its astronomical clock, and its stained glass in general, it would be an utter shame to visit the city without popping into the cathedral for a bit.
Another area that is definitely worth checking out is La Petite France. This is an area along the river Ill with numerous half-timbered houses and old sandstone buildings. Despite accidentally heading in the wrong direction, thus getting there after it had gotten dark, this section of town is picture perfect in every way. Get there during the day in the summer, and have baskets of flowers dotting the railings along the canals.
As you would quickly learn if you visit here, the city center is on an island called the Grande Île and everywhere you look is gorgeous. Actually, this island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so you know that it’s going to be breathtaking!!
If you find yourself in the Alsace region, there are three foods that you must try.
1. Kugelhopf – a circular, fluted bread roll dotted with raisins and sprinkled with powdered sugar. It’s fairly bland and nothing to write home about, but it is found everywhere, so you have to try it.
2. Flammkuchen/tarte flambé – this thin and crispy pizza dough is traditionally topped with cream, speck (bacon), and onions, although you can find all sorts of variations, even sweet ones.
3. Sugar pretzels – fresh out of the oven/fryer, these bad boys would be ridiculously amazing (they were still good room temp, though). I think that this is essentially a doughnut in pretzel format.
I would highly recommend a visit to Strasbourg’s Christmas market if you come during the Advent season. Although not quite as impressive as the one in Nuremberg, it still ranks right up there as a close second. Nearly too close to even make a distinction.
Plus, the city itself is gorgeous. The food amazing. And the architecture to die for.
Into Uncertainty 