For the first time in my life, I visited Strasbourg and its famous Christmas markets. It was an opportunity for me to think back to all the Christmases I’d spent with my family since I was very young, and to marvel at the decorations meticulously displayed on the facades of the city’s shops.
Discover the city
Frankly, I’d advise anyone who hasn’t already done so to come and spend a weekend in Strasbourg, as it has a very special atmosphere and the magic of Christmas is very much in evidence. The city is full of surprises and its history is very interesting. It’s easy to see why it’s nicknamed “the Christmas capital”!
Just imagine, almost 300 chalets spread over ten or so sites, products rigorously selected to perpetuate the tradition of a traditional, authentic and warm Alsatian Christmas. It’s a far cry from markets where the products are all “Made in China”!
Did you know? Strasbourg’s historic center, known as “La Grande Ile”, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s not for nothing that Strasbourg is one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, with its cathedral, picturesque houses, canals and famous “Petite France” district. You can’t help but fall under its spell!
On the practical side, plan your trip well in advance. For hotels first of all, they’re all booked up! If you want to have a choice and not end up in a 4-star or a dingy hotel, it’s best to make your reservation 3 or 4 months before your stay. For transportation, prefer to fly. We flew from Nantes with Volotea. It’s super convenient, as the airport has a train station nearby that takes you straight to the heart of the city. The only drawback is that on Sundays, trains passing through the airport only run every hour!
Once the luggage has been deposited at the hotel, it’s time to enjoy some pretzels and mulled wine!
Not to be missed:
– A visit to the cathedral: a must!
Notre-Dame de Strasbourg is the oldest Gothic cathedral in the world.
I was impressed by the building, which owes its red color to the material used in its construction: Vosges sandstone. Inside, you’ll find an astronomical clock. In perfect working order, the clock indicates the time and the civil and religious calendar. It also gives astronomical indications, and every day at 12.30 pm, the automatons come to life to the delight of young and old alike.
– Cathedral Square
The Christmas market is very nice, especially the big chalet in front of which are large “nutcrackers”. Inside, you’ll find all the traditional Christmas decorations, including wooden furniture and objects such as nutcrackers, smoking men and pyramids, in keeping with the old Christmas traditions of miners in the Erzgebirge region of south-east Germany.
– Kammerzell’s sauerkraut with a view of the cathedral: this restaurant is a veritable institution! Make sure you reserve your place, as it’s in great demand. The sauerkraut is just exceptional!
– Batoramas: these fly boats aren’t just for groups and the elderly! Yes, we recommend you take one to discover the city from another point of view, and above all to go through the locks. The guided tour lasts around 1h10 and the ticket costs 12.50 euros.
– The Christmas delights market: located on the Place du Marché aux Poissons and on the terrace of the Palais Rohan, this is THE place to taste the flavors of Alsace, like a warm pretzel or a Kougelhopf made by the bakers of Strasbourg and the region. They’ll prepare them before your very eyes, and share their secrets with you!
– Admire the fir tree on Place Kléber at night, then head towards Place Gutenberg and take Rue des tonneliers, a slightly sloping street to make it easier for the barrels to roll!
– Take photos of the decorated façades in the Rue des Tailleurs de Pierre, especially the one of the Tire Bouchon restaurant with its teddy bears!
– Admire the Petite France district: this is THE most charming and picturesque district of old Strasbourg. Fishermen, millers and tanners once lived and worked here. The half-timbered houses date from the 16th and 17th centuries. Their sloping roofs feature attics that were once used to dry hides.
– Stroll along the main streets such as rue des orfèvres, rue du chaudron, rue du sanglier and rue du dôme towards place Broglie.
– Taste a tarte flambée and drink a Christmas Fischer at Brasserie la STUB
Bonus idea: discover the city on a Segway!
If, like us, you like fun activities, you’ll love discovering Strasbourg on a Segway.
My boyfriend surprised me and I must admit I wasn’t disappointed! One City Tours offers city tours in very small groups. The price is really reasonable. Count 40 euros per person for a 1h30 tour. Having already done it in Nice, I was really at ease, and what’s more, after 10 minutes, the guide unharnessed the Segway for us! Fun and explanations of the city, there was never a dull moment and no time was wasted. Even with a lot of people in the streets, the ride was really enjoyable.
So, are you ready to celebrate Christmas in Alsace?
