Visiting the Best Christmas Markets in France

You may only have one time in your life to experience the “best” Christmas markets in France.

If it’s bright holiday lights and decorations, streaming holiday music and festive foods that make a Christmas market rank at the top of the list, there’s no doubt the very best Christmas Markets are in France.  Strasbourg, Colmar, Eguisheim, Riquewihr, Kaysersberg and Ribeauville to be exact. For five days my long-time friend, Paula, and I crammed in as many marketplaces as we could possibly see. It was truly a tour through Christmas wonderland.

A visit to the French Christmas markets from Provence is easy, in particular, if you take the train to Strasbourg. From there you can access local trains and engage a tour operator for a customised Christmas market program.

Travel Details

The train (TGV) from Avignon to Strasbourg takes 5 hours and 10 minutes.

Strasbourg is the capital of the Grand Est administrative region (formerly Alsace-Champagne-Ardenne-Lorraine) and it is on the border of France and Germany. The Lonely Planet describes the city as follows, “Strasbourg is the perfect overture to all that is idiosyncratic about Alsace – walking a fine tightrope between France and Germany and between a medieval past and a progressive future, it pulls off its act in inimitable Alsatian style.”

The city’s tagline is the “Capital of Christmas” – so expect a fabulous display of holiday cheer.

Christmas Markets in Provence

If travelling north to the Christmas markets is not possible this year, there are plenty of holiday festivities in Provence (thanks, Curious Provence, for the list) and on the Côte d’Azur. Liz Lord shares this Round-up of Holiday Festivities on the French Riviera.

Read about santons and other traditions.

And a recipe for vin chaud (mulled wine) from Cook’n with Class.

Continue reading here for the contributor blog post by Barefoot Blogger