Strasbourg is probably the most famous place to visit for Christmas apart from Lapland! Christmas markets were held here at least from 1570 which makes it one of the oldest markets in the whole of Europe. Check the official website of Christmas is Alsace before your visit.
The city is delightfully decorated, with every shop and restaurant putting its best leg forward. And yes, the teddy bears are in the air (both physically and metaphorically!)
I must say that city is very well prepared to provide tourists with the best time: there are information kiosks, maps, list of activities to participate, and the navigation around the Grand Île is really easy.
See my list of places to visit and the most delicious food to try below!
1. Kléber Square
Kléber Square is the main square of the city, and it’s perfectly occupied with the Christmas market during the winter season – yes, the main Christmas tree is located here! As for the Christmas stalls, proceed to other sites (see below). Galeries Lafayette is also located right at the entrance to Kléber Square.
2. Place de Temple Neuf
Place de Temple Neuf was one of my favourite spots in Strasbourg: the market there is small but it has everything you need.
3. Broglie Square
The Broglie Square where the City Hall, the Opera House and the Banque de France are all located, is one of the top Christmas destinations in Strasbourg: Christkindelsmärik here is fantastic!
And if you ask me, it has the best stalls of the Christmas market because it’s less crowded! Christkindelsmärik at Place Broglie
Besides that, there are lots of ceramic, wooden and glass decorations which are pretty cheap comparing to London, and you can also bright a piece of Strasbourg home with you!
4. La Petite France
La Petite France is one of the prettiest and instagrammable areas of Strasbourg with cobbled streets, bridges over River Ile and colourful houses dating back to the 16-17th centuries. It’s a home to the Village d’Advent, a magical Christmas market by the waterside. Twinkling fairy lights, real fire, Christmas trees, wonderful smells, it’s all here.
The Petite France is also included into the Strasbourg UNESCO heritage list – no surprise it’s very crowded! Come here to eat some local Alsatian specialties, and if you visited Colmar, it might remind you of it!
5. Place de la Cathédrale
Next, of course proceed to the Place de la Cathédrale, or the Cathedral square, a home to Strasbourg cathedral. The cathedral is the UNESCO heritage site and is considered one of the most important gothic cathedrals in the world.
The space around the cathedral is filled with pretty stalls selling candles, desserts, souvenirs, mulled vine and so on. And there is also a magestoc old fashioned merry-go-round!
Right in front of the cathedral you can find Le 5e Lieu, a fantastic museum where you can learn about the history of Strasbourg and its architecture, both historical and moder – and just look at this view over the cathedral square and the Christmas market!
6. Gutenberg Square
Gutenberg Square located close to the cathedral is one of the most important squares of the city – it used to be its administrative centre! It’s named after Gutenberg, who invented the printing press and lived in the city for a decade, and also a home to one of the prettiest facades of the city.
7. What to eat in Strasbourg for Christmas?
The best food options for you will be sausages, galettes, crepes, foie gras, Christstolle fruit cake, bredle (an Alsatian speciality) and of course some cheese and mulled wine! I absolutely loved the white mulled wine with cherries, and raclette sandwiches are also one of my top priorities. Another traditional food is Le Mannele, a man-shaped brioche, – we even bought a series of books about him exploring different side of local traditions.
You might also likely other blogs about France:
- Photoshoot in Paris: the basics
- Paris: festive edition 2021/2022
- Remembering Notre-Dame de Paris
- Christmas in Nice
- Loire Valley
- Trip to Champagne region
- Laurent-Perrier Domain
- 15 facts about champagne
- Reims
- Lille
- Colmar
- Terre Blanche
- Grasse
Hope you liked my blog,
Yours,
Anna xxx
