As the colder weather sets in, many travellers’ mindsets shift from craving sun, sea and sand in the Mediterranean to more urban destinations, perhaps one home to a Christmas market thrown in for good measure.
You can picture it now – strolling down a historic European street bordered by stunning half-timbered houses while wrapped up in a coat, scarf and hat, cradling a warm cup of coffee or mulled wine.
This dream can become a reality by visiting the beautiful Alsace region in northeastern France on the Rhine River plain.
Bordering Germany and Switzerland, Alsace has alternated between German and French control over the centuries and reflects a mix of those cultures. Its capital, Strasbourg, is centred on the Ill River’s Grand Ile island, bordered by canals and home to the Gothic Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, with its animated astronomical clock.
It is a beautiful place to visit during the Christmas season, with festive markets, twinkling lights and a winter wonderland atmosphere, especially when it snows.
Strasbourg is a great base for exploring the Alsace region. The giant fir tree in Place Kleber is a famous feature, and there are concerts and activities throughout the holiday season.
The view becomes even more spectacular when it opens its doors for its Christmas market on November 27. It draws around two million visitors every year, with hotels often being booked a year in advance – and it’s not difficult to see why. You can wander through illuminated streets, buying incredible Christmas decorations and trying amazing food.
Luckily for Brits, travelling to Strasbourg is simple. You can take a Eurostar train from St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord and then board a TGV train from Gare de l’east to the city. There are also nine airlines that fly from the UK to Strasbourg International Airport, with the flight taking just one hour 35 minutes.
Strasbourg is not the only destination in the Alsace region. Further afield, there are many charming and cosy towns offering markets with focuses on food, crafts and even a medieval Christmas experience.
One such town is Obernai in the Bas-Rhin department, which lies on the eastern slopes of the Vosges mountains. A stone’s throw from Strasbourg, this market is entirely dedicated to food and crafts and offers an authentic and intimate atmosphere.
You can find the finest creations on offer, from Christmas wreaths and decorations to hang, wooden objects and hand-blown Christmas baubles. It opens its doors on November 29 and will remain open until New Year’s Eve.
It lies 25 minutes from Strasbourg Airport, but is also under two and a half hours from Paris and served by TER.
Riquewihr is a town on the Alsace Wine Route in eastern France. It is home to cobbled streets, dotted with half-timbered winemakers’ ships and tasting rooms, perfect for tourists needing to warm up on a chilly day. It is a popular destination for its historical architecture, as it remains more or less as it did in the 16th century.
It is the perfect stop for tourists looking for an authentic Alsatian Christmas, in a beautiful village surrounded by vineyards.
The town is surrounded by its medieval fortifications and is overlooked by a castle from the same period that today houses a museum.
Finally, nestled in the heart of Alsace, Sélestat is located around 40 minutes from Strasbourg. It is home to a Christmas tree tradition that dates back to 1521 – over 500 years old.
It is dubbed the “capital of Christmas tree” and is known for having the oldest recorded written mention of a Christmas tree. The city’s account register records that the municipal forest rangers were paid to watch over the trees in the communal forest three days before Christmas.
Every year, this is celebrated with a Christmas tree parade, while Saint-Georges church displays ten Christmas trees hanging from the ceiling.