Les Marchés de Noël

Okay, I think I've found one of my favorite things about France so far: the Christmas markets! They are unique to Germany, but also to Alsace-Lorraine (MY region, which changes hands from time to time between France and Germany), and they are absolutely spectacular! This photo to the left is of one of the main streets in Thionville--yes, devoid of people, but chock FULL of beautiful holiday decorations! Go France!

As long as I'm here, I decided to do a little research on who has the best Christmas market; so far, I've visited the ones in Thionville, Yutz, Nancy, Metz, Luxembourg and Strasbourg. Every city's market is a little different, but you can be sure that in nearly every plaza big enough, there will be little huts with vendors selling trinkets and chocolates and gingerbread and potato pancakes and crêpes and, of course, mulled wine and cider. Some towns (little Thionville being one of them!) even set up temporary ice-skating rinks in their main plazas.

Strasbourg (which is the photo to the right--Becky posed for me) is just a stone's throw from Germany and has one of the best-known marchés de Noël in France--but the thing that makes Strasbourg stand out most is that, from almost anywhere in centreville, you can look up and see the impressive pink cathedral towering above the rest of the buildings. We went ice skating right at the foot of the cathedral, and it was magical!

There is no place like home for the holidays, but Alsace-Lorraine is a close second!