FRANCE
Strasbourg (from November 29 to December 31)
In France, the regions near Belgium or Germany take Christmas most seriously. Therefore, the most vibrant fairs in the country are held in Alsace. One of the largest and oldest Marche de Noel has been held on the square in front of Strasbourg Cathedral since 1570. In the Alsatian dialect, this fair is called Christkindelsmarik, and the city is hailed as the Christmas capital of Europe.
The fact is that Christkindelsmarik is not the only one in Strasbourg. For example, on Broglie Square there is the historic Marche de Noel; on d'Austerlitz Square there is a winemakers' fair combined with a "forest of delicacies": here guests are greeted by bakers and confectioners (you must try Buche de Noel, somewhat reminiscent of our sweet log, and bredeles pastries). On Benjamin Zix Square, the pavilions of the Magi are located. On Place des Meuniers you can get acquainted with Alsatian cuisine. La Petite France has been adopted by small private producers, selling only exclusive goods.
From the first day of December until the end of the month, various festive concerts, performances, festivals, tastings, exhibitions are held throughout the city in its different districts, ice rinks and ice gardens are set up, and all this together is called the "Strasbourg Fair".
Paris (from November 29 to December 29)
In Paris, of course, several markets also open: La Défense, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Place de la Nation, near Gare Saint-Lazare, at Montparnasse, etc. Moreover, they are all different, with their own character and features, but it is believed that they are all far from Strasbourg's. Nevertheless, the market near the Arc de la Défense covers an area of about 10,000 sq. m, on which more than 200 "chalets" - as the French call wooden pavilions - are set up with local and exotic handicrafts, as well as stalls with cheeses, sausages, foie gras, collection wines from small and home distilleries, etc. Many craftsmen, sitting in the pavilions, work with their hands: blacksmith-jewelers forge silver jewelry, cabinetmakers carve funny figurines, etc.
The other Paris fairs are not as large. At Saint-Germain-des-Prés it operates from December 2 to 28, and at Place de la Nation from December 2 to 24 - and although they are not global, they are lively and colorful. At any of these markets you can not only have a snack, but even eat quite a full meal - for just €5, various hot dishes are prepared right in front of the public. Well, those who, while in Paris, dream of seeing a real Alsatian Christmas can go to the "Maison d'Alsace" at 39 avenue des Champs-Élysées, where from November 26 to December 30, an Alsatian Christmas market operates on the first floor.
GERMANY
Nuremberg (from December 1 to 24)
In this city, perhaps the most famous Christmas fair in all of Germany is held. It occupies a place of honor - the entire market square in the very center. The easiest way to find it is by smell, because this fair has its own taste and color. It is literally saturated with the aromas of Christmas: ginger, cinnamon, candied apples, roasted almonds and, of course, mulled wine - all this excites the blood and stimulates the appetite. Plus, hot Bavarian sausages sizzling on the grill and a local specialty - wetschkenmKnnchen, a sweet made from dried plums.
As for color, the counters of Nuremberg's trading pavilions are always decorated only with three colors: white, red and green, they are considered official for the city during Christmas. Every year, more than two million tourists come to enjoy the medieval atmosphere of the Nuremberg Christmas miracle.
In addition to Nuremberg, fairs in Stuttgart and Dresden are interesting in Germany. In the latter, on December 7, the "Weihnachtsstollen" festival takes place, during which everyone can taste a giant stollen cake.
AUSTRIA
Vienna (from November 20 to December 23)
The main Christmas market of the Austrian capital has been held for over 700 years on Rathausplatz square in front of the city hall. At guests' service are 140 wooden pavilions with all sorts of souvenir trinkets and many entertainments. In the park at the City Hall, a huge complex of attractions is set up. Here you can ride ponies, the Christmas Express, and for adults a special "carousel of memories" is open, where among the spinning horses they should forget the burden of past years.
The City Hall itself hosts a festival of choral ensembles, where the best groups from neighboring countries gather. While adults after shopping enjoy punch (a mixture of hot fruit juice, wine and schnapps) - the classic Viennese Christmas drink - children can treat themselves to caramel fruits, marzipan figurines or dolls made of prunes and nuts, or... work at workshops. Free children's master classes are devoted to baking special Christmas cookies. In addition to the market at Rathausplatz, in Vienna it is worth visiting Schönbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the Habsburgs.
Another Christmas market operates in Spittelberg, a pleasant historic quarter with narrow streets and courtyards. Locals prefer this market to all others.
Salzburg (from November 23 to December 24)
The fair in Salzburg - Christkindlmarkt – has nestled cozily in the historic city center on Cathedral Square Domplatz. It is famous for the fact that the trading rows are located in the niches of the cathedral building. The market was first held in the 15th century, and already in the 18th century it was considered one of the most popular along with the Vienna, Paris, Nuremberg and Amsterdam fairs. The small, yet cheerful and noisy market of Salzburg attracts with its homeliness and gives a feeling of childhood. The smell of roasted almonds and hot chestnuts, the aroma of apple turnovers with cinnamon and the teasing tart spirit of punch accompany the shopping and strolling.
Every year, about 850,000 tourists come to enjoy the atmosphere of this fair. The highlights of Salzburg's trade are warm windproof sweaters, cute handmade Christmas tree decorations, beautiful candles, and heart-shaped gingerbread cookies.
2006 is a special year for Salzburg, it is the 250th anniversary of the city's most famous son - Mozart, and special events are dedicated to this. The cultural program of the fair itself is almost village-like naive and filled with music: on Saturdays the choir Turmblasen sings, on the tower the 'wind actor' performs, and schoolchildren happily put on pastoral plays on the stage.
DENMARK
Copenhagen (from November 11 to December 30)
One of the earliest opening fairs in Europe is held in Copenhagen's central garden - Tivoli, the oldest amusement park in Europe. Hundreds of decorated Christmas trees and half a million bright lights, plus an atmosphere of cheerfulness and fun, make the Christmas fair in Copenhagen special; here the past is closely intertwined with the present. Miniature villages are filled with souvenirs and gifts for every taste, but tourists certainly demand the famous Danish wooden dolls and royal porcelain. In the garden, you can play many games, ice skate on a huge rink, or shoot at a shooting gallery. In the very center of Tivoli is a charming winter wonderland with mechanical elves called Nissekebing. And you can replenish your strength to conquer all this in many small restaurants.
As for the other fairs in Scandinavia, first, there are not very many, and second, they are not as excitingly interesting. However, there too, items of applied and culinary art are sold.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Prague (from November 25 to January 1)
Prague itself is wonderful before Christmas: its cobblestone streets are flooded with festive light, all squares are beautifully decorated. The central Christmas market (in Czech, Vanocni trh) is set up on Old Town Square, another large market is open on Wenceslas Square, plus two more operate on Namesti Republiky and Havelske Trziste.
The central fair is arranged in the shape of a giant Christmas star, in the center of which stands a huge Christmas tree. 160 pavilions sell intricately carved wooden toys, Bohemian glass, handmade dolls, and jewelry. For children, there is a mini-zoo where they can pet sheep, goats, and llamas, as well as ride ponies. Nearby, there is a stage 'Bethlehem Nativity Scene' where children can see how the Magi brought gifts to the baby Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. For a snack at the Czech fair, you can try famous blood sausages and sweets. Just before Christmas, people come here for live carp, from which they then prepare the traditional Christmas Eve dinner. Well, it is customary to warm up with Prague's svarene vino, which, according to many tourists, is tastier than German mulled wine...
BELGIUM
Brussels (from December 2 to January 1)
The specificity of the royal city is that the fair, as in Strasbourg, covers almost the entire center: the fish market, Grand Place, Place Saint-Jean, Sainte-Catherine, and the stock exchange are used. In total, more than 240 pavilions are set up in the city.
The market on the central square is quite international; they exhibit the best Christmas goods from the entire European Union, but you can also easily find very tasty local specialties, such as sweet Liège waffles, Belgian chocolate, Saint Nicholas-shaped gingerbread, candied fruits, caricoles (snails) cooked in spiced broth, amazing reddish ginger cookies called speculoos, and croustillon - sugar-glazed pastries. Near the market, you can ice skate or ride a carousel. On the Grand'Place, a Christmas nativity scene is set up for children, while adults can enjoy concerts, choirs, street performers, and other entertainment. However, it should be noted that the decoration of the city before the holiday, as well as the light effects, are handled by famous designers, so both Brussels and the fair itself before Christmas are far from traditional.
In addition to the Brussels one, there are own fairs in Bruges and Antwerp, they operate on the same days.
HUNGARY
Budapest (from December 1 to 24)
Hungary's main Christmas fair is held annually on Vorosmarty Square. Leather items and very high-quality glass products are especially in demand. Nearby, in the famous building that houses the Gerbeaud café, they make an Advent Christmas Calendar with 24 windows; daily at 5 p.m., the old window with pictures is replaced with a new one, so the calendar counts the days backward. In this café, a wide selection of Hungarian Christmas sweets, colorful cakes, and other treats are offered.
From December 21 to 23, a living Bethlehem awaits guests. In Budapest, it is customary to treat oneself to fried spicy sausages (kolbasz), honey cakes, and, of course, mulled wine.
UNITED KINGDOM
London (from December 1 to 24)
One of the highlights of Christmas London remains the theatrical life filled with fantastic seasonal shows. From traditional pantomime to fairy-tale ballet - entertainment for the whole family. Moreover, as is well known, in England they love to hold ceremonies for everything. For example, the ceremony of lighting the Christmas tree on Trafalgar Square, where it is solemnly installed there on November 29 at exactly 6 p.m. This is one of the most notable London traditions during Christmas. After the solemn raising of the tree, musical performances are held under it every evening.
And also in London, from December 2 to January 14, there will be an ice rink at the Tower of London. It is far from the only place in the British capital where you can skate, but one of the newest - the rink was first set up here only last year. It is located in the moat under the northern wall of the Tower. Also traditionally, rinks are open near Somerset House, Hampton Court Palace, Kew Gardens, and the Old Royal Naval College. Still one of the most popular and romantic rinks is at Somerset House - it is lit by blazing torches, and since 2005 a jump wall has been added.
In addition to the usual Christmas markets (they can be found, for example, on Camden High Street or 14 Parkway), London hosts a special frost fair - Bankside Frost Fair, as well as the Great Christmas Pudding Race (December 3, Covent Garden), where the best Christmas pudding is chosen.
Other cities
Berlin from November 27 to December 23 Bonn from November 23 to December 23 Bremen from November 30 to December 23 Weimar from December 1 to December 22 Hamburg from November 27 to December 23 Hanover from November 27 to December 23 Dresden from November 27 to December 23 Düsseldorf from November 27 to December 22 Cologne from November 27 to December 23 Krakow from November 30 to December 23 Leipzig from November 27 to December 23 Lille from November 30 to December 31 Munich from November 30 to December 24 Rostock from November 23 to December 21 Frankfurt am Main from November 23 to December 21 Zürich from December 7 to December 22 Stuttgart from November 30 to December 23