joanofarc21

We had a great time in Germany and France visiting the Christmas markets. We chose to take an escorted tour and then add 4 extra days at the beginning in Munich. We were glad we had the extra time in Munich. The museums are top notch. The subway system was very convenient but it took a while to figure out the ticket situation.
We visited Munich, Heidelburg, Ulm, Strasbourg, Nurnburg and Rothenburg. The selection of Christmas items was extensive. Shopping is at its best and the food was excellent. The restaurants and the food stalls all provided good food at a decent price.
Our favorite was the alsace cuisine of Strasbourg. We will definitely return to this city on our own.
The German and French people that we encountered were all friendly and helpful. Most of the people spoke several languages including English.

missypie

Did you buy anything unique that you couldn't have purchased at home?

How was the weather? Is it too early for snow?

ronin

joan - I've been wanting to do this trip since seeing my in-laws' pix from previous trips to the markets in Germany & Austria... Kriskindelmarkt's right? ;-)

Did you sample any "ice" wine? I've been looking for it here for a dessert wine after Christmas dinner, but haven't gone crazy... maybe BevMo?

crefloors

I'd love to know the kind of items that were being sold. I have always thought that a trip like that sounded fun, but would be interested to know the type of merchandise offered, and like the other poster, what did YOU buy?

joanofarc21

The most interesting items were at the krippen (crib) market. The Germans and Italians go all out when then do a nativity scene. They don't just do the manger, holy family and magi. They set up a whole village scene. So the krippen markets sell all sorts of miniature items to put in these displays. We bought some animals and some terracota pieces to add to my granddaughter's creche. But you could go broke buying all the pieces. I would imagine that most people add a few pieces each year. We bought a few ornaments for gifts, but tried to stick to the less fragile kind. We bought some that were made of a silver colored metal.
The national museum in Munich has an extensive collection of Italian and German creche scenes. It went on forever and was very beautiful. The town of Munich also has displays in the Marienplatz area of locals who create scenes and display them in cases on the street. I am not sure if this is a contest or not.
We also bought lots of lebkuchen and marzipan in all different shapes for stocking stuffers.
We found very few dresses for our granddaughter, but we did find some very nice thermal tights for the winter. If anyone knows how to dress for winter I guess if would be people who live in cold climates.
However, the weather was unusually mild. It was mostly in the 50's during the day. Some days it even went into the 60's. The ski resorts are complaining about the lack of snow in the Alps.
If you plan on buying the beautiful glass ornaments (there were plenty) bring some sort of sturdy container to pack them in and carry them on.

joanofarc21

We did see some ice wine, but didn't buy it. There are many liquor stores with extensive stock. The last place I bought ice wine was in Niagara On The Lake in Canada.

Zeus

The mulled wine (Glühwein) is what you want at the Christmas Markets. Hot and super sweet to keep you warm and hyped-up while you shop.

BTilke

We're leaving early tomorrow morning (by car from Brussels) for a 5 day break in Baden-Baden, Germany, with day trips to Basel, Switzerland, and possibly Salzburg. I always stock up on ice wine when I'm in BB and Basel. BB's wine shop on Sophienstrasse carries a good selection of German ice wines and the food hall in the fabulous Globus department store in Basel carries Kracher ice wine, one of Austria's best. If you can find Kracher, definitely pick it up.
At the Christmas markets, the one thing I usually stock up on are locally made beeswax candles in pretty shapes like pine cones, Christmas trees, etc. and plain ones that we burn during the holidays. I don't care for gluhwein, my husband likes it ok, and we usually bring a bottle back for the guys at his office in Brussels. We might also buy some ornaments.

We plan to spend tomorrow night up in the hills watching the Geminid meteor shower, then a few hours in the spa. Friday night we have tickets to the "Swinging Christmas" concert at the Festspielhaus
http://www.festspielhaus.de/index.ph...=1229&id=2

No snow in the forecast...too warm (about 7 degrees C). And we'd rather have clear skies to see the Geminid shower.

BTilke

oops, that should be Strasbourg, not Salzburg!

Dukey

Saint Joan:

Please tell us that absolutely everything on sale was made in Europe!

ronin

On sale? One can hope - but lace, wood carvings, spun glass ornaments, kinder chocolate, embroidery... these commodities seem to hold value better than precious metals. And I couldn't guess what the in-laws laid-out for the 6-inch nativity figurines and manger. rare beauty and timeless! This trip is definitely on my must-see list now.

Leburta

We just returned from Munich, Nuremberg, and Rottenberg. The Nuremberg Christmas market seemed the largest of the three and the Munich market seemed to have more expensive, well-made items. All had their charm. It was a great way to start the holiday season.

By the way, I know sausages are not cuisine, but we sure loved the Nurember wurst!

Some of the sights, however, are more difficult to maneuver than in warmer weather, so one has to weigh which is a priority -- the sights or the markets. For warm weather like us (from Hawaii) the change in climate is exhilarating, but has it's challenges. For one thing, one has to haul heavier clothing, which is not an issue in warmer months. Also, the days are shorter and many sights are open only for limited days or hours. One way around this is to see sights during the day and go to the markets at night, when to me they are at their festive best.

We had our first snow in Dachau, which seemed appropriate for the dismal setting. It still stretched the imagination to picture how the detainees must have suffered the conditions and the cold (we warm weather people are especially tormented by this).

We have cousins that are taking a river cruise to the German Christmas markets this year. Can't wait to hear how that trip went.

suec1

The National Museum in Munich that had the extensive display of creches? are these on display only at Christmas time or all year long? Thanks!

samsmom1127

bookmarking...I'm going to do this one of these years!

dutyfree

I go to the Christmas markets in Mainz and Weisbaden every year as I layover there for work.Although the atmosphere is beautiful and the food and drink great-there really are no deals to be had. The nutcrackers and smokers are actually cheaper here in the states at TJ Maxx, Tuesday Morning and Marshalls although you will see more unique ones there. The wooden ornaments that I have found are the same sold at Crate and Barrel for far less money.Last week over there, the only thing that caught my eye was some handmade jewelry. I think that if you are planning a trip there to compare prices before you leave.Happy Holidays!

Underhill

The French, especially in Provence, also do entire-village crèche scenes, some very elaborate. You'll find some stunning sets in shop windows, and in many towns and villages there are santon fairs so you can look at the figurines made by various artisans. Great way to start your own collection.

Leburta

One very nice market in Munich was at Munichener Freiheit. It was an interesting "artists" market of handmade things. Even the gluhwein stands were artsy!

Girlspytravel

Like I said on another thread, no one does Christmas, and Christmas markets, like the Germans (the Alsatians, in Strasbourg, however, do a fine job, and I imagine Salzburg and surrounding areas are pretty fine as well, but they are all imitations of the oldest, and best of the X-mas markets in Dresden, and of course Nurenberg, and every other German town and city.)

You will find all kinds of hand-crafted items, like good sturdy wooden toys, lace, as mentioned, but it's the food! that makes visiting so great-gluhwein (had some at a German restaurant just yesterday-not EVEN as good as the real stuff in Germany) potato pancakes served with good German "apfelmus"-along with all kinds of chocolates, lovely hand-made Christmas ornaments, and other things, but it is that indefinable atmosphere of Christmasy good cheer that makes those markets so special and fun.

One thing about the nativity scenes we call a "creche" (French word) but in Italian, these are very special, the most expensive and hand-made of the "presepe" as they are called in Italian, are made in Naples, in the historical center, so if you wander about there, you will see the various artisans hard at work creating the various figurines and manger scenes that comprise a "presepe" which, by the way, run upwards of US400.00 for the best ones. Real artisanal works of art, they are.

baby2

We visited the Christmas market at La Defence, Grande Arche. There are a lot of stalls selling all kinds of merchandise as well as food - lots of food - look to me like German and Swiss mostly. We saw lots of sausages, raclette, big pots of potatoes, stews, etc. There are alternatives - like Thai food.

As I am not a shopper, so I didn't buy anything, just looked and took pictures. We have been here in Paris many times but this is the first time we visited the Grande Arche - very modern but interesting.

joanofarc21

I believe the creche exhibit at the national museum in Munich is a permanent one. I thought the exhibit at the Met in NYC was great but this is even better. And the Met exhibit is only for the Christmas season.