My husband and I will be in Alsace over the Christmas holiday and we're hoping to find some holiday markets and, of course, a restaurant open Christmas Day (if possible). Any suggestions?

In France, Christmas Day is much like any other public holiday. Lots of restaurants and cafés are open. The 26th is not a public holiday, so most people are back at work the next day. New Year's Eve is a much bigger event in France.

The Christmas tree was invented in Alsace.

Not that many restaurants are open in Alsace on Christmas day, and they fill up with reservations in advance. An official list of restaurants open on and around Christmas is compiled by the Office de Tourisme de Strasbourg et sa Region each year, and they can fax it or mail it to you. I'd suggest you e-mail them at [email protected] and ask for it.<BR><BR>Incidentally, Boxing Day, Dec. 26, is not an official holiday in France as one of the replies here mentions, but it most definitely IS an official holiday IN ALSACE. Everything will be closed, but some restaurants will be open, and you'll find them on the same list.<BR><BR>Christmas Markets are easy to find- every town has one, and you can't miss it- all you do is find the main square, and that's where the Christmas Market will be. The towns are SO small that there's not a chance of missing the markets. In Strasbourg, the Christmas Markets are in Place Broglie and Place de la Cathedrale.

Check out the Christmas markets in Ricqwuer (spelling?) and Colmar. Fantastic!