Where are the best Christmas markets and festivals in Europe.

Completely depends on what you're looking for, however I will venture a suggestion that many/any of the Germanic Weihnachtmaerke will fit the category. Try Munich, Berlin, Cologne, Dresden, Vienna, Innsbruck, etc for full on Christmas-o-rama. Prague is also right up there with Christmas overload (2 big markets and a smattering of smaller ones) and Switzerland has variations in each city and town across the country.

There are also gorgeous Christmas markets in Venice, the traditional Natale/Befana markets in Rome (Pz Navona), the small but perfectly formed Christmas Marche in Lyon (Place Carnot), the scattering of markets around Paris (with or without ice rinks), the large Fira de Santa Lucia in front of the Cathedral Santa Creu in Barcelona, the market place set up in Museumplein in Amsterdam...just scratching the surface really, so go nuts on all this European Christmas!

Make that "Weihnactsmaerkte" - fingers too slow for brain!

Oh, and a point to note is that many start around the last weekend in November and finish either 23 or 24 December. A handful remain open until Epiphany (6 January).

Nuremberg and Rothenburg ob der Tauber

We had a great time at the Brugges market one year, and Strasbourg the next year. I believe Germany has many great ones as well!

Here's a website with German market dates and info:
http://www.germany-christmas-market.org.uk/

Strasbourg and Colmar have some incredible Christmas Markets!

Thanks everyone - I appreciate your help with this.