<BR>Pretty soon, many Americans & I suppose Europeans will begin pulling out Christmas decorations. Many will compose a "Christmas village" made up of figurines & houses depicting a "perfect" Christmas town. <BR><BR>I pose this question to Fodorites: Does this place really exist? What city / town in Europe during the Christmas season best exemplifies that which we are attempting to create with our decorations?<BR><BR>We have not been to Europe in the autumn/winter and are considering going this year. All comments appreciated.<BR><BR><BR>

I hace been spending Christmas and New Year every year in Europe since 1989. The most magical has been Zermatt. I guess the sleigh carriages just remind us of Santa *smile*. As for the deocations I would go for Rome.

Rothenburg, Germany in the snow is very scenic.

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Ladenburg not far from Heidelberg in Germany or Michelstadt in the Odenwald.<BR>http://www.ladenburg.de/tourfram.htm<BR>http://www.michelstadt.de

<BR>Thanks for the suggestions, I will check them out. <BR><BR>Anyone else with other ideas?

I have the same question, Chris! We're thinking of going somewhere on vacation for Christmas this year. We tried this 2 years ago & chose Switzerland, but didn't realize (or check - not smart, I know) that everything is closed. Would love to find the location of the perfect Christmas Village . . .

Years ago a whole group of us who were teaching at the time flew on Christmas day to Lucerne for a week (part of a teacher's charter package). We hadn't done our homework and were surprised that Lucern is dark and rainy, not snowy like we had pictured. One of the highlights of the trip, however, was that every evening in the little hotel (Luzernerhof) they lit the actual candles on the Christmas tree in the bar.<BR><BR>One day several of us left early in the morning to do a trip to the Jungfrau on our own. We stopped in Brienz, the pretty little woodcarving village on the lake on the way. We walked around town, just after a light snow had fallen. It was sort of foggy and misty on the lake. All the shops were lit up in the early morning (most not open yet). There were real icicles hanging from the eaves of most of the buildings -- they looked too perfect to be real. I think the whole thing reminded me of one of those miniature Christmas villages you're talking about.

You might want to see my response to later inquiry ti Innsbrick at Xmas. ( I said Salzburg is lovely - READ WHY!!!). And have a great time.

Merano, Italy