European Christmas Markets
 

Please list your favorite Chritmas market & why in Germany, Austria & France.

My husband and I are stationed here in Germany and make it a point to go to at least a half dozen markets each December. By far our favorite is Michelstadt which is southeast of Frankfurt in the Odenwald area. They have a beautiful Old Town that they set up as their market area. It has many wonderful booths that sell local crafts and food items and not just the commercial stuff you find at every other market. Even the local butcher had one set up and stuffed us with samples! The booths are spread out so you end up walking down little alleys and squares to find them all, and you aren't jammed shoulder to shoulder with a crowd. They have life-size nutcrackers spread about and a huge Christmas pyramid set up in one of the courtyards. If you would like to see some photos just let me know and I'll be happy to email them. I'd have to say that Speyer was my least favorite. They have the booths all jammed together, so you feel like a salmon swimming upstream the whole time, and can't see anything anyway because you're being jostled on all sides. Just my two cents worth.

We have made the Kristkindlmarkt circuit twice and enjoyed every cold moment. Our favorite is Stuttgart. They have as much glitz and glitter and Christmas ornaments as more-publicized Nuremberg. Plus the individual kiosks have holiday scenes perched merrily on top, adding to the cheer. And a young man was selling the best hot, fresh crepes east of Paris. Jinx Hoover<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>

Has anyone been to the Christmas Market in Rothenberg?

Yes, we were there for the opening night of the Christmas market several years ago. Its a great time, especially if you stay in the old town. Loads of kids, activities, carnival rides, etc. in addition to the tradition market booths. Grab a cup of gluhwein, Probst!

I am not here to list my favourite Christmas market as I have only been to 2 ~ in Cologne and Frankfurt last year. Matter of fact, those were the first I have ever visited and I really love the ambience and decorations and the food. See, i live in Kuala Lumpur and we dont celebrate Christmas like you guys do, so visiting those Christmas markets last year was the closest I ever got to feeling what "Christmas" is all about. I cant describe how esctatic I was to see little log cabins from which the vendors sold their craft and stuff.

What exactly are the Christmas Markets? Just a time to celebrate? When are they? Do they have them in Prague?

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Monique,<BR>you can find out about Christmas markets in Germany on this site, and yes, there are similar markets in Prague as well.<BR><BR>http://www.germany-christmas-market.org.uk/index1.htm

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