Montreux Christmas Market, Montreux Noël, Montreux, Switzerland I am the hugest fan of Christmas markets and for the past few years I’ve been lucky enough to visit at least one each season. Two years ago we visited the one in Basel, which was pleasant. Last year we went to Zurich, which I assumed would be more Germanic, but I found…
In Mulhouse, France Tucked in the corner by Germany and Switzerland, Mulhouse has a history that is closely linked with both of these countries. A part of Switzerland for over two hundred years, and under German control after the Franco-Prussian war, the cultures of these two countries have left a mark on what is now firmly a French town. We…
Basel, Switzerland I really like Basel. It has a very solid, Germanic, clean, gently sophisticated, sensible air. It wasn’t really a surprise, therefore that its Christmas markets had the same spirit. We visited on a Sunday afternoon, and it was wonderful to see so many families out together. It wasn’t noisy, it wasn’t even uncomfortable when there were crowds in…
In Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark As someone who has been to two theme parks in her whole life, I don’t know much about rides. Honestly, the last time I went was when I was in my mid-twenties. I felt like the oldest woman ever. I gamely went on all the rides that my companions wanted to go on, but I…
In Valkenburg aan de Geul, the Netherlands I love Holland. I love the unexpected little gifts it gives you. I mean, here you are, headed to a little random town in the south of the country, specifically because you’ve read on some tourist site that they have a quirky Christmas market in a cave. You think maybe you’ll be in…
In Stockholm, Sweden The Great Square Christmas Market (Stortorgets Julmarknad) has its origins in the old medieval markets of Stockholm. It’s been in this same spot every year since 1837 (with a brief window from 1907-1914, when it didn’t run at all). Therefore since 1915, it has been a constant presence in Gamla Stan, and you couldn’t get a more perfectly…
Skansen, Stockholm, Sweden When I was about 14 years old, I went to a Carl Larsson exhibition at the V&A Museum in London and ever since then I’ve had this obsession with his Sweden. One of the images I’ve always liked was of his daughters dressed in a long white gown, wearing a crown of lit candles. This shows the…
In Ribeauvillé, Alsace, France There is something about the Middle Ages. They are exciting but quite frightening; they are attractive, but have a very ugly side. They are full of character, but not necessarily of the kind you like. The Christmas Market at Ribeauvillé has a Medieval theme, and actually captured a lot of the beauty, and some of the creepiness,…