THE GUIDE WINTER BREAKS 2019/20 WINTER BREAKS 2019/20


Round off an indulgent spa break with a visit to one of France’s magical winter fests


CHRISTMAS MARKETS


Germany may be the motherland of Christmas markets but the tradition of the marché de Noël is also very strong in France, particularly in the east and northeast of the country. The festive season sees a spectacular transformation take place as twinkling lights are strung up, spices perfume the crisp air and merry revellers indulge in mulled wine, roasted chestnuts and speciality chocolates.


Arras


People can’t seem to agree on which French Christmas market is the largest, but Arras has to be a strong contender – and every inch of its spacious setting, the magnificent Grand’Place, is just perfect for festivities. After all, with an impressive 155 Flemish


140 ❘ FRANCE TODAY Oct/Nov 2019


baroque buildings bordering all those twinkly pop-up stalls and Christmas trees, it’s akin to a scene plucked straight from a children’s storybook. Alongside the essentials, like seasonal crêpes, waffles and vin chaud to wash it all down, Arras spices things up with a toboggan run, a carousel, a Ferris wheel and a 500m2


ice rink. www.noelarras.com


Dijon Dijon’s Christmas market isn’t actually particularly large or famous, but there’s one very good reason we’ve included it in this list, and that’s a little something called pain d’épices. Dijon gingerbread was invented in the early 1700s and has become synonymous here with the cosy winter months. Typically baked as a thick,


IMAGES © ÉRIC BERGOEND, VILLE DE MENTON, M ZIMMER, CAROLINE ALEXANDRE, ERMIS, SHUTTERSTOCK, JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BLANQUART


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