THE GUIDE WINTER BREAKS 2019/20


Even the stately avenue des Champs-Élysées gets into the Christmas spirit as Paris pulls out all the stops for the festive period Montbéliard


Like merry moths to a flame, a whopping 500,000 visitors are drawn to the glittering Christmas lights of Montbéliard each year. Join the crowds on November 23 for 2019’s grand switch-on, which sees the town’s arches, columns, streets and squares flicker into life, then delve into the market’s many festive stalls. Hunting for a new winter wardrobe? Look no further – Montbéliard’s marché has hats, jewellery and wool and silk scarves aplenty. Searching for a souvenir, or Christmas gifts for your loved ones? The offering of pottery, candles, glassware and


142 ❘ FRANCE TODAY Oct/Nov 2019


paintings should see you right. Or perhaps you’re on a bit of a self-guided gastro tour, in which case you’ll revel in the choice of cured meats, foie gras, chocolates and biscuits. www.lumieres-de-noel.fr


Paris


Come December, the City of Light lives up to its moniker quite literally as its streets are clad in lumières and giant decorations. It’s hard to be a Grinch in Paris – from whimsical window displays to its numerous markets, the festive vibe is contagious. Join the throngs of zealous shoppers at the


Christmas Village under the Canopy of Les Halles, one of the biggest holiday markets in the capital, or pop across to the Alsatian bonanza at Gare de l’Est for your helping of kougelhopf and sauerkraut. If you’re of the non-meat-eating persuasion, you might well prefer the special Vegan Christmas Market at La REcyclerie in Montmartre, which features dairy-free cheeses, logs, stocking fillers and cookbooks. en.parisinfo.com


Strasbourg


And now we arrive at the grand fromage: Christkindelsmärik. Held since 1570 outside


Strasbourg’s cathedral, it claims to be Europe’s oldest Christmas market and is the perfect place to go if you fancy an old-timey Yuletide. From the towering 30m tree on place Kléber, decked out in bulbs and baubles, to the pervasive smell of bredele biscuits in the air, the traditional boxes are ticked – but there are also some surprises. Tucked away on the place des Meuniers is a cluster of Alsatian producers, selling 100 per cent local products, from hot juice to jam and honey, and every year a ‘guest country’ is invited to Christkindelsmärik to showcase its festive treats


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IMAGE © SHUTTERSTOCK


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