Christmas In the City

We know you’ve been itching to travel, but we may have to wait just a bit longer for that to happen. In the meantime, the charming panoramas of these European cities evoke the spirit of a Yuletide fairytale that may somehow satisfy your wanderlust

- Ryanne Stephanie Cheng Co and Christine Andas

STRASBOURG

The enchanting city of Strasbourg, which lies in the Alsace region of France, is famous for many things, among which is their world-renowned Christmas market. Held annually at points around the city, the marché de Noël de Strasbourg is a long-running tradition with roots dating back to the 12th century. This year, the custom continues, beginning the 28th of November.

A crossroads of French and German tradition, Strasbourg is a delightful melting pot of European society. It is a single bus-ride away from the town of Kehl in Germany, and accessible by car from Switzerland. It is also home to the Council of Europe Headquarters, which stands just across the Parc de l’Orangerie, close to Allée Spach.

Architecture around places such as the Neustadt university district point to German convention, while structures such as the Palais Rohan are indicative of a proud French history. The local fare is much the same way. From the thin-crusted tarte flambée (reminiscent of pizza) to the pungent delights of choucroute (similar to German sauerkraut), Strasbourg offers a multitude of options in terms of gastronomy.

As such, one may expect the local Christmas traditions to be the same way. The city, which was part of the German Rhineland in 1570, took part in the rich celebrations of a German holiday. When Strasbourg was annexed to France in 1681, it continued to keep the legacy.