Wish List Of Winter Wonders

Steve Mather hops across the Channel to experience the sights, sounds and scents of northern France’s finest Christmas markets

- Steve Mather

The uplifting sights and intoxicating scents, combined with beautiful squares packed with light, colour and seasonal sound, can make a Christmas market a heady mixture.

These fun, festive events are now more popular than ever and spread all over Europe, but you don’t need to travel far to find the biggest and best. Just a short hop across La Manche to Pas-de-Calais you will find a fine selection of marchés de Noël.

The Eurostar to Lille ensures swift and comfortable transport into northern France, but whether you wish to travel by boat, rail or car, it’s a quick and simple journey that can offer huge rewards, especially during the festive season.

About an hour from the northern ports and 20 miles west of Lille, sits Béthune. It’s a place that you may not have heard of, but it has an interesting history, beautiful architecture and an excellent Christmas market, that may not match the bigger cities in size but does so in charm.

The city and its cheerful market, located in Grand’Place in the shadow of the belfry, make an immediate good impression.

When I arrived, the large, paved square was full of life, as families and groups of friends heralded the beginning of the festive season in style. The square itself is surrounded by shops, cafés, and restaurants, which all added to the happily bustling feel of the place.

Father Christmas

Vin chaud, roasted chestnuts, and gingerbread aromas filled the air while I took a stroll around Flemish-style chalets occupied by local traders, selling produce and lovingly made craft items from the region.

There is plenty here for children too, with a living nativity, gentle rides and even visits from Father Christmas.