My wife Maureen and I have wanted to experience the magic of the French Christmas markets located in Strasbourg and Colmar for a long time; we have heard many great things about both cities’ markets and were not disappointed.
Strasbourg is a medium-sized French city in the Laurentian Mountains, and Colmar is considered a much smaller “dream city,” especially during the Christmas season. Both cities are similar in that although they are considered metropolitan areas, these “city” people seem to be more “small town, country-like” people, with a more leisurely, slower, and safer lifestyle that only reflects their positive attitude.
There are basically four Christmas markets to visit in Strasbourg: Autour De La Cathedrale, next to the Cathedral Notre-Dame-De-Strasbourg, Christkindelsmarik, next to the Broglie Tram Station, Au Pied Du Grand Sapin, in the center of the city close to the Homme De Fer Tram Stop, and Petite France, near the river Ill.
In Colmar, 21 minutes via train from Strasbourg, with trains leaving every half hour, there is one primary Christmas market that encompasses the entire center of the city. Each Christmas market is different and unique, and they each need to be visited. The food is excellent, the ornamentation is lovely, and both cities’ whole attitude and atmosphere are fabulous.
We flew Lufthansa Airlines into Frankfurt to visit both cities and then took the Deutsche Bahn/German Rail down to Strasbourg. We departed from Strasbourg to Zurich via SBB/Swiss Federal Rail to take Delta Airlines back to John F. Kennedy International Airport. Both routes are equidistant and have the same time parameters.
We stayed at a charming AC Hotel by Marriott in the same building as a Marriott Residence Inn. Both hotels are roughly 10 minutes away from the Christmas markets via several tram lines.
It is worth restating because these cities are smaller, the entire attitude and atmosphere is very “small town” and completely different from a Brussels or Munich Christmas market.
