Colmar new year. Half-timbered fairy tales and European wine roads

.

Strasbourg immodestly calls itself Capitale de Noel- the capital of Christmas. We had to go there at the end of December 2016 to see for ourselves that the city had appropriated this title by right!

Day 1. Strasbourg, December 24

We arrived in Strasbourg by train, quickly checked into the hotel and went for a walk. The scale of the celebration impressed from the first minutes: it seemed that there was not a single undecorated house or tree around, and the whole city was a solid Christmas market! It became clear that a guidebook would not be needed: wherever we went, it would be beautiful, festive and tasty everywhere. And so it happened! What impressed me the most was how locals decorate houses. Each building is different from the neighboring one, there are many live Christmas tree branches and voluminous installations!


And this is little France - a medieval quarter with half-timbered houses and many canals:
(Placa Kleber), where every year the main city Christmas tree is installed, about 30 meters high. At the end of the square, a Christmas tree market unfolded - all Christmas trees are already with a 50% discount.

(Notre Dame de Strasbourg) is the main attraction of the city. Its construction began at the beginning of the 11th century, and continued for many more centuries - because of this, elements of different styles can be traced in the architecture, and one of the towers has not yet been built. One of the main attractions of the cathedral is a unique astronomical clock that shows the orbits of the planets of the solar system and calculates the exact dates of even those holidays whose dates change from year to year.


Of course, we spent most of our time at the fairs, and when you write about French fairs, the topic of food inevitably comes to the fore! Here are just a few of the Alsatian gastronomic delights that you can try at the Christmas market or in any nearby restaurant:
v in chaud - mulled wine made from red or white wine. It costs 2-3 euros and another 2 euros will take a deposit for a mug. tarte flame é e - translated into Russian "flaming pie". It is prepared on an open fire, so the “correct” tarte flambe will have slightly burnt edges. Reminiscent of pizza, but soft cheese or cream is used instead of tomato paste. The traditional filling is with onions and bacon, but there are also vegetarian options, and even sweet ones (for example, with apples and calvados). It costs 7-10 euros.

Where to try: Restaurantflame´ s – only 300 meters from the Cathedral!29 rue des Frè res, 67000 StrasbourgOpen daily from 11:30 to 24:00

G ewurztraminer (Gewurztraminer) - Alsatian wine, which is worth mentioning in particular. Sommeliers describe it as complex, aggressive, unique, spicy, original, adding many other epithets. But, as a rule, they agree on one thing: after the first sip, you will either fall in love with him forever, or from now on you will bypass him. Dry Gewürztraminer goes well with onion pie or foie gras, while sweet Gewurztraminer goes well with Münster. Foie gras (foie gras) - the famous goose liver pate. Served as an appetizer, often with something sweet (I especially like it with fig jam). Chowcroute ("choukrut") - a famous dish of the cuisine of Alsace. Quite unpretentious, and not at all like vegetarians or healthy food lovers: sauerkraut, potatoes and up to five types of meat on one plate - most often pork and local sausages. Very satisfying, but not very cheap - from 15 Euros. Munster - one of the most popular French cheeses in the world. And don’t be put off by its sharp, knocking down smell – it’s strange, but at the same time the taste is surprisingly noble and delicate! At Christmas markets, you can try gratin - jacket potatoes with melted muenster. You can find the places of sale by smell, rest assured?

Advice: if you decide to bring a münster to your friends, make sure the packaging is sealed! And watch the expiration date, because. after it expires, the cheese begins to smell 10 times stronger !!

Tarte a l'oignon - onion pie, light and satisfying at the same time. It can be an appetizer for wine or an independent dish. In the afternoon, we looked at the embankment near the Rogan Palace (Palais Rohan) and bought tickets from the machine for the Batorama pleasure ship with a glass roof. Tickets can be bought in advance at https://www.batorama.com, but we acted on the spur of the moment. In 1 hour 10 minutes we sailed down the river Ill, watched Petite France from the water, participated in the adventure of "passing the locks" and sailed through the Vauban dam to the European Quarter, where the European Parliament is located.

Well, after we went to wander around the evening city. Some streets like Rue des Orfèvres, impossible to describe - see for yourself:


The streets began to empty, the locals had long gone home, or vice versa, they were in a hurry to Christmas services, and we went to rest at the hotel.

By the way: the Christmas service in the main Cathedral is open to everyone, but be prepared for possible large queues at the entrance due to increased security measures.

Day 2. Colmar, December 25

We knew that all the fairs in Strasbourg were closed on December 25, but we were still amazed at how deserted the city looked in the morning. We walked along the embankment, stood in line with other tourists for coffee in the only working kiosk, reached the station and went to Colmar! This stunning city can compete with Strasbourg in its Christmas beauty, and most importantly, on January 25, in the afternoon, Christmas markets reopen in it!

Train tickets can be bought at the station, or in advance on the website: https://ru.voyages-sncf.com/travel time 25 minutes, round-trip ticket 13.5 Euro

At the Christmas market, tourists happily go to the first stalls they see for mulled wine and pancakes, but we are not here for the first time, and we know the secret! On Place Dominicans is a nondescript kiosk from Colmar Gourmet with a couple of outdoor tables. The sign is inconspicuous, the plates are plastic... There, in the December sun, you can taste foie gras, Alsatian snails, oysters and wash it all down with a glass of local Cremant sparkling wine! Tourists passing by slowed down in surprise when they saw this feast.

A portion of each of the delicacies cost 10 euros, which is incomparable with restaurant prices!

Official website of Christmas Strasbourg: http://www.noel-colmar.com/en/

Maya Vasilenko Strasbourg - Wiesbaden 2017

1 day Moscow - Frankfurt - Wiesbaden - Rüdesheim
Departure from Moscow, arrival in Frankfurt am Main. Meeting at the airport 3 hours before departure. Exact information on the flight and departure time will be indicated 2 weeks before the start of the tour.
Tourists who independently fly to Frankfurt from their city must be at the meeting point no later than the arrival of the main group.
Accommodation in the bus, transfer (~30 km) to the city of Wiesbaden, the capital of Hesse and one of the oldest thermal spas Europe. Walk with an escort. The city was visited by Goethe and Dostoevsky, who in 1860 lost all his savings in a casino.
In the afternoon transfer (~30 km) to Rüdesheim am Rhein - the capital of winemakers, walk and tasting* (from €8) of Rheian wines. Recommended! "Eiswein" or ice wine.
In the evening transfer (~60 km), accommodation and overnight at a hotel in Germany.

Day 2 Koblenz - Bernkastel-Kues
Breakfast in the hotel.
In the morning visit to the city of Koblenz, sightseeing of the "German Corner" - the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine rivers.
Transfer (~100 km) along the Moselle wine road to the romantic town of Bernkastel-Kues, famous for its wines and "fabulous" houses, a walk with an escort around the city. For those who wish, tasting* of Moselle wines (from €12).
In the afternoon drive (~50 km) to oldest city Germany Trier - sightseeing of the city with an attendant: Porta Nigra, the Cathedral and other historical monuments
In the evening transfer (220 km) to Strasbourg.
Accommodation and overnight at the hotel

Day 3 Strasbourg - Baden-Baden*
Breakfast in the hotel.
Walking tour of Strasbourg: historical Center grand ile, gothic cathedral Notre Dame, Petite France and more. Free time.
Trip* (~60 km) to Baden-Baden (€15, transfer). Tour of the city with an escort: Kurhaus with a casino, Trinkhalle drinking gallery, st. Lichtentallerallee.
For those wishing to visit the thermal complex - Caracalla (Caracalla Therme) ticket from €15.
In the evening return to Strasbourg, it is possible to organize a traditional Alsatian dinner* (from €20).
Overnight at the same hotel.

Day 4 Strasbourg - Ribeauville* - Colmar*
Breakfast in the hotel.
Free time in Strasbourg.
Boat trip* on the canals in Strasbourg (approx. €13.5 / 7.8 up to 12 years old)
or a trip* through one of the most picturesque places in Europe - Alsace Wine Road Trip - Ribeauville - Colmar (€30, transfer). Ribeauville wine village, guided walk, visit possible wine cellars with tasting* (tasting of local white wines, from 10 c.u.), moving and sightseeing with an escort of the city of Colmar - "French Venice".
Overnight at the same hotel.

Day 5 Strasbourg - Black Forest*
Breakfast in the hotel.
Free time in Strasbourg or a full day trip to the Black Forest* (€35 transfer).
Freiburg (~ 87 km) - the "Pearl of the Black Forest" of the Black Forest. Inspection of the Old Town: the famous Münster Cathedral, Münsterplatz, the Old and New Town Halls, the old craftsmen's quarter, and much more.
Transfer to the city of Staufen (~20 km) - the "city of Faust", a city known for the works of Goethe. Inspection of the city with an escort.
Moving to Triberg the capital famous watches cuckoo, inspection with an attendant. Inspection of the largest cuckoo clock in the suburb of Triberg - Schonachbach.
In the evening return to the hotel.

Day 6 Basel - Zurich
Breakfast in the hotel.
In the morning transfer (~140 km) to Switzerland to the city of Basel. Sightseeing tour around the city of Basel, which is spread on two banks of the Rhine: Greater Basel - the Cathedral, Marktplatz and Fishplatz squares, Spalentor Gate, Market Tower, Theater Square and more.
In the afternoon transfer (~90 km) to Zurich. Inspection of the city of Zurich with an attendant: Bahnhofstrasse, the Church of St. Petra, Niederdorf quarter, Grossmunster and Fraumunster cathedrals with stained glass windows by Marc Chagall and more.
In the evening transfer (~160 km) to Germany, accommodation at the hotel.

Day 7 Rothenburg ob der Tauber - Würzburg
Breakfast in the hotel.
In the morning transfer (~150 km) to the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. View of the city-museum open sky famous for its Christmas traditions. Rothenburg ob der Tauber boasts some of the most impressive medieval architecture in Europe. Walk around the city with an escort.
In the afternoon transfer (~60 km) to Würzburg. Sightseeing tour of the Bavarian city of Würzburg - the center of the Franconia region, famous for its winemaking. Cathedral St. Kilian, Hofkirche church, Marienberg fortress. Free time in Würzburg. Tasting* of Franconian wines (from 12 €).
In the evening transfer (~120 km) across Germany.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 8 Frankfurt am Main - Moscow
Breakfast in the hotel.
If there is time, a tour of the city of Frankfurt am Main with an attendant: the bank quarter, half-timbered houses in the Römer quarter, the Goethe house-museum, the church of St. Pavla and others.
Transfer to the airport, departure from Frankfurt. Arrival to Moscow.
Information on the flight and departure time a week before the start of the tour.
Tourists flying from Frankfurt to their city independently arrange their own transfer to the airport or can join the main group if the time coincides.

Anna Demchenko, a student from France, tells how the New Year is celebrated in Strasbourg, the capital of Christmas markets - fairs, the absence of New Year's festive food, endless mulled wines and house parties.

Anticipation of Christmas and New Year

New Year and Christmas feelings appear from the moment the decoration of the city begins. Strasbourg is considered the “capital of Christmas markets” (Capital of christmas markets), which begin a month before the New Year, when absolutely the whole city turns into a real fairy tale. Preparations for this event begin at the end of October, including the New Year's beauty on the square. So the feeling that the holidays are coming soon begins with the beginning of this very preparation. But this has a small downside!

All decorations are removed immediately after the new year. That is, if in Ukraine post-New Year decorations hang for another 2 weeks, then here they are removed literally the next day. And there is a catastrophic lack of snow.

Local Christmas customs

There is a nice traditional trifle here - to go to one of the Christmas markets and drink hot wine (white, red or just very sweet apple pie).

Folk festivals on the streets (fairs and concerts)

Folk festivals here are incredibly large-scale. Considering that Strasbourg has a special fame in the field of Christmas trade (again, a market), people from all over the world come here to have time to try the festive choucroute and tarte flambe, warm up with hot wine and, of course, where without the famous pancakes with Nutella and other all kinds of toppings, which they cutely call crêpes. During the Christmas market, you can completely forget about the bicycle as a means of transportation, since at this time it is difficult to move even on foot. On the central square live music 2 weeks before Christmas different countries. One of my favorites is playing the bagpipes!

Local New Year specials

Once I witnessed a dialogue between two madams (a French woman and an Italian woman). An Italian woman asked a French woman how you manage to stay so slim and happy, to which the French woman replied: “Cake in the morning and sex in the evening.” Well, yes, the phrase is a little pop, but I myself am surprised how they manage to maintain such forms, while using an incredible amount of food!

The French do not have New Year's dishes; for them, every day is a holiday. I have never seen a person so passionate about a meal in my life. They can talk about food all the time and (as they like to joke about themselves) they talk about food while eating! (“We talk about food while eating” – this is how my supervisor told me in the original).

The most favorite dishes of my region (Alsace) are fish choukrut, tartflambé, tiramisu. Be sure to drink the white Alsatian Gevertsraminer (everyone pronounces it in his own way). And, of course, cheese! All sorts of smelly and stinky.

Institutions

New Year is celebrated here at parties, anywhere! It is not customary to meet on the square, perhaps due to the fact that the city is small.

The variety and colorfulness of local clubs has always amazed me! They are very strange and very simple. I can only advise the Latin bar, which is located in an old small boat. It is decorated with Christmas lights all year round, the music in it is the same and loud all the time, but the mood is always healthy. We usually go there for a couple of hours to dance after a house party, which are more popular here than clubs.

Thinking about where to spend new year holidays? I have an idea! Strasbourg is ideal for this purpose.

Strasbourg is the capital of the Grand Est region in northeastern France, comprising Alsace, Champagne, the Ardennes and Lorraine, and the seat of the European Parliament. The city is close to the border with Germany, so its culture and architecture are influenced by both French and German traditions. The Gothic-style Strasbourg Cathedral is famous for its astronomical clock, in which the figures of Jesus Christ and the apostles move daily, and the 142-meter-high spire, from the central part of which offers stunning views of the Rhine River.

Strasbourg is rightfully considered the capital of Christmas. Fortunately, during the Christmas holidays at the end of December, I also happened to visit there. I saw a fairy tale with my own eyes, after all, such an atmosphere happens there only once a year))

There were a lot of tourists, despite the cold weather (more precisely, a very cold wind was blowing all this time, it’s better not to go out without a hat, scarf and gloves. The temperature can be deceiving, it seems like it’s not low, but the wind does its dirty work))) ). In the pre-New Year period, Christmas markets are sure to be held in all parts of the city, where you can buy everything from candies to dishes, and, of course, take a glass of mulled wine to warm up.

The city is very clean and cozy, especially "Little France" with all its cute cafes, "gingerbread" houses, narrow cobbled streets.

I strongly advise you to take a boat cruise to the European Parliament itself (yes, the boats are heated there)))), listening with the help of an audio guide Interesting Facts from the history of this famous ancient city.

And be sure to taste the local cuisine!

I highly recommend visiting this city, especially during the period of Catholic Christmas and New Year. Your eyes will be presented with original, intricate decorations on "gingerbread" houses (everyone tries as best he can)), numerous cozy cafes with excellent cuisine, bright light shows.

Illuminated by hundreds of Christmas lights and adorned with colorful decorations, most notably wreaths made from spruce branches, holly, laurel and ribbons. Each is adorned with four candles, which symbolize the fasting weeks leading up to Christmas. But, of course, the main festive decoration is the city tree on Place Kléber.

Feel the spirit of Christmas and find yourself in a fairy tale, it will help you perfectly knowing the city Russian speaking guide sign up for a tour. We also recommend that you think about buying a Strasbourg City Pass, which will greatly facilitate your walks around the city, more details.

Where to stay in Strasbourg for the New Year

New Year's weather in Strasbourg

So that the chilly December weather does not spoil your Christmas mood, take care of warm clothes. In Strasbourg, winter temperatures can drop as low as 1.5°C and snow and rain are quite common this season. Therefore, a warm coat, sweater or cardigan and comfortable shoes with fur will be very useful to you. Also, do not forget to warm up with a scarf, gloves and a hat, a good durable umbrella will also come in handy. Having thoroughly equipped, you will easily bypass all the fairs and festive events of Strasbourg.

Celebrating Christmas and New Year in Strasbourg

The idea of ​​decorating a Christmas tree for Christmas dates back to the 16th century in Alsace, centered on Strasbourg. It was still part of Germany then. It is believed that the German princess Helena of Mecklenburg contributed to the spread of this tradition throughout France when she married the Duke of Orleans. Initially, Christmas trees were decorated with apples and nuts. As the saying goes local legend, 1858 turned out to be a lean year, and glass decorations replaced the goodies, which caused such a sensation that since then it has been customary to decorate the Christmas tree with special toys.

An important role in the celebration of Christmas and New Year in Alsace is played by mythical heroes: Saint Nicholas, Hans Trapp and Christkindel. Alsatian kids don't have to wait until the end of December to receive gifts: the local equivalent of Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas comes to them on December 6, when the holiday dedicated to him is celebrated. But even at Christmas, children can receive additional gifts if the angel Kristkindel and her assistant Hans Trapp drop by with a large basket of sweets and other pleasant surprises.

Holiday Fair in Strasbourg

From November to January, life in Strasbourg is in full swing: almost every day there are pre-holiday events, live concerts, enchanting shows and exhibitions. But the main event in the city is the legendary Christmas market - the oldest in Europe, the first took place in 1570 and was then called Christkindelsmärik (Baby Jesus Fair). Since then, Strasbourg has been considered a kind of capital of Christmas and one of the best places to immerse yourself in the festive New Year's Eve atmosphere.

The Strasbourg Christmas Market starts at the end of November and continues until Christmas. It covers almost the entire city, primarily Broglie Square and Cathedral Square. The fair features over 300 stalls selling handicrafts, Christmas treats, drinks and decorations.

Where to celebrate New Year in Strasbourg

You can try these and other Christmas dishes not only at the fair, but also at a gala dinner in Strasbourg restaurants. A classic Christmas dinner usually starts with seafood and foie gras, the gourmet duck liver that Alsace is famous for. Bekeoffe is served hot - meat stewed in Alsatian or roast goose. Lunch ends with a Christmas stollen - a sweet cake with nuts, raisins and lemon zest. But keep in mind that on the eve and on the day of Christmas, many restaurants and cafes will not work, so it is better to organize lunch or dinner a couple of days before the holiday, and the feast can also be postponed closer to the New Year.

If you want to have a Christmas feast in a restaurant, for traditional Alsatian cuisine, we advise you to look into the old tavern-vinstub Zuem Strissel (5 Place de la Grande Boucherie), which is famous for its flammecuhe and choukrut - stewed sauerkraut seasoned with smoked meats. A good selection of Alsatian dishes is also offered by Le Gruber brasserie (11 Rue du Maroquin) - a very cozy place with a peculiar decor. Here you can enjoy excellent meat stew and foie gras. If you're more into an authentic ambiance than just a pretty setting, you'll love the casual yet very cute restaurant Le Troquet des Kneckes (112 Grand "Rue"), which offers eight types of flammecuché and delicious fresh pretzels.

We wish you a fabulous Christmas and New Year in Strasbourg!