Strasbourgers in the Alsace region of France claim that they are the “Christmas Capital” of Europe so as a good muslim I went there to check.
Well, they keep saying it everywhere:
It was a very cold day but thousands of poeple were swarming the streets of this beautiful Alsatian city:
walking up and down narrow streets,
They have no pity for their babies fighting the cold,
maybe because they drink this mulled wine called “Vin Chaud” (hot wine) or “Gluehwein” (in german): a concoction usually prepared from red wine, heated and spiced with cinnamon sticks, vanilla pods, cloves, citrus and sugar. They sell it in every other stand on the big Christmas market in Strasbourg:
I saw my first chocolate covered “strawberry kababs”:
Strasbourg is home to one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Europe:
where Jesus’ birth will be celebrated this year with pomp and thousands of little ornaments made in Alsace (read China):
The market is not close to the big church but right at its feet with Santa Claus himself selling some of the stuff:
Here is Alsace in all its glory (albeit in miniature):
and colors,
with little chefs baking for the big birthday (Jesus’, remember?)
and big chefs of course making macaroons:
but for people with a weakness for great pastry I have a better treat:
The above are Christmas Buches but Christian Patisserie—that I discovered a couple of years ago on my first trip to Alsace—is known for its chocolate:
and anything related to it:
Chocolate not being on my repertoire much, I opted for the fabulous chestnut cream “Mont Blanc”:
I went to the cathedral where a thousand Santas were busy clicking away on their cameras,
and a thousand candles promised to fulfill wishes…
By the end of the day, I was one of the few without a red hat,
Alsace’s emblem is a stork—you see them everywhere:
I couldn’t resist buying my first real mistletoe:
and looking at the holly,
I went to see the Fine Arts Museum:
where I revisited “the beautiful woman from Strasbourg”:
and the fabulous dutch still life paintings and my favorite Kessel insects of course:
By the time I got out it was getting dark but the market was still hustling and bustling,
This whole trip almost made me forget Copenhagen’s climate summit, the American Health Bill disaster and the Swiss minarets…
Have a golden Christmas everybody!
Je suis à moitié alsacien (le nom de ma mère était Lienemann) et j’ai beaucoup aimé la ville de Strasbourg. Cependant, force m’est de constater que cette cité, autoproclamée capitale de Noël, a évolué plutôt défavorablement depuis l’installation du Parlement européen. Un goût malvenu du “clinquant authentique” a succédé à un charme provincial quelque peu “altmodisch”. Bref, Strasbourg était aimable quand elle acceptait d’être une capitale provinciale; sa prétention à être une capitale européenne lui fait perdre de son charme.
Fantastic! thanks for sharing it Michele Jan!
fine chocolat pastry displays and fine art and beautiful architecture and so precious! what a holiday treat that was. i feel full and a little sticky sweet now! lol. thank you for the beautiful photos!
Beautiful Picture ..
Wishing you and all your readers Merry X- Mas ..
I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month.”
~ Harlan Miller
Dear Michele, thank you for a Chrismas Day in Strasbourg. I have thoroughly enjoyed visiting your site these past months. love and peace to you…
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Finally I have a little pause to wish you a joyous Christmas Holiday.
I agree with M. Caralp about the friendly and warm city … by gone years
And thank you to Ajay quoting Harlan Miller.
Joeyx Noël Michele