The real deal is here — the Strasbourg Christmas Market, where there's "no OO treasure" on the tree

Photos & Text /Bonnie Talks Food

When it comes to Christmas markets, those of us who grew up in Taiwan may rarely have had the chance to experience the legendary Christmas markets. But this year, you can even visit one right at Taipei 101！ However, after reading the news, it seems there were quite a few negative reviews...

With so many Christmas markets in Europe, which one should you go to? Of course, it’s the “Strasbourg Christmas Market,” located on the Franco-German border — the most prestigious and oldest in all of Europe, even considered the very first of its kind！

Bonnie, who is currently studying abroad in France, just happened to come here these past few days too, taking a two-hour TGV ride straight to Strasbourg to see the original Christmas tree！

Strasbourg is situated at the crossroads of Germany, France, and Switzerland, and has long been an important hub connecting Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, hence its nickname as the “Crossroads of Europe”！

Plus, the European Parliament is also located here, so it’s also referred to as the “Second Capital of the EU.” But then what’s the first capital? That would be Brussels, Belgium, where the EU headquarters is located, of course！

But since Bonnie arrived in Strasbourg at noon, she spent the afternoon checking out some attractions and took a short boat ride on the lake. Right next to the entrance of the Christmas market, there’s an information booth where you can pick up a free map of the market！

(This image is taken from the official website)

It’s said that this year, due to anti-terrorism precautions, the market areas that were originally outside the moat have been moved inside as well！！

So it’s basically made up of about 10 smaller markets, totaling around a hundred stalls.

The operating hours of the Christmas market are:
November 26 – December 23, 2016: 11:00–20:00
December 24, 2016: 11:00–18:00

For Taiwanese people, closing at 8 PM might seem early, but in France, all department stores and shops shut their doors promptly at 8 PM...

However, Bonnie noticed that everything was closed by 8 PM on Thursday night, but on Friday night, she found that some shops didn’t start packing up until 9 PM！ Maybe they extend the hours by an hour on holidays！

Cathédrale Notre Dame (Notre-Dame Cathedral)

Paris has a Notre-Dame Cathedral, but Strasbourg has one too！ But the two each have their own unique charm, and Strasbourg’s cathedral was even praised by the literary master Victor Hugo as “the perfect blend of grandeur and delicacy.” Built between 1176 and 1439, its spire reaches an impressive height of 142 meters, making it the tallest building of its time！ It’s definitely also a landmark of Strasbourg, Up！

Il River Boat Cruise (Promenade en Bateau)

The city’s main attractions are all encircled by the Ill River, so if you want to see the city from a different angle, taking a boat cruise is a great option！ The boats even offer tour guides in Chinese！

Walking around, you’ll see little shops selling Christmas ornaments everywhere — the festive atmosphere is really strong！！ As the sky gradually darkens, the Christmas market becomes even more dazzling！

As you stroll along, you might even spot Santa Claus wandering around the streets～

Kougelhopf (Alsatian Crown Bread)

This dome-shaped cake dusted with icing sugar is also one of the specialties！

Foreigners take Christmas very seriously, so picking up some shiny, pretty decorations is a must！

Even the kids’ toy cars are super Christmassy！

There are cute gingerbread men and ornaments being sold everywhere

The French-style cork cake is small, cute, and delightful

Mulled Wine Vin Chaud

Every year at the Christmas market, mulled wine is an absolute must-drink!! Vin means wine, Chaud means hot, so together Vin Chaud means hot wine!! Rouge means red, so Vin Rouge is red wine; Blanc means white, so Vin Blanc is white wine, but if you don’t know French, just saying red wine or white wine in English works too!!

Usually, mulled wine is simmered with spices and fruit, making it sweet and free of the bitterness typical of regular wine. Sipping one while walking down the street in winter is absolutely delightful!!

The price of wine seems standardized across the market — for example, 250cc costs €2, and 350cc is €3.

Here, when you buy the wine, you pay an extra €1 for the mug. After drinking, you can return the mug to any vendor to get your €1 back, or you can take it home as a souvenir — that’s pretty cool too.

This little train-looking thing actually sells roasted chestnuts!!

Since it’s close to Germany, pretzels (Bretzel) are everywhere!! For example, Bonnie had a great time in Munich, Germany last time!! If you're interested in visiting Munich, check out the post below～～

2016 New Guide Lump Sum Package!! 6-day, 5-night itinerary with detailed plans for transport and accommodation — let you explore Munich, Königssee, Neuschwanstein Castle, and Zugspitze all in one go!!

Being close to Germany means one of the best things: endless delicious hot dogs!!!

A baguette filled with cheese hot dog and onion, topped with ketchup, mayonnaise, and Dijon mustard, paired with mulled wine — absolutely delicious!!

Tarte Flambée 5€

At first glance, it looks a bit like pizza, but it’s actually a local Alsatian flatbread. The crust is thin and crispy. This particular flavor is ham, mushroom, and cheese, and it's only €5 — super tasty!!

Also commonly seen at the market is a dish where sauerkraut, onion, and something like noodles are stir-fried as the base, topped with two small veal sausages!! As expected, they’re a bit on the salty side, haha

Bratkartoffeln mit Hausgemachtem 6€

European-style cheese dishes are everywhere — like the white one up there, which is a goat cheese-based sauce served with roasted potatoes. It’s both filling and delicious!!

Boules Mousse 0.7€

It’s said this is also a classic dessert often found at Christmas markets. One costs €0.7, with many flavors to choose from. I thought it might have a cake-like inside... but then... one bite...

...and it was full of mousse!!! And super sweet mousse at that...

Throughout the Christmas market, you’ll also see police patrolling everywhere, and they’re all armed!! (Although they did catch terrorists planning an attack just a few weeks ago)

As you walk along, you’ll eventually come to the legendary Christmas tree!! The 30-meter-tall Christmas tree is a real tree!!! The real thing is absolutely stunning!!!

It sparkles and even changes colors, making people nearby seem tiny in comparison.

Also, cool fact: every year the Christmas market invites EU member countries to join in the celebration. This year’s theme is Portugal!!

When you think of Portugal, what comes to mind? That’s right!! Portuguese egg tarts!!!

Authentic, genuine Portuguese egg tarts are here!! One single tart is €2, or pair it with a small coffee for €2.6. But the taste is a bit different from the ones in Macau — the filling is more like a sweet custard flavor.

Pain au Chorizo 4€

There are also Portugal’s signature grilled flatbreads, freshly made and stuffed with sausage, fish, or spread with garlic sauce.

The hot, freshly baked flatbreads have a doughy aroma on the outside, soft and chewy, pairing perfectly with the savory sausage inside!! But besides these flatbreads, France’s classic crepes are also everywhere. Whenever I think of crepes, I think of the generous portions near Notre-Dame in Paris!!

Aside from the security check at the entrance, there are also many police stationed around the Christmas tree, so there’s really no need to worry too much!!

Straight Talk

Strasbourg’s Christmas market really didn’t disappoint!! Compared to the stuff sold at Paris’s Champs-Élysées, there’s more variety here, plus the unique Alsatian foods make it even more fun — everyone should definitely visit this Christmas market that’s been around for over 400 years if you have the chance!!

Taipei 101’s Christmas market has also opened these past few days, but judging by online news, the reviews seem a bit underwhelming compared to expectations? Still, happy holidays to everyone!!

Over the past six months, Bonnie has been studying abroad in France and has taken the opportunity to travel around Europe in her spare time, so friends interested in European travel can stay tuned for more updates!!Bonnie Says Foodie Talk Facebook Page.