Christmas in Europe is a time for elaborate pastries straight out of a medieval cookbook, for lyrical midnight masses in Gothic churches, and for the upholding of quirky local traditions—in many countries, Christmas just isn’t complete without mischievous pixies, kindly witches (Rome), treacherous demons (Salzburg), or an 8,000-pound fruitcake (Dresden). However else Europeans celebrate the Yuletide season, Christmas still centers around an Advent market that, in most cases, has filled the square before the cathedral each December for hundreds upon hundreds of years. Many markets start on the Friday before Advent, which is four Sundays before Christmas Eve; most end on December 24, especially in Germanic countries, where Christmas Eve is set aside for trimming the tree at home. Others keep celebrating until Epiphany on January 6.

So here is this years hoteltravelrewards.com’s Christmas Market Picks!

The Cologne Christmas market draws over a million tourists each year to its six market sections, of which the largest and most impressive is the Cathedral market with its imposing backdrop of the Gothic cathedral. Visitors will find everything from lights to Christmas cookies here.

The center of Cologne was completely destroyed during World War II. The reconstruction of the city followed the style of the 1950s, while respecting the old layout and naming of the streets. Thus, the city today is characterized by simple and modest post-war buildings, with few interspersed pre-war buildings which were reconstructed due to their historical importance.

• Cologne Cathedral (German: Kölner Dom) is the city’s famous landmark and unofficial symbol. It is a Gothic church, started in 1248, and completed in 1880. In 1996, it was designated a World Heritage site; it houses the Shrine of the Three Holy Kings that supposedly contains the relics of the Three Magi . Residents of Cologne sometimes refer to the cathedral as “the eternal construction site” (Dauerbaustelle).
• Twelve Romanesque Churches: These buildings are outstanding examples of medieval sacral architecture. The roots of some of the churches date back as far as Roman times, like St. Gereon, which originally was a chapel on a Roman graveyard. With the exception of St. Maria Lyskirchen all of these churches were very badly damaged during World War II. Reconstruction was only finished in the 1990s.

The Nuremberg market is yet another German market. The market at Nuremberg is one of the most beautiful Christmas markets you will ever find.

he southern part of the old town, known as Lorenzer Seite, is separated from the north by the river Pegnitz and encircled to the south by the city walls.

• Nuremberg Castle: the three castles that tower over the city including central burgraves’ castle, with Free Reich’s buildings to the east, the Imperial castle to the west.
• Heilig-Geist-Spital. In the centre of the city, on the bank of the river Pegnitz, stands the Hospital of the Holy Spirit. Founded in 1332, this is one of the largest hospitals of the Middle Ages. Lepers were kept here at some distance from the other patients. It now houses elderly persons and a restaurant.
• Hauptmarkt, which provides a picturesque setting and famous market for gingerbread. Nuremberg’s star attraction is the Gothic Schöner Brunnen (Beautiful Fountain) which was erected around 1385 but subsequently replaced with a replica (the original fountain is kept in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum). The unchanged Renaissance bridge Fleischbrücke crosses the Pegnitz nearby.

The Vienna Christmas market is about seven hundred years old. Set amidst the square across the town hall, the park surrounding the market adds to its beauty. Visitors will find beautiful Christmas ornaments on sale here.

Vienna, the capital of Austria, is a city of art, culture, rich history, and vibrant contemporary life. Situated on the Danube River with a population of about 1.6 million people, Vienna was once the center of the vast Austro-Hungarian Empire. Today it embraces a wide variety of cultures while retaining its historic roots.

• Take a trip to the Schonbrunn Palace. One of Vienna’s most popular attractions
• Visit the Jewish Museum. This 10-year-old museum tells the story of Viennese Jews through a fascinating mix of permanent and temporary exhibitions

The Brussels market in the historic Grand Place offers excellent Christmas goodies. Belgian chocolate, steamed snails and hard gingerbread are popular with visitors.

he country produces more varieties than there are days in a year, and many come with personalized glasses in which only that type may be served.

But beer isn’t all the country has to offer. On your next trip to Brussels, Belgium’s capital, sober up with some of these other activities.

• Ascend the Atomium. Built in 1958 when Brussels hosted the World’s Fair, the Atomium is a cross between sculpture and architecture.
• Grand Place- A Brussels city break will inevitably spend time in the elegant surroundings of its commanding Grand Place. One of the most beautiful squares in the world, it is the social hub of Brussels life and features spectacular medieval guild houses and charming cafes in which to watch the world go by.

• The Royal Palace- Explore Belgian royal history through the ages visiting the sumptuous Royal Palace and its elegant state rooms. Furnished with exquisite artwork it offers an insight into the privileged lifestyle of Belgian royalty and is one of the most accessible regal palaces in Europe.
• Mini Theme Park- Geography lessons have never been so much fun that at the inspiring theme park of Mini Europe. It features scale models of Europe’s most iconic sights and an EU themed funfair and amusements. It has regular events and cultural performances offering kids an educational glimpse of life across Europe.

The Prague Christmas market features concerts, folklore and a petting zoo where children can touch and pet farm animals. As per the local tradition, visitors are expected to taste mulled wine as they pass through the stalls. Traditional wares include Babushka dolls and Bohemian crystal.

Prague , the Czech capital, is one of the most beautiful cities in the world with an inimitable atmosphere created by its millennium of history. Countless museums, galleries and other tourist sights can also be found in the regions of the Czech Republic.

• Prague Castle: Across the river, on Castle Hill, the gorgeous and well-kept Prague castle looks like something straight out of a fairytale. From the two Titans framing the entrance, to St. George’s Basilica and the Cathedral within its walls, the Castle has many sights for the curious traveler.
• Charles Bridge: The beautiful and dark gothic bridge spanning the Vltava river, Charles Bridge is flanked by a series of giant stone statues, representing religious figures and icons. One of these statues is said to bring luck to whoever touches it.

The Copenhagen market in Tivoli Gardens is well decorated with plenty of Christmas trees. The lake in the city is turned into a skating rink during this season. This market features costumed characters like leprechauns and Father Christmas.

The Chicago market in Daley Plaza draws over a million visitors each year and is America’s biggest and best Christmas market. The architectural beauty of Chicago adds to the charm of this market. Visitors will find that shopping in this market is relatively less expensive in comparison with some European markets.

The Christmas market in the Piazza Navona in Rome brings in a medieval Roman flavour to the Christmas shopping experience. Seasonal Italian cakes like torrone, biscotti and pandoro are sold in this market.

Tags: Brussels Christmas market, Cologne, Copenhagen market in Tivoli Gardens, Europe. Christmas, Markets, Nuremberg, Piazza Navona in Rome, Prague, Vienna

This entry was posted on November 29, 2009 at 1:06 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Posted in Europe by James Gray No Comments Yet