Marchés de Noël and other Strasbourg, France Local Custom Tips

Christkindelsmärik in Place Broglie

by JLBG , 1 more photos

Each square in Strasbourg has its own Marchés de Noël. Though they have a lot in common, some are a bit specific. Here is the full list in 2006.

Place Broglie and Rue de la Comédie : Christkindelsmärik
Place Gutenberg : Village des Artisans Roumains (invited country changing every year).
Place des Meuniers,: Irréductibles Petits Producteurs Alsaciens
Place Benjamin Zix : Comptoir des rois Mages
Place du Marché Neuf
Place d'Austerlitz : Marché des Bredle
Place de la Cathédrale
Place du château.

They are all working from November 25th to December 24th from 10:00 to 20:00 (till 21:00 on week-ends). A few of them work until December 31st.

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Local Customs: Christkindelsmärik in Place Broglie 1

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Written by JLBG

on Dec 20, 2006

Christkindelsmärik in Place Broglie

by JLBG , 2 more photos

Photo 1 and 2 show the main alley of Christkindelsmärik in Place Broglie, the most important Marché de Noël in Strasbourg. These photos were taken on Saturday 9th December around 11:30. It was already difficult to walk because of the crowd. There will be even more visitors in the afternoon, and even more on Sunday and even more when getting closer to Christmas! If you enjoy the crowd, you will know when to come. If you don't, you also know!

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Local Customs: Christkindelsmärik in Place Broglie 2

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Written by JLBG

on Dec 20, 2006

Christkindelsmärik in Place Broglie

by JLBG , 1 more photos

December is supposed to be very cold in Strasbourg. That was not really the case during our visit (global warming, hehe!) but nevertheless, it was cool enough to make all the "vin chaud" booth a must. Vin chaud (warm wine) is sold as small, medium or large glasses. It is usually made with red wine heated in large pots with star-shaped anis (badiane), cinnamon corks and lemon pieces.

You also can buy Bretzels, gaufres (wafers), various kinds of sandwiches including amazing "tarte flambée sur baguette".

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Local Customs: Christkindelsmärik in Place Broglie 3

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Written by JLBG

on Dec 20, 2006

Christkindelsmärik in Place Broglie

by JLBG

Though Alsace produces mostly white wine, it is very seldom offered as Vin chaud. This booth is the only one that I have seen that offered regular Vin chaud (red), Vin blanc chaud, Jus d'orange chaud (warm orange juice) and bière chaude. My advice is that regular Vin chaud is the one that tastes better!

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Local Customs: Christkindelsmärik in Place Broglie 4

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Written by JLBG

on Dec 20, 2006

Christkindelsmärik in Place Broglie

by JLBG , 3 more photos

However, though a great many booth offer drink and food, many other sell non-edible items. Enlarge the photos and you will see hundreds, no sorry, thousands of small figures and animals designed for the crib! The crowd was not only in the alleys of the market but also on the shelves!

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Local Customs: Christkindelsmärik in Place Broglie 5

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Written by JLBG

on Dec 20, 2006

Christkindelsmärik in Place Broglie

by JLBG

For those that do not want a hot beverage, there are also sweets and candies. Here there was a booth where they made peanuts coated with melted brown sugar. You can see in the background the apparatus that turns on its axis to make them and the candies in the foreground.

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Local Customs: Irréductibles petits producteurs d'Alsace

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Written by JLBG

on Dec 20, 2006

Irréductibles petits producteurs

d'Alsace

by JLBG , 1 more photos

Next to the Rue du Bain aux Plantes, place des Meuniers (Millers square) hosts a special marché de Noël, the "Irréductibles petits producteurs d'Alsace" (indomitable small producers of Alsace). They propose their own production, always natural, often organic : duck fat liver, smoked eel, whortleberries juice, honey, gingerbread, etc.

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Local Customs: Comptoir des rois Mages, Place Benjamin Zix 1

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Written by JLBG

on Dec 20, 2006

Comptoir des rois Mages, Place

Benjamin Zix

by JLBG , 2 more photos

On Place Benjamin Zix, close to Place des Meuniers,with the Irréductibles Petits Producteurs Alsaciens and next to the Petite France, there are only a dozen booth and it is much less crowded than on Place Broglie. This market is called Comptoir des Rois Mages (the Wise Men Trading Post), hence the (wooden!) camels at the entrance!

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Local Customs: Comptoir des rois Mages, Place Benjamin Zix 2

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Written by JLBG

on Dec 20, 2006

Comptoir des rois Mages, Place

Benjamin Zix

by JLBG , 3 more photos

If you have already bought some figures for the crib, you might want to make around them an Alsatian village. In this booth, you will find every kind of typical Alsatian houses, all hand made, hand painted. Each of them is a unique piece!

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Local Customs: Comptoir des rois Mages, Place Benjamin Zix 3

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Updated by JLBG

on Dec 22, 2006

Comptoir des rois Mages, Place

Benjamin Zix

by JLBG