Capital De Noel – The Christmas Capital
Strasbourg France
On the border of France and Germany lies the beautiful city of Strasbourg that transforms into a magical wonderland during the holidays that known as the Capital de Noel (Capital of Christmas). Once ruled by Germany, this now French city still has a strong German influence and during its transformation to the Capital de Noel, you feel that you are strolling down a Whoville street as you walk the historic canals through cobblestone streets and gaze at the 14th century towers.
Magical town of lights and decorations
Enjoy the festive decorations in every window as you stroll down the streets. Each building is decked with lights, wreaths, holly and ornaments becoming visual treats and when mingled with the scent of mulled wine and gingerbread in the air offers a pure sense of festive joy and puts a smile on your face that is reminiscent of a child on Christmas morning.
Entrenched in History
Stroll through the Christkindelmärik, one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe that dates all the way back to 1570. It is just one of the ten world famous Christmas markets in the area. Originally, this market was held for the three days prior to Christmas Eve and was a place for the locals to acquire what they needed for their Christmas celebrations from candle-makers to and treats, to second-hand clothes dealers and even Christmas tree merchants. Nowadays, markets usually start the last week of November and end on Christmas Eve.
The Cathedral Notre-Dame
Listen to the bells of Notre-Dame fill the air while walking around the market that is filled with more than 100 booths offering ornaments, warm treats and sheepskins.
At Place Kléber you’ll find the Giant Christmas tree. Each year it is a different theme, but what makes this evergreen so spectacular is that it is required to be a minimum 30 meters tall (that is roughly 98.5 feet tall for the Americans out there) and lit with 7 kilometers (4.34 MILES) of bright twinkling lights. I don’t know about you, but I have to now find a tree like this for my front yard.
Put Strasbourg, France on your Christmas Travel Bucket List!