STRASBOURG CHRISTMAS MARKETS

by BobP

I unexpectedly had to run up to Strasbourg at the last minute the day after Christmas.  I hadn’t been to Alsace at Christmas time since the early 90s – it certainly is worth it!

The city was resplendent under the snow.  I ventured out incognito in the evening to several of the Christmas markets – one near the Opera (where Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte was playing) at Place Broglie and the other – my favorite – around the Cathedral.  The latter has been a yearly tradition since 1570!

The fare is pretty similar between the two markets – ornaments, advent calendars, gingerbread, bredle cakes, glühwein…

Hats off to Strasbourg for original decorations – they had these way-wild  chandeliers in plastic casings above the streets that looked fabulous. Some of France’s finest crystal – St Louis, Daum, Baccarat etc is from the region (mainly from nearby Lorraine and the Nancy area).

Since I’m not one to eat in the street, especially in the dead of winter, I headed to Maison Kammerzell, a traditional Alsation restaurant in a tudor house across from the Cathedral and built in 1589. I actually wanted to dine at Au Crocodile, Strasbourg’s finest restaurant, but one has to book well in advance.  Anyway, the maitre D brusquely waved me toward a spiral staircase that looked like something out of the Adams family mansion and said “au troisième étage” (“to the the 3rd floor”).  Fortunately, the staff were more accommodating up high.  Since I’m not much of one for choucroute, I opted for a lovely sole fillet and a half bottle of Alsatian white wine, which hit the spot…

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