New Year in Strasbourg: fairs, house parties and mulled wine. Half-timbered fairy tales and wine roads of Europe Strasbourg for the New Year France
This year’s trip began to take shape in October and we did not consider other options besides Strasbourg, although we were there relatively recently - in the summer of 2015. But here I will not talk about the city itself (about it in another review), but will show the festive atmosphere that attracts millions of tourists to Alsace in general and to Strasbourg in particular every year.
We felt this when we started looking for accommodation options. I opened Booking and was horrified - on the 10th-20th of December the prices were simply astronomical - from 150 euros per night plus breakfast. Therefore, I had to move away from the holiday closer to November, and in the end I found an acceptable option for the period from November 30 to December 5 at the Adagio Access Strasbourg Petite France apart-hotel, which I had already checked on a previous trip - I will write about it separately. As a result, for 5 nights it turned out to be 740 euros with taxes. And the savings on breakfast are simply amazing. We cooked the same omelet with sausages in the room, and we bought cheese, ham, wine and sweets for tea, as well as excellent dishes for heating in the microwave “for pennies” at the nearest Carrefour store. Briefly speaking - great option. The hotel itself didn’t offer anything new, but it didn’t get any worse either. True, the room was on the “zero” floor with direct access to the courtyard, but this was absolutely not annoying.
Therefore, the first life hack of this story is to start preparing for your trip in December much in advance. Otherwise you will have to overpay. So we were lucky with the hotel.
But he still had to get to him. I again chose the option of flying with Lufthansa to Frankfurt and then by bus. In the summer, the period between the landing of the plane and the departure of the bus was almost an hour and a half, but in winter the schedule changed and I was offered 2 options - the bus would depart in 1 or 3.5 hours. I thought for a long time, even called the Lufthansa office with the question - will we make it in time? I was convinced that these options had been tested and tested many times, so there was nothing to be afraid of. And I, a fool, believed... Although, the weather intervened - it was on the night of November 30 that it snowed heavily in St. Petersburg and although we got to the airport easily (I ordered a taxi 6,000,000 for 4 in the morning and along the WHSD in 40 minutes and 1,120 rubles, everything went fine), but before the plane took off, we were sent for de-icing treatment and instead of 6.15 we took off only at 7 o’clock. True, in the air we almost compensated for this delay, but we still boarded 10 minutes later, then taxied around the airfield for a long time and went to the terminal by bus. Having jumped out first to passport control, we saw there a group of aggressive black women with children who were proving to the German border guards their right to enter the country, and they unanimously resisted. After wasting some more time waiting, we jumped out and headed, based on the experience of the previous trip, to get our luggage. We quickly saw a tape indicating our flight and were very happy when at 8.05 it started working and threw out several suitcases - but ours was not there. There were still 25 minutes left before the bus departed and I wasn’t too worried. But another 10 minutes passed, and our suitcase still did not appear. My wife began to worry and we decided that I should run to the bus and persuade the driver to wait for us, since we were registered for a specific flight. I ran to the bus and, together with another lady from our flight, persuaded the driver to wait for our luggage for at least 5 minutes, after which I rushed back (and this is a completely different terminal), but I couldn’t just get into the baggage claim hall - I had to run to bypass. The wife was close to hysterics, because the tape stopped, the luggage was taken away, and there was no prospect of our suitcase appearing. I found the employee in charge of luggage and said - where is our suitcase? He looked at the boarding pass and said: “Oh, are you going to Strasbourg? Your luggage must be collected in the railway station hall!”
Yoly-paly, this is next to the bus boarding point! I run there again and, indeed, I see - in the center of the hall there is a certain area fenced off with ribbons and our suitcase is just standing there! This is the place.
Student from France Anna Demchenko talks about how the New Year is celebrated in Strasbourg, the capital of Christmas markets - fairs, the lack of New Year's holiday food, endless mulled wine and house parties.
Anticipation of Christmas and New Year
New Year and Christmas feelings appear from the moment the city begins to be decorated. Strasbourg is considered the “capital of Christmas markets”, which begin a month before the New Year, when absolutely the entire city turns into a real fairy tale. Preparations for this event begin from the end of October, including the New Year's beauty on the square. So the feeling that the holidays are coming begins with the beginning of this very preparation. But there is a small minus to this!
All decorations are removed immediately after the New Year. That is, if in Ukraine the post-New Year decorations hang for another 2 weeks, then here they are removed literally the next day. And there is a catastrophic lack of snow.
Local Christmas customs
There is a nice traditional little thing here - go to one of the Christmas markets and drink hot wine (white, red or just a very sweet apple uzvar).
Folk celebrations on the streets (fairs and concerts)
The folk festivals here are incredibly large-scale. Considering that Strasbourg has particular fame in the field of Christmas trade (again, markets), people come here from all over the world to have time to try festive choucroute and tarte flambé, warm up with hot wine and, of course, where would we go without the famous pancakes with Nutella and other all kinds of fillings, which they cutely call crêpes. During the Christmas market, you can completely forget about the bicycle as a means of transportation, since at this time it is difficult to move even on foot. On central square 2 weeks before Christmas plays live music different countries. One of my favorites is playing the bagpipes!
Local special New Year's dishes
I once witnessed a dialogue between two madams (a French woman and an Italian woman). An Italian woman asked a French woman how you manage to stay so slim and happy, to which the French woman replied: “Cupcake in the morning, sex in the evening.” Well, yes, the phrase is a little pop, but I myself am surprised how they manage to maintain such shapes while eating an incredible amount of food!
The French do not have New Year's dishes; for them, every day is a holiday. I have never seen a person be so passionate about a meal in my life. They can talk about food incessantly and (as they like to joke about themselves), they talk about food while eating! (“We talk about food while eating” – that’s what my supervisor originally told me).
The most favorite dishes of my region (Alsace) are fish choucroute, tarte-flambé, tiramisu. Be sure to wash it down with white Alsatian Gevertsraminer (everyone pronounces it differently). And, of course, cheese! All kinds of odors and stinks.
Establishments
New Year is celebrated here at parties, anywhere! It is not customary to meet people in the square, perhaps because the city is small.
The variety and colorfulness of local clubs has always amazed me! They are very strange and very simple. I can only recommend the Latin bar, which is located in an old small boat. It is decorated with Christmas lights all year round, the music in it is always the same and loud, but the mood is always great. We usually go there for a couple of hours to dance after a house party, which is more popular here than clubs.
Are you thinking about where to spend New Year holidays? I have an idea! Strasbourg is ideal for this purpose.
Strasbourg is the capital of the Grand Est region in northeastern France, comprising Alsace, Champagne, the Ardennes and Lorraine, and the seat of the European Parliament. The city is located near the border with Germany, so its culture and architecture are influenced by both French and German traditions. The Gothic-style Strasbourg Cathedral is famous for its astronomical clock, in which figures of Jesus Christ and the apostles move daily, and its 142-meter-high spire, whose central part offers stunning views of the Rhine River.
Strasbourg is rightfully considered the capital of Christmas. Fortunately, I also had a chance to visit there during the Christmas holidays at the end of December. I saw the fairy tale with my own eyes, after all, such an atmosphere only happens there once a year))
There were a lot of tourists, despite the cold weather (more precisely, a very cold wind was blowing all this time, it’s better not to go out without a hat, scarf and gloves. The temperature can be deceptive, it seems like it’s not low, but the wind does its dirty work))) ). In the pre-New Year period, Christmas markets are always held in all parts of the city, where you can buy everything: from candy to dishes, and also, of course, take a glass of mulled wine to warm up.
The city is very clean and cozy, especially “Little France” with all its cute cafes, “gingerbread” houses, narrow cobbled streets.
I strongly advise you to take a boat cruise all the way to the European Parliament (yes, the boats there are heated)))), listening with the help of an audio guide Interesting Facts from the history of this famous ancient city.
And be sure to try the local cuisine!
I highly recommend visiting this city, especially during Catholic Christmas and New Year. You will see original, intricate decorations on “gingerbread” houses (everyone tries their best)), numerous cozy cafes with excellent cuisine, bright light shows.
1 day Moscow – Frankfurt – Wiesbaden – Rüdesheim 28.12
Departure from Moscow DME on a morning flight. Meeting at the airport 3 hours before departure.Exact information on the flight and departure time will be indicated in the section 2 weeks before the start of the tour.
Tourists flying to Frankfurt from their own city must be at the meeting point no later than the arrival of the main group.
Accommodation on a bus, transfer (~30 km) to the city of Wiesbaden - the capital of Hesse and one of the oldest thermal resorts Europe. Walking with an accompanying person. Goethe and Dostoevsky visited the city, and in 1860 he lost all his savings in a casino.
In the afternoon, transfer (~30 km) to Rüdesheim am Rhein - the capital of winemakers, walk and tasting* (from €8) of Rhine wines. We recommend! "Eiswein" or ice wine.
In the evening, transfer (~60 km), accommodation and overnight at a hotel in Germany.
Day 2 Koblenz – Bernkastel-Kues – Trier – Strasbourg 29.12
Breakfast in the hotel.
Accommodation and overnight at the hotel
Day 3 Strasbourg – Baden-Baden* 30.12
Breakfast in the hotel.
Overnight at the same hotel.
4 day Strasbourg – Ribeauville* – Colmar* 31.12
Breakfast in the hotel.
Free time in Strasbourg. Boat trip* along the canals of Strasbourg (approx. €13.5 / 7.8 for children under 12 years old)
or a trip* (€30, transfer) through one of the most picturesque areas in Europe - the Alsace Wine Road. Wine village of Ribeauville, guided walk, possible visit wine cellars with tasting* (local white wines, from € 10), transfer and tour with an accompanying person of the city of Colmar - “French Venice”.
Return to the hotel in Strasbourg, preparation for leaving for the city to celebrate the New Year.
New Year's Eve dinner* in a Strasbourg restaurant ~ from 20:00 to 23:00, with a glass of wine.
We invite you to the Alsatian restaurant “Le Gruber”, located in one of the most beautiful buildings in Strasbourg, listed cultural heritage city, and unconditionally participates in the picturesque charm historical center Strasbourg.
Musical animation accompanied by an accordionist and guitarist.
Celebrating the New Year on the festive streets of the city.
Around 01-00 return to the hotel.
5 day Strasbourg – Black Forest* 01.01
Breakfast in the hotel.
Free time in Strasbourg or a full day trip around the Black Forest* (€35 transfer).
Freiburg (~87 km) - “the pearl of the Black Forest” of the Black Forest. Inspection of the Old Town: the famous Münster Cathedral, Münsterplatz, Old and New Town Halls, the ancient artisans' quarter, and much more.
Moving to the city of Staufen(~20 km) - “the city of Faust”, a city known from the works of Goethe. City tour with an accompanying person.
Moving to Triberg the capital famous watches with a cuckoo, inspection with an accompanying person. Inspection of the largest cuckoo clock in the suburb of Triberg - Schonachbach.
In the evening return to the hotel.
Day 6 Basel – Zurich 02.01
Breakfast in the hotel.
In the morning, transfer (~140 km) to Switzerland to the city of Basel. Sightseeing tour of the city of Basel, located on both banks of the Rhine: Greater Basel - Cathedral, Marktplatz and Fischplatz squares, Spalentor gate, Market Tower, theatre square and other.
In the afternoon, transfer (~90 km) to Zurich. Tour of the city of Zurich with an accompanying person: Bahnhofstrasse, St. Petra, Niederdorf quarter, Grossmünster and Fraumünster cathedrals with stained glass windows by Marc Chagall and more.
In the evening, transfer (~160 km) to Germany, hotel accommodation.
Day 7 Rothenburg ob der Tauber - Wurzburg 03.01
Breakfast in the hotel.
In the morning, transfer (~150 km) to the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, inspection of the city - the city-museum under open air, famous for its Christmas traditions. Walking around the city with an accompanying person, getting to know Christmas n traditions of Bavaria. Visit to the “Christmas Village”: the miracle store is located inside interconnected half-timbered houses. In romantic settings market square, decorated with a 5-meter white Christmas tree, you can find absolutely everything related to the theme of Christmas. Visit to the Nativity Museum*, from €4.
In the afternoon, transfer (~60 km) to Wurzburg. Sightseeing tour of the Bavarian city of Würzburg - the center of the Franconia region, famous for its winemaking. Cathedral St. Kilian, Hofkirche Church, Marienberg Fortress. Free time in Wurzburg. Tasting* of Franconian wines (from 12 €).
In the evening, transfer (~120 km) across Germany.
Overnight at a hotel in Frankfurt (possibly in the suburbs).
Day 8 Frankfurt – Moscow 4.12
Breakfast in the hotel.
If you have time, explore the city of Frankfurt am Main with an accompanying person: the bank district, half-timbered houses in the Römer quarter, the Goethe house-museum, the Church of St. Pavla and others.
Transfer to the airport, departure from Frankfurt, arrival in Moscow.
For information on flights and departure times, see the section one week before the start of the tour.Tourists flying from Frankfurt to their home city independently organize their own transfer to the airport or can join the main group if the time coincides.