 11/7/2006
Europe's Christmas Markets Enchant With Holiday Magic
Holiday travelers who want to experience these and other traditional Christmas markets will find an array of luxurious accommodation choices through Elite Luxury Travel. Among others, they include Baur au Lac in Zurich, the Kulm Hotel in St. Moritz, the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa in Interlaken, the Steigenberger GrandHotel Petersberg near Bonn, the Alpenhof Murnau in the Bavarian countryside, the Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof in Frankfurt, and the Hotel Yasmin just around the corner from Prague’s Wenceslas Square.
Festively decorated booths brimming with colorful handicrafts and gourmet treats. The scent of roasted nuts and mulled wine hanging in the crisp winter air. ‘Tis the season, and perhaps nowhere is its magic more beautifully captured than the Christmas markets of
Europe. These traditional holiday markets abound in cities and small villages, from
Zurich to
Prague to
Interlaken to any number of Bavarian towns, and they draw thousands of visitors each year from around the world.
 Zurich is home to four such fairs, including
Europe’s largest indoor Christmas market: the Christmas Fair at Zurich Main Station & ShopVille. Here, a huge Christmas tree adorned with 6,000 Swarovski crystals towers over more than 160 stands, where visitors can take in the festive atmosphere while sampling treats of the season – St. Nicholas pastries, butter cookies and spiced Glühwein. Shops throughout the city stay open late on December weekends to accommodate holiday shoppers.
Interlaken’s Christmas Market also has much to offer the holiday traveler, with more than 200 stands featuring handmade items and musical entertainment. Or, visitors can browse for “rare finds” among the collectibles and vintage goods at the Christmas Flea Market at the Casino-Kursaale theater hall.
Holiday booths also line the high street of fashionable
St. Moritz each December, showcasing fine crafts from silk paintings to dolls, as well as seasonal decorations and tempting treats.
The Christmas market in
Bonn,
Germany, lights up the city squares of Münsterplatz, Bottlerplatz and Friedensplatz, extending into neighboring streets. Carousels and other children’s rides keep youngsters happily entertained, and live holiday music fills the air as vendors sell
Rhineland crafts and other handmade gifts.
Puppets are among the traditional stocking stuffers visitors will find at the Christmas markets of
Prague. Each December, rows of wooden huts transform Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square into winter wonderlands where shoppers can find everything from Czech glass to hand-made jewelry. Pony rides for the children, a manger scene, and plenty of holiday music complete the magic.
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