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Hamelin Christmas MarketChristmas Markets in Hamelin, Germany If this German town’s name sounds familiar, here’s a hint – think wind instruments. Hamelin is the town the Pied Piper cleared first of mice and rats and then of children, and you can’t get much more fairy tale than actually being in a fairy tale. The Brother’s Grimm set a lot of their tales in this picturesque corner of the world, so a Christmas market here lends from those child friendly traditions and looks like it could be attended by Hansel and Gretel. Of course there’s a nativity scene – it is one of the world’s favourite stories – and in this case the four legged and feathered characters are played by their descendants and you can pet them afterwards in a mini petting zoo. The other main attraction, apart from the usual warming selection of festive treats, stalls set up in the square and everything decked out in lights, is Hamelin’s architecture – some of it in traditional timber style and much of it graceful and historic – Hamelin was pretty wealthy round the time of the Grimms and there was a lot of investment in the appearance of the town – which from photos definitely doesn’t seem wasted.
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Review by Photo by flickr user Brian Harrington Spier |
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Strasbourg Christmas MarketChristmas Markets in Strasbourg, Germany The German penchant for celebrating Christmas with the kind of market fair we’ve all now come to know and love spread over the border to Strasbourg over 430 years ago, making this France’s longest running Christkindelsmarik, as well as its biggest. Set up under the delicately decorated Gothic eves of Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg and along the Place Broglie, where it always has been, this market has grown with the town, but because of the historic location, hasn’t lost its traditional charm. And the town hasn’t either, it’s half timbered streets have sprung up without proper planning so have a labyrinthine feel and façade of competing wood, which deserves to be decked in boughs of holly and lights. One of the oldest areas is La Petite France, also decorated and worth strolling though, you’ll find your way from the smell of its gingerbread bakery. The tree, in Place Kleber, has to be huge to compete with the cathedral, and the skating rink has to provide ample space for locals and yuletide guests and they need over 60 concerts, performed all over town, to accommodate everyone who wants to experience all the festive spirit this beautiful city can muster. As for the shopping expect to find all the Christmas market staples from jewellery and carved toys to local specialty spicy sausages and gingerbreads.
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Review by Photo by flickr user Claire Dancer |
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Travelling the RhineRiver Trips in Cologne, Germany There are too many beautiful sections of the Rhine to choose from, but the romantic, green sections with the most beautiful fairy tale castles are along the stretch between Koblenz and Strasbourg. The views on either side of the river are far and away entertaining and changeable enough to keep you in rapture hanging over the side of the boat. The food is hearty, the locals ruddy and the countryside has retained a rural feel despite being so close to major built up centres. Just lovely scenery. The stretch out of Koblenz, where the Stolzenfels Castle is a highlight, is one of the Rhine’s most romantic portions, past the pretty towns of Oberwesel and Saint-Goar and hillsides lined with vineyards and decorated with a sprinkling of castles afforded spectacular Rhineland views. Rusheshiem is almost as you expect a German village to be, lively with taverns and restaurants and rather knee slappingly jolly, the marketplace is busy and worth waiting for if you can for the iconic German produce presented in such a traditional way. This way past the narrow spike of land, the Lorelei Rock, with all its wrecks and mythology of the Rhine Maidens to distract you from the dangerous currents. Worms has one of the loveliest cathedrals in Germany, and Frankfurt is a wonderful mish mash of modern glass sky scrapers and beautiful old squished in squares with window boxed flowers from each window. A small detour to Heidelberg for its beautiful ruined castle is highly recommended, especially if you have ever dreamed of fairytale castles.
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Review by Photo by flickr user Daxis |
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OktoberfestFestivals in Munich, Germany Now a contender for the title of 'world’s largest public celebration', Munich’s Oktoberfest begins in late September, running for around 17 days to mid-October. It began as a royal wedding celebration in 1810 and is now effectively a beer festival, when local breweries conspire to brew dangerously darker, stronger fare and drench the city in joyous, drunken revelry. Regional food is also a vital component, and whole roast chickens, sausages and various indulgent Bavarian specialities are cooked freshly and sold to passers-by amongst the street carnival shows and traditionally-outfitted locals.
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Review by Photo by flickr user Taekwonweirdo |
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Brenner's Park Hotel & SpaBest Hotels in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany "Baden-Baden favourite Grande Dame with a glorious Black Forest setting"
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Review by Photo by owner |
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