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| At the Grand Place, Brussels |
During my time in Brussels, I enjoyed going to Plaisirs d’Hivier, the Christmas market of Brussels located in one of my favorite squares, Place Saint Catherine. It is not like the traditional Christmas markets you may see in Germany, but it has its own charm. It truly reflects the diversity of Brussels from the variety of the food and gift stands. Tip: While there, make sure to indulge in oysters, champagne, and warm Kriek (Belgian cherry beer). This market is for those who enjoy great food, so bring an empty stomach! For those with children, there is an ice skating rink and a Ferris Wheel to keep them entertained.
When I lived in Belgium, I loved the ease of crossing the border and being in a new country in 90 minutes. My last winter in Belgium, I had the opportunity to go to Monschau, Germany for their popular market. I love German villages. I may be partial to my old Baden Würtemberg (southwest Germany), but the village is quite charming. Although the village is small, the market is quite popular in the area. Tip: the village has a quite organized park and ride system, which makes it easy to get into the market by bus without having to struggle for parking or deal with traffic. Once we reached the center of the market, it took me back to being a child, when I imagined what Santa’s town looked like.
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| The Market at Monschau |
The market smelled spicy just as the Glühwein and Orangenpunsch it served. Monschau is the setting of a fairytale: it sits on a hill, a river running through the city, and lined by beautiful cottages.. The first thing we did was rush to a wurst (sausage) stand and indulge, then we walked around the different stands and admired the beauty of a village which seems was built just to perpetuate the Christmas spirit. The people at the stands were very friendly, just as I envisioned Santa’s helpers to be. If you have a chance, make the drive to Monschau, it is an hour and a half drive from Brussels, it is a welcome breath of fresh air.
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| Stall at the Brussels Christmas Market |
I wish you all a very happy holiday season and stay tuned for my holiday adventures back in Brussels, Netherlands, Budapest, and Vienna! Bonne Fêtes!
Information:
Monschau Christmas Market: http://www.monschau.de/
Stuttgart Christmas Market: http://www.stuttgarter-weihnachtsmarkt.de/
Brussels Christmas Market: http://www.bruxelles.be/artdet.cfm?id=4843&agendaid=59
