Holiday Markets in Europe: Montreux, Switzerland

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Holiday Markets in Europe: Montreux, Switzerland

The best Christmas market in French-speaking Switzerland, and one of the largest in the country, is the Marché de Noël à Montreux. This traditional Christmas market spreads along the Lake Geneva lake-side quays. (Interestingly, French speakers call Lake Geneva Lac Léman. And in German, it is called der Genfersee.)

Montreux is known as the pearl of the Swiss Riviera. The setting is indeed picture perfect with snow-capped mountains rising above crystal blue waters and jazzy holiday music playing everywhere. This is the home of the famous summer Montreux Jazz Festival after all—and there’s a hip, jazzy vibe to the entire locale.

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Holiday Markets in Europe: Prague, Czech Republic

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Holiday Markets in Europe: Prague, Czech Republic

The Christmas markets in Old Town Square in the center of Prague are the largest celebrations of their kind in the Czech Republic. Studded by a gigantic 22-metre tall lavishly decorated Christmas tree you can probably see from space, dozens of wooden stalls fan out on the pretty square and beyond.

Here, merchants offer typical Christmas goods and items such as traditional Czech blown glass balls, products made of glass pearls or straw, hand-embroidered tablecloths, wooden toys, biscuit cutters, traditional Czech fabrics and foodstuffs, specialty beer and wine, and many other offerings…

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Holiday Markets in Europe: Strasbourg, France

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Holiday Markets in Europe: Strasbourg, France

Holiday Markets are preparing for celebrations as worldwide travel is opening up again—at last!

As I also prepare to head back to Switzerland and Austria to visit some of the most beautiful holiday venues in the world, I thought a celebration of past holiday markets might be just the thing to spark some of that holiday joy. First up is Strasbourg, one of the most popular Alsatian locales in eastern France.

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