There are more than 100 Christmas markets in Alsace, the oldest and biggest is in Strasbourg with the market at Colmar coming in close behind in terms of popularity and size.
Go to either of these markets at this seasonal time of the year and you enter an alternative world – the world of Christmas. They take Noël, as it’s called in France, seriously here. Towns are decorated, Christmas trees loom large, lights twinkle, festive music is played and the scents of Christmas assail your quivering nostrils – from mulled wine to gingerbread, pain d’epice, sweet pastries and roasted chestnuts....