Vacation Spotlight

'Tis the Season to be Enchanted

Imagine this: there’s a chill in the air, and you’re holding a mug of hot mulled wine or cider to keep you warm. The architecture around you is hundreds upon hundreds of years old, and you’re in the middle of this gorgeous holiday event that’s so modern and yet so nostalgic. The toys and gifts you can purchase aren’t shipped in. Rather, they’re handmade, woodcut, blown glass, or expertly crafted from the individual selling it to you. The smells of raquelette (melted cheese) on brioche and the slightly sweetened apple strudel surround you. Everything around you flows with joy, history, and beauty. You’re in a European Christmas Market.

In 2019, I had the pleasure of leading a group of travelers on a Rhine River Christmas Markets Cruise (Netherlands, Germany, France, and Switzerland). During the day, we enjoyed learning about the history, architecture, and beliefs of each destination we visited. But at night, we enjoyed walking around the Christmas Markets, drinking our mulled wine, snacking on the local delicacies, and shopping.

One of my favorite stops was Cologne, Germany (Koln), where we toured A UNESCO World Heritage site and the most recognizable landmark in much of Germany— The Cologne Cathedral. Many take pilgrimages of sorts to this cathedral because it’s known to have been built to house the relics of the three kings, The Three Magi. Hearing the cathedral’s story during Christmas time really sets the tone for the rest of the trip.

After discovering the cathedral’s beauty, right outside its main doors was a massive Christmas Market—The Grand Cathedral Market, the largest and arguably the most spectacular of the markets. There were nearly 150 wooden pavilions selling crafts and handmade wares of every kind. The center of the market holds Rhineland’s largest tree, estimated at 50 feet tall. Under the 70,000 lights of this sparkling tree, a band played beautiful music for everyone to enjoy. This memory sticks in my brain as one of the best and most beautiful Christmas Markets of my life.

But wait—it was only the first market of the night.

That evening we visited two others, starting with the Market of Angels at Neumarkt—the oldest Christmas Market in Cologne. It was decorated with white lights and beautiful angels dressed in white all around. The booths in this market were also all festively decorated with lights and holly. Santa himself even made a visit on horseback for all to see Papa Noel.

Later, the Fabled Old Market gave us a holiday-themed glimpse into the folklore of Cologne. Once upon a time, house gnomes were to have secretly done all the daily work for the people of Cologne. But one day, a curious wife tried to see the gnomes. It scared them away to never come back, but in an attempt to have them return, an annual Christmas Market is held in their honor. Gnomes lurk in every nook, cranny, and sign, including the mugs for your glühwein and the rides for children.

We often have people ask for trips to take a multigenerational family getaway, and the Christmas Markets are our favorite holiday recommendation. Of course, anyone can go to a cabin or a resort, but there’s something magical about spending the holidays in Europe visiting Christmas markets with your friends and family. Everyone can go out and adventure in the way that best suits them during the day—from bicycle tours and hikes to gentle walking tours to wine tasting and pretzel making. Then everyone meets back up for dinner and to visit the Christmas Markets in the evening. It’s the perfect magical getaway.

We have a group visiting the Canadian Markets this holiday season, and I’ll be bringing another group down the Danube River in 2022 to see more of these spectacular European markets. So if you’d like to join us and make some magical Christmas memories of your own, give me a call.

Amanda Vallone is the co-owner of Roseborough Travel Agency in DeLand. She is passionate about helping people experience the world around them. She was awarded and or recognized for the 40 under 40, President’s Excellence in Business, Future Leaders in Travel, Best Travel Advisor, and Best of the Best awards over the last 10 years.