Sip, Shop and Celebrate: Europe’s 10 Best Christmas Markets This Season
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9Strasbourg, France – The Capital of Christmas
Strasbourg proudly claims the title of “Capitale de Noël”, and for good reason. Dating back to 1570, this is one of Europe’s oldest Christmas markets, with an unbeatable storybook charm.
Half-timbered houses glow with warm light, the scent of spiced biscuits fills the air, and nearly a dozen themed market areas turn the city into a holiday village. Sip Alsatian mulled wine, sample kougelhopf cake, and browse artisan treasures—this is a celebration rooted in tradition and community spirit.
If spirituality entices you along with meditative chants and riveting discussions with monks and nuns fascinate you, monasteries are your peaceful retreats. Housing monks and nuns, monasteries are a place to live in seclusion where the inhabitants explore faith. An array of religions has monasteries, including Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism, where the people who chose this path believe in living humbly. The Greek root meaning of the term “monastery” itself signifies living alone. Not everyone can adopt such a lifestyle, albeit experiencing it for a while can bestow peace to the soul. This is a guide to remote monasteries on earth.
