Božić u Francuskoj 2023: Strazbur, Kolmar i Mliuz
GRADUATE ADVENTURERS PRESENT THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS STRASBOURG I’ve been thinking about this trip for a while now, and the time has finally come to make it happen this year. Everyone who knows me knows how much I love the New Year’s euphoria. At my place, the tree and the apartment are decorated
From November to February. In December, I love visiting a Christmas market. Colorful lights, stands with handmade items, merry-go-rounds, the scent of mulled wine and cinnamon in the air, I love to be surrounded by it. This year, I chose Colmar and Strasbourg. Every year, I remember in December that I could go here
When everything’s already too expensive. This year, in September, we bought plane tickets, although we later looked for accommodation when it had already gotten more expensive. So, if you plan to organize yourself, timing will be crucial for you. I checked all the flights from Belgrade to France and Germany.
Wizz Air has flights from Belgrade every year to some of the airports nearby. We flew from Belgrade to Karlsruhe, which belongs to the Baden province in Germany, and we took the return flight from Mulhouse in France. This combination worked for us because we were closer to Strasbourg this way,
Which was our first destination. After Strasbourg, we’re heading to Colmar and Mulhouse. From the airport to Strasbourg, you have several options, the cheapest being the train, but there are no direct lines. There are other combinations like regular taxis, or a combination of shuttle bus and Flix bus
Or a combination of shuttle bus and Bla Bla Car. We opted for a regular taxi to save time. I’ll leave you all the links in the description that could help you. If you have more days, I would recommend going by train. Keep in mind that the trains are punctual.
It’s recommended to get train tickets online, as they’re more expensive if purchased at the train station or on the day before departure, last minute. The rule is as follows: in every city, look for the main train station. 20 minutes before departure, you’ll have the train number on the tickets
Which you need to find on the departure monitor. There, you’ll find the platform where you should board. That’s where you’ll find which platform to go to. For example, Strasbourg train station has over 30 platforms. From Strasbourg, we took tickets to Colmar, from Colmar, we took tickets to Mulhouse,
From Mulhouse, we took tickets to the airport. From Mulhouse to the airport, we saw two stations near the airport, Saint-Louis la Chaussée and Saint-Louis. On the map, it seems easier to reach the airport from Saint-Louis la Chaussée station, about a 20-minute walk. The conclusion is as follows:
If you don’t have a lot of stuff, feel free to get off at Saint-Louis la Chaussée, and if you have luggage, go to Saint-Louis station because from there, you have shuttle buses to the airport. Just calculate the time for that. Here, we finish with the organizational matters
And move on to the more pleasant ones. The Christmas market in Strasbourg is the oldest in France and the most famous holiday event in the country. Over 300 stalls spread throughout Strasbourg’s historic center. At dusk, the French Christmas capital shines with thousands of lights in a fairy-tale setting.
As I walked the streets of Strasbourg, many things somehow reminded me of Germany. This is somewhat expected because the border with Germany is right here. At all food stands, you can find “Spätzle.” Spätzle is a type of traditional German pasta served with either meat or vegetables. I recommend trying it. I chuckled sweetly
When someone tried to describe this market using the phrase “Christmas on steroids.” Vin chaud or mulled wine is made by heating red or white wine with a blend of spices like cinnamon, cloves, and star anise. This warm, aromatic drink is perfect for warding off the winter cold
As you explore the markets. The tradition of mulled wine at Christmas markets dates back centuries in Europe, where it was believed to have medicinal properties. This warm, spiced wine was used to keep people healthy during harsh winter months. I advise you to visit the historic district of Petite France.
Beyond the magical atmosphere created by decorated timber-framed houses, you’ll find the Christmas village at Place Louise Weiss. What should you know about Strasbourg’s famous Christmas tree, the symbol of what is considered the Christmas capital? The minimum height of the tree is 30 meters. The tree weighs between 7 and 9 tons.
The trunk has a diameter of up to 120 cm. 7 kilometers of lights will illuminate the tree. And here ends our story about Strasbourg. Colmar The Christmas markets in Colmar are far more modest compared to Strasbourg’s, but don’t let that discourage you, as they exude a unique charm.
Indeed, a day is quite enough to explore them. If you have the chance, it’s recommended to visit from Monday to Thursday. We encountered huge crowds during the weekend. The streets are so packed that movement is slower, and the crowds can be a bit irritating.
In front of all the restaurants in the old town, people patiently waited outside, hoping for a free table. And we arrive at the old town in Colmar. The most beautiful spots for photos are the colorful houses. Little Venice is the most charming part and decorations are set up
During the holiday season. The canal area is beautiful, keep going over the bridge and down the streets and you’ll find yellow, blue, and pink houses. We headed towards Champ de Mars Park after touring the old town. The name of that park means Field of Mars,
And it exudes a particular kind of energy itself. What truly charmed me was the charming carousel-shaped bar. You literally climb onto a spinning carousel, and there’s a bar in the middle. There, we relaxed with mulled wine. And I must admit that the wine
Had a special charm in that atmosphere. One accommodation tip: accommodation prices during Advent are high in Colmar. If you find lodging in Mulhouse near the main train station, you can easily visit Colmar. Namely, Colmar’s train station is close to the center, and trains between Mulhouse and Colmar
Run every 30 minutes, and a ticket costs around 3.5 euros one way. Check the train schedule before booking accommodation. Christmas markets are an ideal place to try local specialties. From mulled wine to traditional dishes like sauerkraut with sausages, I’ll try to pronounce the name “choucroute garnie.”
As well as thin pizza topped with sour cream, onions, and bacon, I’ll try to pronounce the name of this dish “tarte flambée.” And there are various Alsatian flavors you can explore. Frédéric Bartholdi, the creator of the Statue of Liberty in New York, was born in Colmar.
In his honor, there’s also a museum dedicated to his life and work. A replica of the Statue of Liberty proudly stands at the roundabout in Colmar. In Colmar, as well as in some other cities belonging to the Alsace region, you may notice hearts cut into shutters or windows.
These hearts are a traditional symbol and part of the local culture. There are several theories about their meaning. One legend says the hearts were a symbol of protection from evil spirits or spells. Another theory suggests the hearts are linked to viticulture and gratitude towards the sun. This symbolism may relate
To a good grape harvest. It’s also believed that the hearts are simply a romantic embellishment that adds charm to traditional architecture, without any specific deeper meaning. Mulhouse We arrived in Mulhouse, our final destination. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to explore this city. I noticed that the Christmas market here
Is quite modest compared to other cities. The city is of a smaller scale, so it seems that all the important locations could be visited in just one day. Mulhouse is particularly known for its automotive industry and is home to the Citroën factory and the National Automobile Museum
Named “The City of the Automobile.” The ticket for this museum costs 18 euros. At first, I thought it was quite expensive, but when I saw the exhibited collection I realized it was worth every cent. The collection of cars from all historical periods is truly impressive. The National Automobile Museum
Preserves the most important car collection in the world with over 500 vehicles. This massive collection is the result of the efforts of the Schlumpf brothers, who gathered numerous Bugatti and classic cars. The aim of the collection is to showcase the evolution of this industry. Their collection includes cars from various manufacturers
That significantly changed our way of life. The “SAM” application provides additional illumination of information about automobiles in addition to the existing information. I’ll leave the app link in the description. What makes this museum special are the stories behind each car. Each car carries its own story,
Whether it’s a legendary racing victory, revolutionary design, or even a connection to an iconic personality. It’s not just about machines here, but vivid stories that have marked the automotive industry. When you step inside this museum, you not only experience the evolution of the automotive world,
But also feel the pulse of time and innovation that have influenced our daily lives. At the end of your museum visit, you’ll find a souvenir shop, a place where exceptional and authentic car replicas are displayed. Models of these amazing vehicles are available in various dimensions, tailored to every enthusiast,
With prices ranging from 10 to 100 euros. Choose your small piece of history of automotive elegance as a perfect memento of this unforgettable experience. I became the proud owner of a Renault 4 replica and spent 10 euros on this precious piece. I would really recommend visiting this museum. If you have time,
You can visit other nearby markets in Alsace, Eguisheim and Riquewihr. Here, graduate adventurers conclude this story. Stay with us until next time. THE END
Diplomirani avanturisti traže Božićnu magiju u Francuskoj. Na kraju 2023. godini ovo je putovanje ostvarenje snova! Zaljubljenik sam u novogodišnju čaroliju i božić, i ova avantura u Francuskoj – Strazbur, Kolmar i Miluz – ispunila je sva očekivanja. Decembarski božićni marketi, šarene svetlosti, rukotvorine, miris kuvanog vina i cimeta oko mene su nešto što obožavam. Planiranje je ključno – avio karte smo uzeli u septembru, smeštaj gledali kasnije. Organizacija putovanja, vožnja vozom i preporuke za razgledanje su deo iskustva.
Strazburov božićni market, najstariji u Francuskoj, ima preko 300 štandova. Čarolija bajkovitog okruženja me podseća na Nemačku. Kuvano vino, tradicionalna hrana, istorijska četvrt Petite France su neizostavni delovi ovog iskustva. Strazbur, kao prestonica novogodišnjih praznika, potpuno opravdava ovu titulu. Svi posetioci dolaze ovde sa istom energijom, donoseći divnu atmosferu, punu čarolije i neke dečije radosti. Jelka je prava zvezda ovde, gotovo kao glavni protagonist na pozornici. Svakoga dana od 16 časova, jelka ima svoj program koji se ponavlja svakog sata, privlačeći pažnju posetilaca.
Kolmarovi božićni marketi su skromniji, ali jedinstvenog šarma. Mala Venecija, šarene kuće, Champ de Mars park, sve pruža poseban doživljaj. Kada posetite Kolmar možete maci bar u obliku rinngišpila. Božićni marketi u Kolmaru su idealno mesto da probate lokalne specijalitete.
Miluz, poslednja destinacija stanica diplomiranih avanturista na ovom putovanju, može se obići za jedan dan. Božićni market je skromniji. Miluz je posebno poznat po svojoj automobilskoj industriji i dom je fabrike “Citroën”, kao i Nacionalnog muzeja automobila koji nosi ime “Grad automobila”.
Božić u Francuskoj 2023. je bio putovanje za pamćenje. Do sledećeg putovanja!
Muzika:
Jingle Bells извођача Kevin MacLeod је лиценцирана по лиценци Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Извор: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100187
Извођач: http://incompetech.com/
Linkovi:
– Karlsrue Aerodrom – [Link](https://www.baden-airpark.de/en)
– Shuttle Bus od Karlsrue Aerodrom – [info@expressdrive.de](mailto:info@expressdrive.de)
– EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg BSL – [Link](https://www.euroairport.com/en)
– Platforma za kupovinu voznih karta – [Link](https://www.omio.com)
– Strazbur Glavna Železnička Stanica – [Link](https://maps.app.goo.gl/cqrpiiSV1Vi4gHRQ9)
– Kolmar Glavna Železnička stanica – [Link](https://maps.app.goo.gl/zgjXDqeXV9nJ3Wuy6)
– Miluz Glavna Železnička stanica – [Link](https://maps.app.goo.gl/junf1M5H96C9MCyk8)
– Aplikacija SAM – muzej automobila – [Link](https://musees-mulhouse.fr/en/sam-sud-alsace-museums)
– Smeštaj u centru Starzbura- [Link](https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/19514421?source_impression_id=p3_1703409254_4C108q2N1TeNDZbL)
00:00 Uvod
00:58 Strazbur
06:46 Kolmar
10:01 Miluz