CHRISTMAS MARKETS BY TRAIN FROM PARIS
TGV from Paris to Alsace and the Black Forest
Paris is romantic, but nothing says Christmas like the Upper Rhine River region of Europe where Germany, France and Switzerland meet, steeped in ancient holiday traditions from the Alsace of France to the Black Forest of Germany (see Black Forest Christmas Markets) and what better way to travel the Rhine River in the holidays than through the convenience and ease of rail travel. Take the French TGV high speed train from Paris (see TGV Rail Pass France) or the ICE German bullet train from Frankfurt (see ICE High Speed). With either a direct rail tickets or a Rail Pass, here are a couple of itineraries to discover the special moods of the European Christmas Holiday Season.
Paris to Strasbourg - The Strasbourg Christmas market is the best known of the Christmas markets of France. It offers festive streets with stalls offering a variety of food, local crafts and Christmas ornaments. December in Strasbourg means, above all, the immense Christmas market, which has entertained in wonder for 439 years.
TGV from Paris to Strasbourg takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes with cost starting at $95 for Economy or $103 for Comfort Class.
Strasbourg to Freiburg - The Freiburg Christmas Market is a small truly authentic German Christmas market. The market is located in the heart of Freiburg’s historical quarter. The city of Freiburg is located on the edge of Germany’s Black Forest region and is famous for its medieval cathedral. The Christmas market offers a wide range of traditional arts and crafts from the Black Forest, including straw shoes, wooden toys and beeswax candles made to order while you wait. Local express train from Strasbourg to Freiburg in under an hour with price starting at $65 for Economy or $99 for Comfort Class
Freiburg to Basel - The Basel Christmas Market is nestled in the heart of the old city and boasts approximately 140 stalls, offering a variety of handicrafts from all over Switzerland. Express train from Freiburg to Basel in 45 minutes with prices starting at $34 for Economy or $53 for Comfort Class
Basel to Paris - From Basel you can head on the TGV directly back to Paris to fly away home. Extend a trip to some of the other regional holiday markets with Rail Pass. 2012 is the last year in which France can be included in a Eurail Select Pass, so now is the time to discover this one of a kind seasonal experience. If flying in to Europe through Frankfurt, this same Christmas Market cities itinerary can taken with the German High Speed Train, the ICE, with a stop in Stuttgart for one of the largest and best of the German markets. © Bargain
Travel Europe
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See Also:
HOW RAIL PASSES WORK
GERMAN MEDIEVAL CHRISTMAS MARKETS
CITY
NIGHT LINE – SLEEPER TRAIN
MULHOUSE - TOURING ALSACE
EUROPE CHRISTMAS MARKETS TOUR BY TRAIN FROM UK
