Strasbourg Local Customs

Open markets are integral part of the French culture. It exists in many countries but the French ones are very lively and exhibit very interesting objects from fish and vegetables to antiques and paintings. I found the market in Strasbourg enjoyable and eye-catching.

Go in the morning to Place du Marche Aux Poisson (Fish market place).

The Stork is symbol of the Strasbourg and the hole Alsace. When you walk all around you will see a stork. Storks have been a symbol of the Alsatian for many centuries. They would return every year from Africa to announce the coming of spring in France.Alsatian custom used to have a child who wanted a little brother or sister place a piece of sugar on the window ledge to attract the stork, in the hope it would leave the precious bundle in exchange for the treat.

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Unlike other cities Strasbourg does not have one big Christmas market but several smaller ones all over town. The largest market is the one round the cathedral. But more or less every square in the city centre, big or small, has its own Christmas market. You'll find a new one after every second street corner. Some occupy a whole square, others consist of a few stalls only. Some sell arts and crafts of fine quality, others more factory kitsch. All of them are worth a look. Get lost in the streets of the old town and explore.

In addition to the well known mulled wine, an Alsatian Christmas market speciality is spicy hot orange juice. Tasty, warming and alcohol-free.

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The Kougelhopf (in German: "Gugelhupf") is a traditional Alsatian cake with raisins. Unlike other cakes, Kougelhopf is not sweet and not intended to be served with coffee or tea. The appropriate drink to have with this cake is a dry Gewürztraminer, a variety of white wine that has a flowery, perfumed flavour.

During Advent, the four weeks before Christmas, the town centre is full of light. The decorations are, I'm inclined to say, the most beautiful I've ever seen. Each street is different. In addition to the 'official' decorations set up by the city, people decorate their houses and shops. Stroll, best after dark, and enjoy.

See my travelogue page for more pictures.

While visiting the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Strasbourg, we happened across the saddest gargoyle Sarah and I have ever spotted. We can only assume that since he was located at the bottom of the cathedral that he had done something terribly wrong and was banished to guarding the very bottom stones. In terms of gargoyle-dom, this must be one level above gum remover from the bottom of the ground. Hopefully he will have an opportunity to regain his stature at or near the top.

That would not be the Marché de Noël if there were not several booths with vin chaud, called Glühwein in Alsatian. Here, you can get a 25 cl vin chaud for 3 euros, water, Coca or Orangina for 2 euros, a bretzel for 1 euro or knacks (Strasbourg sausages) for 2 euros.

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On Place Gutenberg, Rumania is the invited country of the Marchés de Noël for 2006. The Village des artisans Roumains (village of Rumanian craftsmen) presents in a dozen boothes several aspects of Rumanian craft. In the middle, a group from Bucharest gave to the passers-by a sample of their traditional songs and dances. That was excellent! May be that we will go to Rumania for next vacations!