At the end of November, about a month before Christmas, Christmas fairs open in large and small towns of Europe. At these fairs in festively decorated tents sell souvenirs, local productions, christmas decorations, gingerbread cookies. With the onset of evening twilight lights are lit, music playing, hot mulled wine smells cinnamon and cloves. Next to the cathedral, you can ride a rink with artificial ice, for children there is a carousel.
In the afternoon in Strasbourg, it is pleasant to walk along the winding streets of the Old Town, drink coffee in a cafe. Buns and cupcakes are delicious, tender and air, always freshest. Thanks to the geographical position and by historical reasons, the Kitchen of Alsace, like many other aspects of culture, is the interlacing of German and French traditions, a combination of philandum and ease. Familiar from the school times "Strasbourg Pie Cake," is baked in the test of the goose pate, called Pushkin imperishable for a long shelf life due to a special recipe for cooking. The famous foie gras, a pate from a goose or duck liver, is sold here at any store.
On the eve of Christmas, merit is made here - sculptural groups depicting the birth of Christ. Such a composition with Mary's figures with a baby, Joseph, Magi is in the Cathedral of Notre Dam, the Cathedral of Strasbourg. Carved facades, decorated with sculptures, openwork gothic spiers attach ease of this grand construct. Special attraction of the cathedral is an astronomical clock, a miracle of ancient mechanics.
Apparently, water strings along the Il River are popular with tourists, but in December it did not seem attractive to me.
Three museums are located in the Roansk Palace - Archaeological, Museum of Decorative Art, Museum of Fine Arts. Museum of decorative art, to be honest, more interesting to the interiors, actually decorative art is presented here by an endless turn of the dishes. In the halls of the Museum of Fine Arts - Masterpieces Goya, El Greco, Rubens. There are in Strasbourg and the Museum of Contemporary Art, a huge glass structure, in the collection of works from impressionism to surrealism, the work of Monet, Picasso, Kandinsky, Magritte.
In winter, it darkens early, walking through the streets, go to the fair, already mounted by multicolored lights, music, gingerbread smell and mulled wine. Especially tasty in Strasbourg pancakes, you can choose a stuffing to them or just sprinkle with powdered sugar. On the shelves appetizing slides laid a variety of cheeses.
A year ago, I would say that the Fair to Strasbourg needs to go after the feeling of a holiday, bring home Christmas mood and several Christmas tree toys. Now I would take cheese, as much as possible. Everything flows, everything changes…