Nestled along the eastern border of France, snuggled up against Germany, the Alsace region is one of the best wine routes in France, passing through the foothills of the Vosges Mountains, past a plethora of abbeys, castles, vineyards and wine taverns, making for one of the loveliest holidays you’ll have in France! Visiting the Alsace wine region is perfect for those who love whimsical, fairy tale towns overflowing with half-timbered buildings and picturesque cobbled-stone streets!

One of my favorite childhood Disney films is and still is Beauty & the Beast and one of my favorite scenes is when Belle meanders through a sleepy half-timbered town, with locals going about their morning in the market place, singing “Little town, in a quiet village”. While in Colmar, France, no one broke out in song, walking through the half-timbered town of Colmar is quite possibly one of the best things to do in France. So much beauty crammed into one little town, you wonder how it can possibly be real.

If ever there was one place in the world that embodied the spirit of Christmas, it would most definitely be Strasbourg, France. Historically known as the town which held the very first Christmas Market in 1570, making it the oldest market in Europe and is named the “Capital of Christmas!”

Since 1570, Strasbourg’s “Christkindelsmärik” (market of the Infant Jesus) has grown exponentially and today caters to some 2 million visitors every year, with hotels being booked a year in advance and selling out quickly.

Situated in one of the most beautiful regions between France and Germany, Strasbourg straddles the border between the two countries, following the Rhine. This region’s beauty has switched nationalities four times since 1871 as the two countries have long played tug-of-war over this area, leaving behind both architectural and cultural aspects and is considered to be one of Europe’s most beautiful canal cities!