In the previous two posts I have focused on Christmas markets in
Germany and
France. However, Christmas markets are held throughout Europe.
Prague holds markets and Advent weekend concerts in both the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, with stalls selling traditional Christmas gifts, handmade toys, candles, bells, Czech folk art, mulled wine and hot chocolate.
In Krakow, southern Poland, they also keep out the cold using mulled wine, but their name for it is '
Grzaniec'
Hungary's Budapest features a huge Advent calendar as the centrepiece of its market and you will also find markets in Austria's Vienna and Saltzburg, who are preparing for the big
Mozart year in 2006.
The
Year of Beer comes to a close in Belgium but there is still plenty of opportunity to enjoy Christmas beers and sample Belgian chocolates at Christmas markets in Antwerp, Bruges, Brussels, Ghent and Liege. Most of the markets feature ice rinks where you can test your balance.
This year, the UK's Tower of London features an ice rink around its dry moat moat beneath the Outer Curtain Wall.
Scandinavian winters are notably dark because of their northern latitude, but Christmas decorations brighten the darkest days and Denmark enjoys one of the most romantic Christmas markets at Tivoli.
