Christmas Markets - safe, sparkly and ready to make merry!
15 Dec 2015, 16:46
It is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas but it’s not everywhere you go that you see the night time lit up with colourful, twinkling lights, great glistening Christmas trees stretching into the air, magical-looking ice rinks packed with happy skaters, twirling Ferris Wheels with excited faces watching the enchantment below from high up in the sky. It’s not every market square that has carole singers and intoxicating wafts of spice and sizzling Christmas treats on offer either. All these pleasures and more can be found in the Christmas markets of Europe. And, you can take your school on a short trip to some of the sparkliest and festive markets in France, Brussels, Germany and Holland quickly and easily with Voyager School Travel.
A school trip to one of the Christmas markets in France has never been so simple since we opened our new centre on the Opal Coast, the Hotel du Moulin aux Draps. With gorgeous markets at Arras, Boulogne, Lille and Amiens anywhere between 25 to 80 minutes away from the hotel, you can conveniently combine Christmas shopping with language learning in one short school trip. And with a 3 days trip (2 nights) from as little as £150.00 this is something not to be missed!
Amiens is simply one of France’s finest festive markets and the largest in the area. Children (old and young) will love Santa’s village, the 300 m2 ice rink, merry-go-rounds, music shows and other attractions. There are also 135 stalls to seek out Christmas gifts and a stunning free light show at the medieval cathedral.
At Arras, the town square is transformed into a welcoming Christmas fair filled with over sixty tempting art, craft and food stalls. This is definitely the place to indulge in Coeurs d'Arras – the locally produced heart-shaped biscuits which come in two flavours, ginger and cheese.
The Christmas spirit hits Bologne big time for one weekend (in 2015 this is the weekend of 19/20th December) when the cobbled streets fill with stalls. The market is a wonderful way for the locals to show off their excellent cuisine. Taste the traditional Christmas pudding which is a little like the English version but with a splash more alcohol and prunes in the mix. The Belfry is lit up delightfully and the firework display adds that final bit of magic.
If that isn’t enough Christmas markets for you then you can head to the largest of the lot at Lille. This is the biggest festive fair in Northern Europe when Christmas casts its magic over the town for a whole month and the market opens for business all through. Grand Place Square is decorated with an 18 metre-plus tree and twinkling lights festoon buildings and trees. Nativity figures and local crafts make great gifts to take home and there is plenty of gingerbread, cinnamon treats and hot mulled wine to enjoy on the spot. After all that, you may be ready to take a ride on the 50-metre Big Wheel that whirls you through the winter wonderland sky in style.
After a visit to the Christmas Fairs we promise you a relaxing, cosy time back at Voyager’s Hotel du Moulin aux Draps. A seat beside the crackling fire in the bar area while the students enjoy some festive themed evening ents has got to be the ultimate icing on the gingerbread house - or something like that.
Now, if this is beginning to sound a lot like the kind of Christmas you want, take a look at our Christmas Market School Trips and give us a call on 01273 827 327.
Day trips from £50pp, 3 day trips (2 nights at the Hotel du Moulin aux Drap, Opal Coast) from £150pp - that's #theVoyagerDifference.