Germany/France
Breisach is the river port for Colmar, whose Petite Venise canals host five Christmas markets in a half-timbered Alsatian old town.
Famous for
Gateway to Alsace — Breisach is the river port for Colmar's fairy-tale canals and markets.
Breisach is the Rhine port for Colmar — the most fairy-tale town in Alsace. Colmar's Petite Venise district, with half-timbered houses lining flower-lined canals, hosts five distinct Christmas markets: the Indoor Market (for artisan crafts), the Old Town market, the Petite Venise market, the Koïfhus market, and the Place Jeanne d'Arc market. Breisach itself has a small market and is the embarkation point for ships that turn around here at the southern end of the Rhine gorge. The Alsace wine route (Eguisheim, Riquewihr) is a short excursion away.
Dates: Late Nov – Dec 30
Vibe: Fairy-tale Alsatian — half-timbered canals and five distinct markets.
Local tip
Take the ship's excursion to Eguisheim — voted France's favorite village, with concentric streets of half-timbered houses.
Germany
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Late Nov – Dec 23
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Mid-Nov – Jan 1
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