A few weeks ago, my sister Marian and I set off on a mission to explore the famous Christmas Markets of Europe. We visited numerous markets in six different cities and towns in Germany, Czechia and Austria. Mission accomplished!
Of course, we didn’t only see Christmas Markets―read on for an overview of our visits to Prague and Vienna.
It’s hard to believe more than a decade has passed since my husband and I lived and worked in Germany. We had the good fortune to explore many parts of Europe during that time. One of those places was Prague, Czechia (aka Czech Republic). This is one of my favorite photos from that time―it’s taken from Letna Park and shows several of Prague’s famous bridges crossing the Vltava River.
Considerable time has passed since those visits so I was eager to see if Prague is as beautiful as I remember. It is!
The most famous of Prague’s bridges, Karlův most (Charles Bridge) crosses the Vltava River between Prague’s Old Town and Lessor Town. It’s a must-see attraction and, as the primary walking route to the Pražský hrad (Prague Castle), it draws a lot of people. A little online research reveals that, sadly, overtourism has become a real problem in Prague. But it’s worth braving the crowds to stroll through the ancient streets and savor the magnificent sights.
Prague Castle can be seen behind Charles Bridge in the below photo.
Charles Bridge is adorned with a series of historic statues.
In this next photo, a statue of St. John the Baptist seems to point towards Prague Castle.
Prague Castle is a vast complex of buildings which, due to its long history and various renovations, incorporates a variety of architectural styles. For instance, the construction of the Castle’s St. Vitus Cathedral stretched over six centuries resulting in a mix of Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance, and Neo-Gothic elements.
A series of splendid stained-glass windows, including this one by the well-known Art Nouveau artist Alphonse Mucha, grace the cathedral’s interior.
Art Nouveau treasures can be spotted throughout the city. The Foyer Café, which we discovered quite by accident at the Prague train station, is a case in point. It’s described as “a unique gem located in the Fant building in the heart of Prague, where art nouveau elegance is combined with the enticing aroma of fresh coffee”.
Prague’s largest Christmas market takes place in Old Town Square nestled around the beautiful historic buildings.
On a different subject, anyone interested in beading will be aware of the historical significance and craftsmanship of Czech glass beads. We sought out a couple of bead shops, including the Bead Express Store shown below, and managed to snag a nice assortment of Czech glass buttons and beads at very reasonable prices!
A short train ride took us from Prague to Vienna―the final destination on our self-arranged tour. I also have fond memories of Vienna from our time in Germany. There are two iconic areas I remember most vividly―Stephansplatz with the magnificent St. Stephen’s Cathedral…
… and Rathausplatz with the equally splendid Vienna City Hall. It was beautifully decked out in luscious red flowers in the spring of 2009.
Christmas light displays and Christmas markets were in full swing during our recent visit. St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the surrounding streets were spectacular!
Meanwhile, the annual Viennese Dream Christmas Market had taken over the area around Vienna City Hall.
This turned out to be our favorite Christmas market. The area is more spacious than the other markets we visited―there was room for several attractions including a skating rink, a vintage carousel…
… and this Instagram-worthy lighting display.
We also noticed a wider variety of unique, handcrafted items in the market stalls.
We rounded out our visit to Vienna with an unforgettable concert of Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’ by Orchestra 1756 at St. Charles’ Church, a viewing of the magnificent treasures at the Imperial Treasury Vienna, and a horse training session at Vienna’s famous Spanish Riding School. The iconic Lipizzan horses (sorry, no photos allowed) were mesmerizing.
This wraps up my series of mini-blog posts from our European Christmas Market Tour including:
. Postcards from Germany #1
. Postcards from Germany #2
. Postcards from Czechia and Austria (this blog post).
In case you’re wondering, Marian and I planned this trip ourselves following the approach I shared in 5 Tips for a Stellar Trip Itinerary. Heartfelt thanks to Marian for always being a good sport and a great travel companion!
