3. Alsace Villages
During Christmastime, the Alsace villages of northeastern France delight visitors with their holiday charm. Lovely decorations adorn the pastel-painted half-timbered houses, and the town squares feature festive centerpieces or Christmas trees.
Tourists can sample holiday goodies, shop for gifts, and soak up the magical ambience at traditional Christmas markets called Marchés de Noël. Any travel itinerary through Alsace in the month of December should include stops at these festive outdoor Christmas markets.
The historic town of Obernai hosts a Marché de Noël, where local vendors sell their artisanal crafts. Visitors will enjoy the Christmastime baked goods such as gingerbread and kougelhopf at the Marché de Noël in Kaysersberg, a picturesque town with many half-timbered houses. The picturesque village of Ribeauvillé hosts a medieval-themed Christmas Market with gourmet treats that date back to the Middle Ages.
4. French Alps
A thick blanket of snow covers Mont Blanc during wintertime, and the ski resorts of the French Alps welcome visitors in droves. Winter is the high season for alpine skiing at these top French ski resorts.
Considered a premier ski resort in the French Alps, Courchevel within Les Trois Vallées (Three Valleys) has 150 kilometers of ski slopes accessible by 60 lifts. The resort boasts five villages with a wide variety of accommodations and dining options including Michelin-starred restaurants.
Other top ski resorts include Val d’Isere, found in a high-mountain valley, and Chamonix on the legendary Mont Blanc. The quaint village of Chamonix is a great base for your ski vacation.
