Mulhouse, Eguisheim, Thann: Alsace's Lesser-Known Christmas Markets

MULHOUSE

We leave Varese around 6:30. A smooth journey through Switzerland and the St. Gotthard tunnel.

We didn't even have to buy the Swiss motorway sticker at customs because we already had a valid one.

Shortly after 11 we are already in Mulhouse and, with the help of our navigator, we reach the Hotel de Bale without difficulty, booked through the convenient Federal Hotel portal. It's a very simple, essential and very cheap 2-star hotel but located right in the center of Mulhouse. The hotel has everything you need, except the elevator. However, the private parking is a bit far and inconvenient. Anyway, if you're interested, next to ours there's a hotel with private parking right at the back of the building: Inter hotel Salvator.

We immediately start visiting the city. We realize that Mulhouse, although pretty, apart from the pretty little market square, Place de la Réunion, has nothing particularly interesting to visit.

So we focus our attention on the market stalls (about 80) and the shops. The visit to the center is pleasant as it is completely pedestrianized. We have lunch with Croque Monsieur (French toasted sandwiches covered with cheese) and for dessert some fantastic Churros (narrow, elongated fritters, typical of Spain). In the afternoon we do our first shopping: Alsatian ceramics, a little tealight holder house and other small objects.

We also drink something hot at the market: Max the classic mulled wine. I, on the other hand, who don't drink alcohol, am undecided between hot apple juice and hot orange juice. I choose the apple juice and I love it. Too bad there aren't the famous market souvenir cups here for drinking all these things. We would have gladly bought one, but instead we just drink from plastic cups.

When evening falls, Mulhouse shows itself at its best with its fantastic Christmas lights. We take the opportunity to snap some striking photos, especially in the market square. For dinner, we spot a lovely Creperie on a side street, Creperie Crampus Mad - rue Tondeurs, with a well in front. We have dinner with a savory crepe and a sweet one.

EGUISHEIM AND THANN

After a decent breakfast and after some difficulty in retrieving our car from the parking lot affiliated with the hotel (the parking lot is closed on Sundays and the automatic mechanisms weren't all that clear), we set off for the next stop of our short trip: EGUISHEIM.

Eguisheim is a fantastic typical village. The signs indicate that it is "one of the most beautiful villages in France"; and that's exactly right. We immediately regret not having booked at one of the fabulous style hotels present in the village center. It would have been really nice to stay here, in this fantastic atmosphere. In this regard, we recommend to anyone who wants to follow our advice to book at the HOSTELLERIE DU PAPE or at the AUBERGE ALSACIENNE.

The village is entirely pedestrianized, made up of old colorful half-timbered houses with small streets, pretty little squares and scenic fountains. We take photo after photo. Every corner is picturesque and worth it. The market isn't very big but, at this point, given the beauty of the village, it definitely takes a back seat. In the late morning we head towards Thann, where we have booked for the night.

Our Hotel is called Hotel Du Parc and it's fantastic. It's a building that recalls a castle, in any case a historic residence, surrounded by a small park but close to the center, which can be reached on foot. It belongs to the chain we have already tried several times, "Romantik hotels" (which has never disappointed us) and it's a truly romantic hotel. The interiors are in style, like in a real castle. The hotel also has an outdoor pool (for summer, naturally) and an indoor Spa with a nice whirlpool tub, sauna, Turkish bath and gym.

Unfortunately they don't hand over the rooms until 3 in the afternoon. So we head to the center of Thann to have lunch. The Christmas market also only opens in the afternoon, so we have lunch in a Creperie with sweet and savory crepes: CREPERIE MELUSINE - rue 1ere Armée.

After lunch we go scouting around the small center of Thann. The riverside is pleasant and the "witches' tower" is suggestive. The historic center, on the other hand, is nothing exceptional and the market is also quite disappointing (only about twenty exhibitors). I do buy a Christmas arrangement made with real pine branches to give as a Christmas gift.

Around 3 we go back to the hotel where we patiently wait for the room to be ready.

In the afternoon we access the wellness area that we booked from home. The area is very nice but... Alas... how much disinfectant there is in the water of the whirlpool. Our eyes burn and we even start coughing. In short... We stay a while but then decide to go back to the room.

The room is obviously nice, quite large and tastefully furnished.

We go out when the lights come on and look for a place for dinner.

On the church square, every evening at 6:30, there's a Christmas theatrical performance: The Snow Queen. We watch for a few minutes and then go looking for a restaurant.

We find a truly typical place, where you can eat cheese fondue: Restaurant Le Caseus - rue 1ere Armee. Without hesitation we go in and even find staff of Italian origin. We eat the hearty fondue, having fun dipping pieces of bread with the little forks, and accompany it all with French cured meats. At the end we are more than full and satisfied. The bill isn't excessive either. Average prices.

It's raining, all we can do is go back to the hotel.

BASEL AND BACK HOME

A truly princely breakfast at the Hotel Du Parc. It cost a bit but it was certainly worth it. And then, what an atmosphere, in the beautiful breakfast room of the castle!

After breakfast we set off for Basel and after 1 hour, we're there.

It's Monday morning and, as we've already verified in past years, in many places the markets are closed and only open in the afternoon. But in Basel, since it's a big city, the markets open in the mid-morning, right when we arrive.

The Christmas market is quite large. We're in Switzerland and therefore the items sold are a bit different from what we saw in France or in Germany in previous years, so we also see different objects. Among other things, the little houses/stalls are very well-kept and artistically decorated. They often reproduce a typical mountain chalet with bright decorations on the roofs.

At one stand Max buys a super-accessorized Swiss pocket knife of a famous brand. In Italy it costs more and even in Basel shops the price is slightly higher. On top of that, the seller kindly offered to engrave the name on the knife itself.

Then Max, who doesn't deny himself anything, drinks mulled wine in the souvenir cup of the Basel market, which we buy for our collection.

We also visit the nearby Markt Platz with the striking Red building and stroll through the streets of the center, with lots of shops (especially watch shops, perfumeries and department stores). Shortly after 11 we get back in the car to start the return journey.

Along the motorway we make stops at Swiss service stations to buy the famous chocolate and, nibbling on it, we get home quickly, with no traffic. Dani and Max for more information, visit our website: