Sunday, December 5, 2010

Open Air Christmas market in St. Ursanne


A small medieval town lost along the Doubs River, its people had dressed it up in style with vendors of all kinds bringing their hand-made goods.



When we arrived, it was -10°C ... and I was mortified to discover I had not dressed my littlest warm enough to spend hours outdoors! She clung to me as I scurried from stand to stand trying to find something knitted and woolen to wrap her in. We finally found one woman selling a red cape, and another hand-knit socks. That along with a warm cup of hot cocoa and a gentleman's blazing fire toasted her up nicely!



A carousel over one-hundred years old was set up for the children, and people drank warm cider and wine in the streets ... holiday spirit at its finest!





18 comments:

Nancy said...

Looks like something out of Dickens' novel, Allison. How fortunate and thoughtful you are to be able to provide some old-fashioned Christmas memories to your children. That is something money can't buy. :)

TexWisGirl said...

Glad you were able to keep frost bite off your little girl!

That first photo is wonderful. And for all the decorations and lights and festivity the townsfolk add, perhaps the best seasonal decoration of all is that snow piled on those lovely upturned branches!!!

I hope you took lots more photos to share! And if not, I'll forgive you...

P.S. I did google this tiny town and was also amazed/reminded on how tiny your country really is!!! :)

D said...

I love the quietness of the photos and can imagine myself being there. Such a charming place!

Inger said...

A medieval town...one thing I miss from Europe. I'm glad I inspired you -- in my comments back to you, I said that clothes do help. I have no idea why. But being prepared and feeling strong and powerful going in is what it is all about. Good luck!--Inger

Neus said...

That's really winter and Xmas' Time!! What a beautiful village to visit and feel the Christmas in it! ;-)

Joe said...

Great pics. The neat little towns were one of the things I really enjoyed in Switzerland.

Meg said...

So beautiful! I love the idea of an outdoor Christmas market.

Dawn said...

I feel like you live in a Christmas Card....and I want to hop in.
How wonderful to have a Market like this. I could only imagine and dream!!!!!

Out on the prairie said...

Very nice, I would like to be the Christmas side kick Smoochie.A enjoyable holiday, that cold was so bad here I could barely shoot night scenes for my last post.

Ola said...

This is not a tradition where I live but this weekend I also visited a Christmas street market-it's true-a lot of fun but also terribly cold:)

Southern Lady said...

What an enchanted place! Carla

penny said...

It looks like a town out of a fairy tale, my favorite kind of town. And shopping is a special treat but apparently not if one is small and freezing cold.

Hugs to warm you, Allison.

Pam i am :)

Evi said...

J'ai reconnu ce fameux atelier de tissage. J'y suis une fois entré! Impressionnant ce qu'ils y font!

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