Quebec City's German Christmas market takes you back to the olden-time markets of Europe, complete with 90 wooden stands.
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It has always been an easy, festive match: the charm of Old Quebec with its 17th- and 18th-century buildings decorated for the season and a genuine German Christmas market.
And after a hiatus caused by the pandemic, it is back in full force this year.
I first heard about Quebec City’s German Christmas market years ago when I started reporting from the National Assembly. It has become a fun tradition.
Originally created by the city’s small German community in a church basement, the market is now a hugely popular event (the crowds on Saturdays and Sundays rival that of a suburban mall) in a city that prides itself on doing things outdoors in winter.
This year, the market is on five sites, including a new one on Dufferin Terrace around the statue of Champlain near Château Frontenac.
It takes you back to the olden-time markets of Europe, complete with 90 wooden stands set up like a Christmas village.
The stalls are jammed with imported German products, including unique wooden Christmas decorations and handicrafts mixed in with others produced by local artisans.
It is also a tasty hike, with everything from bratwurst, pretzels and German cakes plus hot mulled wine and German beers on tap.
Combine all that with an array of free shows, a Santa castle, roving musicians and singers and a dump of fresh snow and it is difficult to not feel the festive spirit.
Now in its 15th year, the market runs till Dec. 23.
Philip Authier is the Montreal Gazette’s reporter in Quebec City.