Last Christmas, I spent 3 nights in the lovely village of Bernkastel Kues. The town is an ideal backdrop for a Christmas Market. Winding cobbled streets run between impossibly slanted old wooden houses from the 16th and 17th century. Most buildings have a Christmas theme with the ‘piece de resistance’being the Adler Apotheke which is transformed into a giant Advent house for the season. While we were there St. Nichols himself popped out from behind a window to greet the crowds below! The Spitzhausen weinstube is the place to enjoy a nice glass of local wine while overlooking the ancient marktplatz. There are stalls selling gluhwein and stollen, Christmas decorations and gifts.
A highlight has to be the annual torchlight swim down the moselle by up to 200 hundred hardy souls to guide St. Nick to the town. Its a spectacular sight after dark and followed by a procession up to the old town. All the while the ruins of Burg Landshut are visible high up on the ridge above the vineyards. A nice way to relax is to take a riverboat trip where again stollen and gluhwein are served. The people of the town certainly go out of their way to add to the festive atmosphere with each house putting up a tree or lights outside.There are several good restaurants to choose from, with our favourites being Zum Landsnecht and Thiesen.
Fly direct from Kerry, easy peasy !!
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