Strasbourg is top Christmas market

STRASBOURG has been named the place with the best Christmas market in Europe in a poll of tens of thousands of voters.

The local tourist board calls the city "the capital of Christmas" and has a long history of hosting open-air festivities during the holidays. Its first Christmas market dates back to 1570.

Strasbourg came top in an online poll carried out between December 1 and 11 by the non-profit group European Best Destinations.

For one month, 300 winter chalets are spread over 11 sites within the city centre, making is one of the largest of its kind in Europe.

The city is also illuminated by hundreds of kilometres of Christmas lights and decorations, and features a children’s village and more than 500 concerts, events and shows.

This year, like previous editions, Croatia has been invited as the guest country of honour and is being promoted at the market's Croatian village alongside Alsatian traditions.

The Strasbourg Christmas market runs until December 31 and there is more information available at this link.

Dresden in Germany came second in the poll, followed in third by the Belgian and European capital - Brussels.

There was one other French city in the top 10: Lille came in fourth place.