Festive Fun – The Hague, Valkenburg, Metz, Avignon & Valencia

It’s that time of year again – the air is crisp, the streets are adorned with twinkling lights, and the smell of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts fills the air. Yes, it’s Christmas market season! And if you’re looking for an unforgettable experience, then follow our mini-Christmas tour southwards from our home in the Hague, south to Valkenburg and then into France to Metz and Avignon…and finishing in Valencia.

A woman smiling at the camera, standing to the left side of the image with three large Nutcracker figures decorated for Christmas, brightly illuminated with twinkling lights in the background. The setting appears to be an indoor space with a rustic stone wall.
A woman standing next to a lit-up snowman decoration with a red glowing nose, in front of a Christmas tree adorned with lights, all set within a cave-like environment.

The Hague Royal Christmas

Our hometown of the Hague sets its market up on the leafy Lange Voorhout. As you stroll through the market, you’ll be greeted by the sound of carolers and the smell of freshly baked stroopwafels (a must-try Dutch treat). First prize for the Christmas decor naturally goes to Lyssa who puts together a wonderful tree and has a compulsive desire to purchase Nutcrackers wherever she may find them

Valkenburg Christmas Caves

Next on our list is Valkenburg, a small town in the Netherlands that is home to the oldest underground Christmas market in Europe. That’s right, this market takes place in a cave! As you descend into the cave, you’ll be transported into a magical world of twinkling lights and festive decorations. And the best part? The temperature in the cave stays a constant 12 degrees Celsius, so you can escape the cold while still enjoying the holiday spirit.

A person standing in front of a large, illuminated Santa Claus and colorful gift box decorations in a cave setting.
A smiling person sitting on an ice bench inside an ice cave with an illuminated background depicting the Northern Lights.
A person standing next to a large illuminated snowman decoration with light-up features. The snowman has an orange carrot nose, black dots for eyes and buttons, and twinkling lights arranged as antlers. The setting appears to be an artificial snowy cave-like environment.
A smiling person sitting on a large red chair decorated with yellow lights, with a festive backdrop including Christmas stockings and a fireplace. A sign reading "KERST MARKT" is visible above the chair.
A person sitting in a sleigh decorated with red lights next to a large, illuminated reindeer figure adorned with white and golden lights, surrounded by decorated Christmas trees, with a rough cave wall in the background.

There are two cave market to visit, the first is the larger Gemeentegrot which will be packed full of decorations, numerous Christmas stalls and plenty of food and drink options.

A person posing next to a lit-up, festive decoration of a bear wearing a Santa hat at a Christmas market, with snowflake projections on the wall and a Christmas tree nearby.
Visitors exploring a festive underground market with stalls decorated with Christmas lights and ornaments inside a well-lit stone cave.
A smiling man in a blue jacket eating a sandwich in a cave-like setting with people in the background.
A festive market stall with various sausages displayed on red cloths and wicker baskets, a sign reading "MERRY XMAS" in the background, and people browsing the goods, including a man reaching towards the products.
A woman smiling at the camera, standing to the left side of the image with three large Nutcracker figures decorated for Christmas, brightly illuminated with twinkling lights in the background. The setting appears to be an indoor space with a rustic stone wall.

The Velvet Cave has the same festive feeling but just a bit more intimate, plus interspersed with cave drawings and carvings that have been added to the walls over the year.

An indoor Christmas display featuring a miniature yellow house with blue shutters and a gray roof next to small white religious wayside shrines, surrounded by lit Christmas trees, set against a backdrop of a large rock or cave wall with an etching and the word "AFSCHEID."
A smiling woman stands in front of a souvenir display inside a cave-like interior. Behind her is a large mural of a saintly figure holding a key and staff, with "St." written beside it. The wooden counter displays various ornamental lights, and there are wood shavings scattered across it, adding to the rustic ambiance.

Metz Magic

This year we were heading down to Spain for the New Year so that gave us the perfect opportunity to stop off at some of France’s best markets. First the charming city of Metz. The Christmas market in Metz is spread out across the city, with over 90 chalets selling everything from traditional French delicacies to handmade crafts.

We’ve probably driven past Metz about 20 times on our various trips north and south through France, and never thought to make a detour, but even without the draw of Christmas it is a beautiful city to visit, with its Cathedral, Opera, medieval gates, grand Places and the beautiful Temple Neuf in the Jardin d’Amour (Garden of Love).

Avignon Yuletide

Further south and a city we had been to before, Avignon, in the south of France known for its rich history and stunning architecture. During the holiday season, Avignon’s Christmas market takes over the Place de l’Horloge, the city’s main square. Here, you can find everything from local wines and cheeses to handmade pottery and jewelry. And if you’re lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of Santa Claus himself, who makes an appearance at the market every year.

But the real reason to visit Avignon’s Christmas market is the food. From traditional French dishes like foie gras and escargot to sweet treats like macarons and crepes, your taste buds will be in heaven. And don’t forget to try the vin chaud (hot wine) – it’s the perfect way to warm up after a day of exploring the market.

Whilst in Avignon, make sure you visit the imposing Palace des Papes, where an alternate set of popes set themselves up in Avignon for nearly 40 years at the end of the 14th Century, definitely an interesting bit of history you can experience whilst here.

The Kings of Valencia

We had some more ‘Christmas-like’ surprises waiting for us in Valencia…December is peak orange time in this sunny province and what better way to celebrate than Christmas trees made of oranges!

Technically not an Xmas market, but still worth a Christmas mention is the celebration of 3 Kings in Valencia on the 6th of January, where the Kings – Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar – descend on the city for an extravagant parade that is made up of hundreds of floats…arrive early to claim a good viewing point and carry a bag for all the flying sweets and oranges you will collect!

So there you have it, a Christmas market extravaganza, whether you’re looking for unique gifts, delicious food, or just want to soak up the holiday spirit, these markets have it all. So grab your coat, put on your Santa hat, and get ready to experience the magic of a European Christmas. Enjoy!

Filed under: Europe, France, Netherlands, Spain
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