Montreux Christmas market
Every year around Christmas time, there is a tacit race going on in Switzerland, and the goal is to win the title of the best Christmas street market. The competition is fierce and relentless, every single village prides itself on organizing something special and sometimes the tiniest sleepy Alpine village can astound you with the quality of their Weihnachtsmarkt (e.g. Saanen or Einsiedeln).
Everyone is in, everyone but Bern, that is to say, because Bern has the air of effortlessly being the best in everything, so they just don’t try so much. This pains me to admit, but yes, having a spectacular Christmas market is where Bern has dropped the ball.
Montreux Christmas street market is my favorite so far. Located on the side of Geneva Lake, it is quite substantial in size, and it has things on display that are a far cry from your typical Made in China holiday knickknacks.
Do come if you are interested in trying the steaming raclette with pickled vegetables, or any other Swiss food staple, while you’re admiring the lake covered in fluffy fog that makes you feel as if you are in heavenly white cotton candy. Or in a Smoke on the Water song. This will be your type of activity if you want to see the mouth-blown glass ornaments or purchase a few baubles for your tree.
Glasbläserei Zünd, http://www.glas-atelier.ch/
The delicate bookmarkers in wrought iron that look like a prop from The Lord of the Rings are just around the corner too. The scarves and other things that belong to the winter apparel family found here, are made with the wool of the Mongolian yaks. You've gotta love the Swiss, but the lengths to which they unapologetically go to justify their exorbitant prices will never stop amusing me.
The end of the promenade sports the monument of Freddie Mercury, and the tent with more food (but here it’s real food, casseroles, ham, pork shins, and sauerkraut) and some energetic Santa's singing girls. If you are willing to push and be elbowed a bit, since there are a lot of people who seem intent on enjoying Montreux street market, you will have fun.
Merry Christmas!
