Question for the group:

I'm putting together some information on special Christmas markets in CH for an article, and I need help in the areas of Basel, Bern and Murten. Has anyone on the forum been to these markets?

I would especially appreciate information on the Murten market - I've heard it is very lovely, quaint and small ... but I'd love to hear someone's thoughts or impressions of it. ... along with Bern & Basel. (I've been to the Bern and Basel markets, but it was a few years ago and my memories may have been skewed by too much glühwein!)

Thanks for any help!

Well living in Murten,
I can tell you I have been there each year.
it is very small and can be visited in 10 minutes walking slowly.
Don't take small children as you will loose them and grab the hand of someone elses...ooops
If you speak Swiss German, you could have some laughs, but the locals go there and don't generally open their circles for others to join in.
Some nice items to find though otherwise and good food.

Anybody know if there is one in Luzern?

I was in Manchester last Christmas and there was a good one there with stalls from CH, Germany, Aust, France, NL and Belgium. (Including a proper raclette stall!)

Einsiedeln in canton Schwyz has a very nice Christmas market.
Dates: Dec. 1-9, 2007
link: http://www.einsiedler-weihnacht.ch/

Thanks for responding! Out of curiosity, is the atmosphere nice? I've heard that the backdrop – a castle and the medieval town – make the market really lovely, and that there are really traditional items to buy. True oder false?

And also, do other events accompany the festival? Caroling concerts? Festival rides? A chance to meet Santa? ... I have a feeling that the list I compile for Murten won't be very long, so I'll take whatever I can get!

Thanks again!

Apparently there are a lot of markets in Luzern! ... I found this on Luzern.org ... That's a lot of shopping!


Christmas Markets:

5th Lucerne Christmas Market RailCity
30st November - 20st December 2007
approx. 40 stands
Monday to Friday: 11.00 a.m. - 9.00 p.m.
Saturday: 10.00 a.m. - 7.00 p.m.
Sunday: 10.00 a.m. - 7.00 p.m.
Internet: www.christkindlimarkt.ch

Lucerne Christmas and Handicraft Market
1st/8th/15th /16th /22nd /23th December 2007
(Weinmarkt und Hirschenplatz)
Saturday: 08.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m.
Sunday and public holidays: 10.30 a.m. - 6.30 p.m.
Internet: www.handwerksmarkt.ch

Venite (Kapellplatz)
13th - 16th December 2007
Approx. 20 stands from 20 countrys
Thursday: 11.00 a.m. - 9.00 p.m.
Friday: 11.00 a.m. - 9.00 p.m.
Saturday: 10.00 a.m. - 9.00 p.m.
Sunday: 10.00 a.m. - 7.00 p.m.
Internet: www.venite.ch

Christmas Market on the Mühlenplatz
6 th - 16 th December 2007
Monday to Friday: 10.00 a.m. - 9.00 p.m.
Sat/Sun and public holidays: 10.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m.
Internet: www.stadtluzern.ch

In order of your questions;
Nice atmosphere with happy people drinking & smoking cigars
Nice village cosey feel but cold
No
No
Santa? was last year, but I thought Santa could speak all languages and not only Swiss German

Freiburg-im-Breisgau is nice (just over the border in Germany, nearest Basel), although from personal experience it's always been bloomin' freezing when I've been. They have nice stalls selling lovely traditional Christmas decorations. Plenty of tea shops where you can go in and warm up with tea and a sticky bun.

In Zürich (OK it's not a Christmas market) there's always the candle making tent at Bürkliplatz. That's good fun if you've got kids or just an adult who fancies dunking candles for the afternoon.

Fantastic market in my neck of the woods (Bremgarten, Aargau):

http://www.weihnachtsmarkt.ch/


Quite large, I would recommend going in the evening for the real "Christmasy" feel. Just walking around you come upon random events such as Yodlers and the constant parade of people walking around with GIANT cowbells slogging out dings and dongs as they walk up and down the place. A fun-fair in the Casino parking lot, etc. Highly recommended

My wife and I have been searching for a Christmas Market in Switzerland and came across a websited called www.christmasmarkets.com which from recollection lists quite a number of Swiss markets as well other markets all around Europe.

We've heard that Basel have a good market so may go there.

This site lists some of the major markets around Switzerland for 2009. They are plentiful around the major towns and cities. The site also has a link to German markets. Constance is right on the border and has a large market.

Christmas Markets

There is also the Johann Wanner Christmas shop in Basel that is worth a look. It is open all year round too

http://www.johannwanner.ch/locations_de.php

A little early to shop for X-mas, don't you think? It's 25 ° outside... I'm just going to have an ice cold beer now

I have been to both the one in Bern and in Montreux. Both are very nice!

Montreux Christmas market is one of the largest and a little different to most of the others around Switzerland. This is mainly the French influence, rather than German.

There is not a great deal of difference between the other markets in the German speaking areas. Zurich is one of the larger ones and is undercover within the Bahnhof. There are also smaller markets elsewhere around, particularly in the Old Town.

In some towns, they are spread over several areas. Basel and Lucerne are examples of these.

Hope this helps in planning your Christmas market visits.