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Prague’s Christmas markets have a magical environment that’s wealthy in tradition with beautiful backdrops to make them among the greatest in Europe. When you’re touring overseas for the vacation season, including a Christmas market to your Prague Meals Tour will make reminiscences that final a lifetime.
Greatest Christmas Markets in Prague
The checklist of greatest Christmas markets in Prague begins with Outdated City Sq. Market, however Wenceslas Sq. Market and Peace Sq. Market additionally provide distinctive cultural experiences.
Outdated City Sq. Market
Prague’s Outdated City Sq. Market is thought regionally as Staroměstské náměstí. It’s nestled within the coronary heart of Prague’s Outdated City and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Web site. It’s conveniently near iconic landmarks just like the Astronomical Clock, Týn Church, and the St. Nicholas Church.
It’s usually open from the final weekend of November, by way of Christmas the primary weekend in January.
Outdated City Sq. Market’s ambiance is nothing in need of enchanting with a mix of historic Gothic and baroque structure. The twinkling lights and the hum of festive exercise create a dreamlike ambiance with a vibe straight out of an old style Christmas card.
Prague’s Outdated City Sq. Market is a haven for distinctive Czech handicrafts and presents in addition to basic Czech vacation treats. It’s a terrific alternative to savor trdelník, which is a heat candy, cylindrical pastry coated with sugar and cinnamon. To not point out their well-known grilled sausages klobása which you can wash down with a sort of Czech mulled wine known as svařák.
Wenceslas Sq. Market
Wenceslas Sq. Market in Prague’s Nové Město (New City) district stretches alongside the enduring Wenceslas Sq..
The market normally runs from the final weekend of November, by way of Christmas the primary weekend in January.
The market’s ambiance is festive with up to date décor matching Nové Město’s fashionable vibe. It’s richly adorned with colourful lights making a full of life buzz. Your complete space is lined with outlets and cafés to discover. That is additionally part of Prague with numerous fashionable resorts, including to the market’s comfort.
The Wenceslas Sq. Market is a treasure trove for customers in search of genuine Czech handicrafts. It’s additionally a haven for foodies who can get pleasure from a staggering array of Czech vacation delicacies.
This begins with modernized variations of trdelník pastries, roasted chestnuts, and grilled klobása sausages. That is additionally a terrific place to attempt svařák mulled wine and scorching cider. Nevertheless, I feel the true gems to search for on the Wenceslas Sq. Market are the medovina honey mead and the bramboráky potato pancakes.
Peace Sq. Market
Photograph credit score: Peace Sq. Market
The Náměstí Míru, or Peace Sq. Market is situated in Prague’s charming Vinohrady district. It usually begins on the finish of November to Christmas Eve, in a neighborhood recognized for its elegant Nineteenth-century structure and vibrant cultural scene. This offers the market a surprising backdrop of the neo-Gothic Church of St. Ludmila and its towering spires.
The environment on the Peace Sq. Market is enchantingly serene, with twinkling lights illuminating the sq. and the majestic St. Ludmila Church. It’s a smaller market, which supplies it extra of an intimate vibe in comparison with the bigger Christmas markets in Prague. There’s a timeless high quality to it, that makes you are feeling like you’re seeing it precisely as different individuals noticed a century in the past.
Peace Sq. Market’s distributors promote a variety of conventional Czech handicrafts and artisanal items. Together with hand-blown glass ornaments, embroidered textiles, picket toys, and candles.
The delicacies right here options must-try Czech classics like candy trdelník and gingerbread cookies in addition to klobása grilled sausages, and bramboráky potato pancakes. I additionally assume that is the perfect Prague Christmas marketplace for scorching chocolate, with distributors providing sweetly sturdy variations.
Lesser City Christmas Market
Recognized to the locals as Na Kampě Sq., Prague’s Lesser City Christmas Market sits in Nestled within the Malá Strana district. It’s in a picturesque space only a stone’s throw from the enduring Charles Bridge, with charming views of the Vltava River and Prague Fort. It normally runs from late November to New Yr’s Eve.
The environment on the Lesser City Christmas Market has a tranquil and romantic vibe. It’s a terrific cease for a few a household in search of a quieter vacation outing away from all the massive crowds.
This market is a treasure trove of exhibiting off genuine Czech-crafted ornaments, delicate lacework, and intricately designed picket toys. Distributors provide conventional Czech vacation treats like trdelník roasted chestnuts, and gingerbread cookies.
Nevertheless, I feel that is the perfect Prague Christmas marketplace for obložené chlebíčky. It’s an open-face sandwich that’s historically topped with fried carp. Its tenderness, richness, and clear taste will redefine what you consider the fish.
Conventional Czech Christmas Meals and Drinks
The Christmas markets in Prague provide a feast for the eyes and abdomen, together with meals and drinks which might be wealthy in Czech cultural heritage and make for the right Christmas menu.
Klobása
These are pure casing sausages which might be usually constructed from floor pork and grilled over an open flame. You normally scent them lengthy earlier than you see them in a Christmas market. They’re usually on bread or in a bun dressed with mustard.
Bramboráky
These are Czech-style crispy, savory pancakes that you simply discover in lots of well-liked Prague Christmas markets. They’re normally seasoned with garlic and marjoram. I attempt to discover one which’s near a Klobása stand, as I really feel the 2 go collectively properly.
Trdelník
This can be a candy pastry within the form of a chimney rolled in sugar and cinnamon. Some Prague Christmas market distributors fill it with chocolate or ice cream, which takes the candy dessert expertise to the following degree. Nevertheless, it may be a bit of messy. So, I attempt to wait till simply earlier than I go away to select one up, simply in case.
Vánočka
Vánočka is a sort of braided candy bread that’s enhanced with raisins and almonds. It’s a conventional Czech Christmas staple that I feel goes nice with scorching chocolate or a cup of sturdy black espresso.
Perníčky
These are Czech gingerbread cookies that you simply discover in Prague Christmas markets in festive shapes and adorned for the vacations. When you can get pleasure from them with scorching chocolate, I feel they’re greatest with heat mulled wine.
Svařák
That is Czech mulled wine that’s gently spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and a touch of citrus. Then it’s served heat, to assist stave off the chilly. Simply be sure you have Svařák, with meals in order to not by accident over-indulge.
Medovina
That is primarily Czech mead or honey wine that’s served heat at most Prague Christmas markets. It’s a terrific pairing with well-liked road meals like Bramboráky. Simply be sure you additionally soak up a bit of water in between cups of Medovina.
Grog
Grog is likely one of the greatest drinks to heat you up at a Prague Christmas market. It is because it’s made with Czech rum, scorching water, lemon, and sugar. Some distributors will improve it with tea, which I desire for the depth of taste.
Vanocni
This can be a Christmas punch constructed from spiced apple juice or apple cider and brandy. It’s usually served scorching, and a few distributors will serve it with cinnamon sticks or give it a cinnamon garnish.
Sizzling Chocolate
Sizzling chocolate is a considerably current addition to conventional Prague Christmas markets. It tends to be bolder and thicker than the recent cocoa you discover within the US.
Why Go to the Prague Christmas Market?
The ambiance of Prague Christmas markets appears like one thing straight out of a basic vacation film. With touches of genuine old-world attraction which you can’t get within the US.
The meals scene in Prague Christmas markets can be distinctive. This consists of the chance to pattern issues like Klobása, Bramboráky, and Trdelník. These pair completely with Czech Svařák, heat medovina, and vanocni.
These are true tastes of Czech delicacies which you can’t get wherever else on this planet. But they’re all concentrated in Prague’s lovely Christmas markets.
Ideas for Visiting the Prague Christmas Markets
When visiting Prague Christmas markets, you need to include an open thoughts. There will probably be meals and drinks which might be acquainted, but totally different from the belongings you may need sampled within the US or your different meals excursions.
Prague Christmas markets are nice for memento procuring and making vacation reminiscences with a classical backdrop. If you wish to keep away from crowds, it’s greatest to point out up early or at off-peak occasions. This offers you extra time to casually store and savor the meals.
It’s additionally a good suggestion to carry money within the type of Czech Crowns. Many outlets and Christmas market distributors received’t take Euros or {Dollars}.
Whereas there are warming areas in lots of Prague Christmas markets, it’s nonetheless clever to decorate warmly in layers which you can simply shed if you might want to. There’s numerous strolling and standing in line, so be sure you put on snug footwear or boots.
Sources:
Consuming Europe. (n.d.). Retrieved December 5, 2024, from https://www.eatingeurope.com/prague/
Prague.eu. (n.d.). Outdated City Sq. Christmas Market. Retrieved December 5, 2024, from https://prague.eu/en/akce/old-town-square-christmas-market/
Prague.eu. (n.d.). Wenceslas Sq. Christmas Market. Retrieved December 5, 2024, from https://prague.eu/en/akce/wenceslas-square-christmas-market/
Prague.eu. (n.d.). Christmas Market – Náměstí Míru Sq.. Retrieved December 5, 2024, from https://prague.eu/en/akce/christmas-market-namesti-miru-square/
PragueST.com. (n.d.). Christmas at Lesser City, Prague. Retrieved December 5, 2024, from https://www.praguest.com/en/5736-christmas-at-lesser-town-prague
Consuming Europe. (n.d.). Christmas meals traditions. Retrieved December 5, 2024, from https://www.eatingeurope.com/weblog/christmas-food-tradition/
