Join wine legend Oz Clarke on our festive Rhine cruise
Exclusive for MoS readers: Discover magical markets and fabulous vintages
IT IS hard to imagine a scene more festive than Place Kleber in Strasbourg as Christmas draws near. You will find a huge fir tree towering over the wooden market chalets as lights twinkle around the grand historic square. Shoppers will be milling around, seeking the perfect gift as the sweet aroma of mulled wine fills the air.
Dating back to 1570, the Strasbourg Christmas market remains one of the best in Europe – as you will discover on the final stop of this greatvalue festive cruise along the Rhine later this year.
Joining you as you explore the markets and history of this wonderful region is a guest well placed to put you in a festive mood – Oz Clarke, one of Britain’s best-known wine experts. He will lead exclusive tastings of some of the top vintages of Alsace and beyond during this four-day journey. Travelling aboard the four-star MS Serenity, this is the ideal way to see some of the world’s most charming Christmas markets. REASONS TO BOOK Wine tasting with Oz Clarke What better way to get in the festive mood than with two expert tasting sessions with one of the great names in the world of wine? In his hugely entertaining style, Oz will guide you through some of the best regional vintages, and take part in a Q&A. Christmas markets This part of the world is famous for its Christmas markets, and with good reason: they are among the finest you will find anywhere. You will have the chance to soak up the atmosphere and snap up gifts for family and friends in Mannheim and Heidelberg in Germany, and the French h city of Strasbourg, where the historic Christmas market was recently voted the best in Europe for the second consecutive year. Cruise along the Rhine This is the way to travel between Christmas markets: on a comfortable four-star cruise ship that glides along the Rhine. You will travel on the MS Serenity, a stylish claret-and-cream vessel with excellent facilities, including a panoramic restaurant, lounge bar and cosy cabins. Mannheim and Heidelberg In addition to the Christmas mar- kets, you will have the chance to explore some delightful towns. In Mannheim, where the waters of the Rhine meet the Neckar, discover fine baroque architecture and Luisenpark, known as one of Europe’s finest parks. In Heidelberg, visit the evocative castle ruins and take in its magnificent riverside setting, admired by everyone from JMW Turner to Mark Twain. Historic Strasbourg Alongside its famous Christmas market, Strasbourg has much to admire. See the Cathedral of NotreDame, a Gothic masterpiece, and the glorious Kammerzell House, which is one of the city’s most ornate and best preserved medieval buildings. The Petite France district boasts a beautiful riverside setting, while the Church of SaintThomas is a fine example of Alsatian Gothic architecture.