We will be on a trip to Europe the week of thanksgiving. We will begin in Paris for three days and then want to go visit some historical sights and christmas markets in Germany.
Where would be a good hub to catch trains from for three days of touring sights and christmas markets?
Which are the best christmas markets to visit?
Some of this might be contingent upon what you're looking for in a Christkindlmarkt. A few years ago, I was visiting relatives and a cousin and I visited the famous market in Nuremberg. It was packed with people, barely able to move around with a bunch of them very high on holiday spirits. A lot of commercial items repeated from booth to booth but with bratwurst and Glühwein, it was enjoyable. A few days later, I had visited the marvelous city of Bamberg. I parked in an underground garage and surfaced in the middle of the Weihnachtsmarkt in Maximiliansplatz. Smaller, less crowded more intimate and I found it more enjoyable than the mob scene a few kilometers south. It was an unexpected and pleasant surprise. Great city to visit and walk around without the crowds!
Nürnberg is a good choice. You visit Bamberg for the town more than the market. Würzburg for its market, Archbishop's Residenz and the Castle across the river. Rothenburg for the great photos you will get.
http://mcchelsea.smugmug.com/Advent-2010/Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber/15010043_Ck957T
You might also consider Regensburg which we like best for its combination of the market and the town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (as is Bamberg).
http://mcchelsea.smugmug.com/Advent-2010/Regensburg/15028020_t5NQGm
http://mcchelsea.smugmug.com/Advent-2010/Thurn-and-Taxis-Palace-Market/15030947_4WtqMc
From Regensburg Landshut is a great day visit. Very attractive small town.
Finally, consider Stuttgart. I has an enormous market like Nürnberg and can be very crowded at night. It has regular train connections to Paris. Consider a day trip to the beautiful town of Esslingen with its Medieval Market.
http://mcchelsea.smugmug.com/Other-1/Esslingen-2013/35504333_SfNrdp
Wonderful time to visit Germany.
