News Editor, Tamara Greatrix, shares her annual road trip through western Europe experiencing many festive treats and historic sites
As the Autumn semester wound down and snow blanketed our beloved Birmingham campus, the festive season was undeniably upon us. With classes over, it was time for my dad and I to embark on our annual trip to the Trier Christmas Market, expected to be filled with festive sights and opportunities to consume my body weight in Lebkuchen cakes.
Day 1:
Friday rolled around, and we set off for the ferry port. All I can say is, if you plan to take a trip at the end of the semester, you should not leave all your assignments until this precise moment. The overnight ferry from Dover to Calais was smooth. We soon found ourselves gliding down the wintry roads of the Ardenne Forest, crossing into Belgium and Luxembourg as dawn broke.
Day 2:
After a few hours of rest, we ventured into Luxembourg City, an underrated festive gem. Taking advantage of the free parking in Ville Haute, we rode the Pfaffenthal Panoramic Elevator into the city centre: a 71-meter-high lift offering stunning views of the Alzette Valley, complete with an observation gallery at the top. Luxembourg’s Christmas market was enchanting. Spread across various squares in the city, snowflakes danced in the air as we explored the traditional stalls and searched for our first batch of Lebkuchen! Set on the edge of a cliff, The Place de la Constitution was a stunning part of the Christmas market, with the iconic Ferris wheel providing panoramic views of the city’s festive allure.
After a truly magical morning, we continued to Saarschleife, Germany. Nestled in a lush forest, the Saarschleife, or the Great Bend in the Saar, is an incredible natural wonder. This scenic point offers a view of the breathtaking water gap carved by the Saar River. While accessing the viewing platform can be expensive, we chose the scenic hike to the sundial, an experience that was well worth the effort!
“Nestled in a lush forest, the Saarschleife, or the Great Bend in the Saar, is an incredible natural wonder
Next, we visited Saarburg, a small but charming town just 45 minutes from Trier and a firm favourite of mine. Upon entering the city, you are greeted with a breathtaking waterfall that flows through the town, adorned with ornate Christmas trees and lights suspended above the river. Saarburg’s Christmas market was intimate but very much alive with festive music, Glühwein (mulled wine) and unique finds like alpaca socks.
We arrived in Trier just in time to witness the town illuminate with its enchanting Christmas lights and checked into the FourSide Plaza Hotel, a charming retreat along the River Saar. After a quick refresh, we headed into Germany’s oldest city, rich in culture and history. From the Porta Nigra city gate, a reminder of Trier’s Roman past, to Karl Marx’s birthplace, there is undoubtedly extensive history to uncover in the city. The festive stalls and twinkling lights filled the streets with holiday cheer. After grabbing another box of Lebkuchen, we sipped hot Glühwein while watching skaters tumble on the ice rink under the city’s dazzling Christmas tree – the perfect end to our first full day.
“From the Porta Nigra city gate, a reminder of Trier’s Roman past, to Karl Marx’s birthplace, there is undoubtedly extensive history to uncover in the city
Day 3:
The next morning, we enjoyed breakfast by the River Saar before returning to Trier to see the sights in daylight. The markets sparkled in the sun, highlighting the Porta Nigra’s impressive structure as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We purchased a snow globe and a Christmas tree ornament, continuing our tradition of taking a small piece of Trier home each year. Before leaving the city, we took a detour to explore Trier’s Roman ruins, including the amphitheatre, marvelling at its rich history. With fresh mistletoe in tow for our living room, we began the journey back to the U.K.
Our last destination was Ypres, a Belgian town rich in history and decorated with festive lights. The Christmas market, located near the Cloth Hall, provided an ideal chance to delve into Ypres’s vibrant culture while enjoying its large Ferris wheel. We enjoyed a meal and remained to attend the moving Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate, held every evening at 8 p.m.; it was a poignant ending to our trip.
Until next year, Trier, thank you for the memories.
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