On our epic Christmas trip last year, we needed a place to stop for a night or two between Cologne and Bruges. While researching, I came upon Valkenburg aan de Geul in the Netherlands. My chief research phrase was “any place that has a Christmas market and is charming,” and when I found out Valkenburg has Christmas markets in their ancient caves, I was sold!
Maybe it’s just because we had just left Cologne and it’s themed, artisan-filled, glorious Christmas markets, but the markets in the caves were somewhat lacking. However, the caves themselves were cool and showcased the history of the area. The highlight of the stop, though, was the adorable little town itself. The walking streets are lined with sidewalk cafes, all full of little fires and heaters for warmth, and I can’t imagine visiting when all of the lights aren’t there. Christmas in Europe, guys! Even the serious gloomy skies couldn’t dim the holiday atmosphere.
Linking up with Travel Tuesday.