Back in December 2015 Frank had a business trip up in Québec City so instead of him coming home over the weekend I flew up to visit him. We both love visiting markets so we couldn't resist wandering around the Christmas Markets while we were there.
On Saturday we stopped at Marche de Noël Allemand de Québec (Québec's German Christmas Market), located in the heart of Old Québec. The market is a charming European style Christmas market with little wooden kiosks draped in greenery and twinkle lights.
It was a freezing cold day so I particularly enjoyed the chance to warm up my hands at the outdoor fireplaces located in the market.
The market was a perfect place to do some holiday shopping as well as to eat lunch. We first stopped to get a freshly made waffle with maple syrup. It was delicious but I may have made a mess of myself getting powdered sugar all over my coat.
Next we couldn't pass up getting a hot Suisse, a baguette with filled with gruyère fondue. It was just as awesome as it sounds.
A little while later we stumbled upon another kiosk also selling baguettes filled with fondue, but with the added bonus of a sausage tucked inside, so we thought it was best to do a comparison taste test.
Of course it is not possible to visit a Christmas market without indulging in a mug of glühwein to warm up.
On Sunday we headed to Marché du Vieux-Port (Market at the Old Port) for the Marche de Noël (Christmas Market). A market exists there year round but they have special events and decorations for the holiday season.
The market is full of produce, meats and cheese and would be a great place to shop for ingredients for holiday meals.
We picked up a sugared crêpe for a snack as we walked through the market stalls.
Although we couldn't bring any fresh produce or cheese home with us, we did enjoy shopping for some food items we could bring home, like jams, pâtés and some maple syrup.
Both markets were a lot of fun to visit and offer very different experiences. Marche de Noël Allemand de Québec is great for gift shopping and eating and has all the charm of a European Christmas market, but it is outside so it is best to bundle up against the cold. The Marche de Noël at Marché du Vieux-Port is a great place to pick up ingredients for holiday meals or buy local foodstuffs for souvenirs or gifts. It lacks the charm of Marche de Noël Allemand but has the benefit of being indoors and warm.
Marche de Noël Allemand de Québec
Location: Place et Jardins de l'Hôtel-de-Ville, Québec
Dates: Weekends (Th-Su) from the end of November until Christmas
Marche de Noël (Marché du Vieux-Port)
Location: 160, quai Saint-André, Québec
Dates: Daily from end of November until early January
Happy Holidays!