Start of the Christmas Season

Torch bearer

One of the things I love about Carcassonne is that "they" delay the start of the Christmas season until the first weekend in December, which coincides with France's national telethon.  (I have yet to figure out what cause benefits from the telethon monies raised.)  The city sponsors the "Marche aux Flambeaux"--the parade of torches,which is comprised of people dressed in either medieval costumes or "civilian" clothing  and bearing flaming torches.  They make their way down the hill from the gates of La Cite, across the Pont Vieux, through Place Gambetta  and, this year up, up Rue Verdun to Place Carnot, where the Christmas market awaits

Torches headed toward Place Carnot

.  Skaters are gliding around the rink, the air smells of the hot wine, and everyone is in a festive mood.  This year, Place Carnot was nearly impossible to navigate, so thick were the crowds.  It's a wonderful way to announce the coming Christmas holiday, made even more special precisely because it hasn't been operating since early October.

Neptune fountain in the center of the ice rink

The city takes advantage of its public spaces to present animations--the ice rink at Carnot, the big Ferris wheel at Andre Chenier, the "farm" and the light show on the exterior of the art museum at Gambetta.  

I think that the city also gives each merchant a small Christmas tree to decorate as it pleases, to be placed outside their entrances.  It's fun to see how each business chooses to either decorate the tree or garland its entrance, and while the window displays certainly can't match the grands magasins of Paris, some are still impossibly clever.  The city puts up its own enormous lighted wicker "balls" that look like planets hanging over the streets,  and swoops of blue lights in the trees at Gambetta and Carnot.  It is truly magical.

Swoops of blue lights at Carnot

Street decorations look like planets

So, as the city has begun to deck itself out in Christmas decorations and we have enjoyed a run of sunny, if chilly weather, I have been taking the camera out for a walk.  I thought I might share some of the decorations found around and about La Cite and the Bastide. 

Narbonne entrance to La Cite

At the Comte Roger restaurant in La Cite

decor in La Cite

This is also overhead in La Cite

  A few signs that Christmas is coming to Carcassonne

My favorite store window

City-supplied Christmas trees

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White I have to confess that subsequent torch parades have not had the impact on me that the very first one did, I still wouldn't miss one for the world!

Happenings at Andre Chenier

The big Ferris whee;

Climb to the top and slide down

Maybe this year?

When it's this chilly, the "snow" seems real enough

Snowman with a waist!

Didn't this bear once sell Coca Cola?

Snowman chorus line

Nutcrackers everywhere