One day I will return to Valkenburg and see what it is like during Christmas time. The squares, shops and caves all become a haven for Christmas.
I had been looking forward to visiting Valkenburg and I wasn't disappointed despite the drizzly weather!
The town is located in the Limburg area of the Netherlands and people don't just visit at Christmas - but also come to see the mines, caves with paintings and Valkenburg Castle. Those with families can also visit the 2 theme parks De Valkenier and the Sprookjesbos ('fairytale wood') theme park.
I had hoped to take Christina to Sprookjesbos in Valkenburg - but the weather was against that idea!
We took the bus and arrived near the chairlift, which we took up to the Wilhemina Tower, over a toboggan run!
For those of you may not be aware Queen Wilhemina was the first female billionaire in the world.
Once we had arrived at the top, we went for lunch in the restaurant. We shared kipfingers (chicken strips) and frites (chips) - very generous portion and reasonably priced. Lots of red sauce (ketchup), frite sauce and curry ketchup later and we went for a wander around the tower and found the Sprookjesbos Theme Park - but it was still too drizzly to make the most of the ticket prices!
We then decided to hop back onto the chair lift and descend back down to Valkenburg town. Thankfully, it dried up and we had a lovely wander around the shops. Found one selling some amazing Christmas decorations, all hand made and painted. Neither of us could resist a snow globe!
Valkenburg is another maze of little streets, churches, shops, bridges and amazing architecture. Definitely worth the visit and a return to see it in it's Christmas glory!
