When it comes to traditional holiday images, Germany’s Bavaria is the heartland. In this clip from “Rick Steves' European Christmas,” we savor classic holiday themes: glittering trees, old-time carols, and colorful Christmas markets. | Rick Steves' Europe

Austria is one of Europe's more traditional corners — and at Christmas time, its strong Catholicism and love of heritage shine especially brightly. Join Rick Steves as he explores festive Salzburg and experiences a warm Christmas welcome at an Austrian family farm. | Rick Steves' Europe

To celebrate the season, I’m sharing clips, extras, and behind-the-scenes notes from my one-hour special, “Rick Steves’ European Christmas.” Today we travel to France, where Christmas is the stuff of dreams. Rich sounds of medieval carols abound, simple rituals are shared by families and friends, and when days are short and nights are long, it’s customary to leave a single candle flickering in the window. We found that Paris celebrates Christmas with its typical urban flair: extravagant lighting

176K views · 1K reactions | Enjoy this cozy slice of the holidays in...

274K views · 8.2K reactions | Over the next two weeks, I’ll be...