Le Village De Noël

On Sunday we spent a lovely day in the tiny village of Caux where they have a quaint children's Christmas town set up on the side of the mountain. Before going, I had big American visions of an over Disney'ed cartoon Christmas town with blaring music and jolly Old Saint Nick, and then I breathed a big sigh of relief when I remembered that we are in Switzerland!

After taking a cog train up the mountain, we arrived to find cute wooden chalets for raclette and hot spiced wine, raindeer, and tons of rustic music makers for the kids to play. There were a few chalets set up with small crafts for the kids to make, and some wandering musicians, but not a santa in sight. It was almost like stepping back into a much simpler time where one could enjoy the beautiful setting, and children could experience simple pleasures.

Anna immediately ran to see and touch everything. It is so special to see the magic of Christmas through the eyes of these kids!
Here she is stoked on life next to some sort of Swiss Christmas animal prayer flags… So happy!

Anna met her future pets here at the reindeer pen. Although, I have to say that both kids were a little freaked out when they brought the reindeer out for a walk around the village.

So, in what seems to be typical Swiss fashion, they had all these neat rustic music makers and bike tire spinners set up for the kids to play with, not a cartoon santa in sight! These kids were in heaven.

Quinn particularly enjoyed this creative contraption…

This photo was taken before the kind Swiss lady enlightened Quinn on the correct way to play this instrument.

Apparently you're not supposed to put your mouth on public instruments. Swiss law. Life rule.

After the kids played for awhile and the adults gorged on a lunch of melted cheese and potatoes we went to a little show put on by these holiday elves. 

It was very cute and the kids absolutely loved it, I don't think Quinn stopped grinning the entire time. I have to say I couldn't stop smiling either, I mean just look at how quaint this little set up is! PS- Wait to go Kevin for getting right up there with the front row (floor) seats!

Quinn was over the moon when the performers let the kids play their instruments at the end of the show. Kevin got this great shot and I think it really sums up the sums up the whole day for both kids.

This little Swiss Christmas village was not quite what I expected, but its simplicity and charm made it so much better then anything I imagined. The gorgeous setting wasn't so bad either!