Twenty-one thousand letters to Santa Claus were sent this year in Marseille. As if he didn't have enough on his plate, Saint Nick will send a handwritten response to each one, as long as their senders are on his "nice" list (and indicated their return address)!

Despite the cold weather, people are flocking to the opening of the Colmar Christmas market in Alsace. In this video, tourists talk shopping and vendors explain why they like to work at the Christmas market.

It takes a lot to decorate the 31-meter high Christmas tree on Strasbourg's Place Kléber: ten technicians, two bucket lifts, 75 thousand lights. Luckily, the operation is being managed by Antoinette Pfimlin, who has 20 years of experience decorating giant trees in a hard hat.

What is the French traditional holiday fare? You'd be surprised... While the classic turkey with chestnut stuffing is still on the menu, some people are getting off the beaten track, pairing classic dishes with ethnic food. Foie gras samosas, anyone? Or how about imitation caviar truffles?

Some Alsace residents take Christmas decorating very seriously. From two men who go all out with phantasmagoric light displays to a woman who opts for a subtler, 1940s décor, you'll find some different takes on what it means to be in the "Christmas spirit" in this video.

Le Marais (literally "The Marsh") is one of Paris's most historic districts, with many medieval buildings and streets still intact. In this video, Daniel Benchimol reveals some of the district's architectural secrets, such as an impeccable fourteenth-century house and the remnants of a late twelfth-century wall.

A Primacalc representative introduces a revolutionary eco-friendly device that softens hard water. The device can be installed by a savvy handyman or a plumber.

The Musée des Abattoirs (Slaughterhouse Museum) in Toulouse devoted an entire exhibition to dub music, a subgenre of reggae. The exhibition featured a selection of Jamaican-style sound systems and culminated in a big dub concert.

Joanna and Caroline take us to the northern French city of Nancy in Lorraine. They'll show you around the beautiful Place Stanislas, classified as a World Heritage Site, and the famous Daum crystal studio. A beautiful art piece might set you back a few thousand euros... Be sure to bring your check book or your credit card!

Daniel Benchimol takes us around Paris's historic Bastille neighborhood, the site of one of the most significant events of the French Revolution. Today the area is much more subdued, with the relaxing Port de l'Arsenal and its friendly yacht club and a private mansion located on what is considered the most expensive square meter in the city.

At the Eco Habitat salon, Olivier Brunet from the "Terres Cuites de Courboissy" (Courboissy Terracotta) tile factory explains how they make floor tiles that are both eco-friendly and pleasing to the eye. One of their clients even had his floor tiles made to look three dimensional!

Discover a unique instrument called the ondes Martenot, a precursor to the synthesizer named after its inventor, Maurice Martenot. This electronic piano-like instrument, once a musical sensation in the 1930's, quickly fell into disuse, but is experiencing a revival thanks to Christine Ott, a talented pianist who adopted this unusual instrument and has worked alongside such musical greats as Radiohead and Yann Tiersen.

The pianist Alexandre Tharaud plays Beethoven and Chopin in the beautiful surroundings of the Chambord castle. It's an outdoor concert, but the acoustics are so powerful that the performers can hear a pin drop from the audience!

An exhibition called "Pottery through the Ages" is being held at La Châtaignère in Savoie, near the Alps. A friendly woman explains the history of pottery, from Ancient Egyptian artifacts to Biblical clay men to modern techniques.

Everyone is familiar with Paris's iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral, but the area around this Gothic landmark is worth exploring as well. From a gorgeous flower market to medieval tombs tucked away in a small side street, there's plenty to discover in this famous neighborhood.