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Christmas markets are a very old tradition in Alsace, a small region of France bordering Germany and Switzerland.
During the festivities, the main Alsatian towns are cloaked in a magical Christmas atmosphere: soft lights, thousands of decorations on the façades of houses, wooden chalets selling typical products and wonderful Christmas decorations, themed music and gastronomic stands to taste local delicacies.
The Christmas markets also feature many side activities such as nativity exhibitions, spectacular illuminations and Christmas concerts in squares and churches.
There is no place in Europe that equals the magic of Christmas in Alsace: an explosion of enchanted storybook atmospheres. And if you are lucky, you can even visit these wonderful villages under the snow.
In the picturesque setting of Colmar, one of the most beautiful towns in France, the magic of Christmas spreads throughout the old town with a succession of wooden chalets, enchanting decorations and light displays. Wherever you look, everything is fabulous: you will feel catapulted into a real Christmas village, richly decorated and imbued with a fairytale atmosphere. There is no corner, square, building or street that is not festively decorated: a daydream.
Six Christmas markets await you in the old city, located in the most enchanting places in the centre: each one has a theme and takes you through the magic of Christmas to the delight of young and old alike.
Colmar Christmas Markets
In the sumptuous cathedral square, at the foot of the Grand Sapin, the big Christmas tree, Strasbourg invites you to share in the most beautiful Christmas festivities.
Indeed, the capital of Alsace boasts the oldest Christmas market in France: for four centuries, the emblematic‘Christkindelsmarik‘ has been unfolding its magic in the heart of Europe. More than 300 wooden chalets, spread over several squares in the city, enliven the magical Christmas atmosphere surrounded by a thousand lights and glittering decorations that enchant visitors.
Strasbourg Christmas Markets
Nestled in the heart of the vineyards, Riquewihr, one of Alsace’s most beautiful villages, transports its visitors into the magic of an authentic Alsatian Christmas.
The village, which inspired the settings of the Disney feature film ‘Beauty and the Beast‘, perfectly combines the spirit of Christmas with the beauty of its medieval architecture. During the festivities, magic is everywhere: the colourful half-timbered façades are adorned with the most enchanting decorations, the windows, richly decorated with flowers in summer, give way to pretty ornaments and a myriad of garlands and lights twinkle throughout the village alleys.
The market takes place inside and outside the walls. Admiring the beauty of the old buildings, one can discover local handicrafts, taste the delicacies of Alsatian gastronomy and visit the many festively decorated wine cellars open for Christmas.
At the gates of Colmar, there is a tiny village surrounded by vineyards: Eguisheim, included in the prestigious list of the ‘Most Beautiful Villages of France‘, shows off all its enchanting beauty during the Christmas period. This small medieval town, sparkling with lights and adorned with pretty decorations, condenses all the magic of Christmas in Alsace.
Inside the walls, there is a network of ancient streets where time seems to stand still: festively decorated half-timbered houses, craftsmen’s workshops and fine wine cellars open to the public for Christmas.
Of course, the Advent festivities revolve around a picturesque Christmas Market, which takes place in the heart of the village: here you can sample traditional Alsatian dishes. Although it is very small compared to the others, the Eguisheim Christmas market seduces with its picturesque character: a large archway welcomes visitors to this warm atmosphere of sharing, with 30 carefully chosen craftsmen and designers.
There is a fairytale atmosphere throughout the village of Kaysersberg. The alleys sparkle, the windows and façades of the half-timbered houses are carefully decorated, bright garlands adorn the fir trees and the aromas of Alsatian cuisine perfume the air of this perfectly preserved medieval town.
At the foot of the castle ruins, some 30 wooden chalets unfold their magic in a picturesque 17th-century setting. In the heart of the village, craftsmen display their most beautiful creations, the most original objects and the most fairy-tale decorations. On the other hand, the Place de la Mairie hosts the farmers’ Christmas market, where local producers offer a multitude of local delicacies: gingerbread, liqueurs, cheeses, jams and, of course, Alsace wines.
In the cold of winter, while admiring the beauty of the old buildings, you can immerse yourself in the sweet atmosphere of Christmas lights, warming yourself with a mulled wine glass accompanied by traditional delicacies: bredeles, kougelhopf, berawecka or a sweet mannele, the simpering little brioche bread men typical of Christmas.
In the enchanting setting of Ribeauvillé, an original and unusual Medieval Christmas Market takes place every year, the only one of its kind in Alsace.
Dancers, minstrels, witches, knights, acrobats, jugglers and even fire-eaters invite you to experience the magic of an ancient Christmas, a plunge into Alsace’s medieval past. This market is a real spectacle: animations invade the streets, old crafts and forgotten games enchant the new generations, traditional medieval dishes are served in the squares, where boars are roasted on the spit, and street performers create a joyful and festive atmosphere.
But it is at nightfall that Ribeauvillé reveals all its magic. Strange creatures, straight out of myths and legends, roam the town, lending themselves to the gaze of onlookers and photographers. In the cold of winter, jugglers and fire-eaters drag you into a whirlwind of light and flames. An unmissable event.
Just a stone’s throw from Strasbourg, Obernai invites you to experience the magic of an authentic and cosy Christmas. Its special feature? The Christmas Market is entirely dedicated to gastronomy and handicrafts.
In a magical atmosphere, almost 40 chalets unfold at the foot of the Beffroi, the city’s most important monument, to the delight of your taste buds. Everything is delicious here: you can indulge in gingerbread, foie gras, bredele or Christmas beer, cheese and charcuterie.
The scents of spices and the aromas of mulled wine delicately perfume the city streets. The star of the market, in fact, is mulled wine from Obernai, made from white wine and simmered in a large cauldron. Its unique taste accompanies you even further into the magic of Alsatian Christmas, while visitors browse around the stalls of the craft market, where you can buy wreaths, decorations, wooden objects or blown glass balls.
In a festive atmosphere, the Mulhouse Christmas Market reveals itself in its sophistication, wrapped in a unique fabric. At Christmas time, the historical centre of Mulhouse, the textile capital of Alsace, is adorned with an exceptional fabric, draped over the façades of the buildings in a show of light and colour.
This tradition is renewed every year and is the highlight of Alsatian Christmas: each edition sees the choice of a different fabric, inspired by the textile history of the city. The main square is tinged with colours and patterns. The Mulhouse Christmas market also takes place here. The wooden chalets wind their way around Place de la Réunion and at the foot of the Saint-Etienne church, where a huge Ferris wheel also stands.
The Christmas markets in Alsace are open for about a month, straddling the end of November and Christmas Eve.
Each market has its own closing dates and special opening days: in some cases, the event continues after Christmas, but in a reduced version.
For definitive dates and times, please consult the Official Website.
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