14 of the best Christmas markets in France in 2022
As Christmas approaches, towns and cities across France get into the festive spirit. Here’s our list of go-to seasonal markets, fetes and fairs
An early start to the seasonal celebrations in Nancy, as the city’s St Nicholas’ festival kicks off on November 18th, and runs to January 3rd.
St Nicolas Day - December 6th - is a huge deal in Germany, and because of historic links to Germany many areas of north east France celebrate it as well.
In Nancy they combine St Nicolas and Christmas into a 40-day celebration which features a Christmas market, ferris wheel, ice rink artistic tours through the towns, and - on the weekend of December 3rd - a parade celebrating the patron saint of Lorraine.
Strasbourg has got pretty good at running Christmas markets over the years - it has been doing it since around 1570 and they brand themselves the 'Christmas capital of France'. This year’s celebrations kick off on November 25th and run to January 2nd - and the tree is already in place in Place Kleber.
This year, 300 chalets will host local artisans selling Christmas gift ideas on the Grande Île, while the streets will be festooned with illuminations celebrating a very Alsace Christmas. The markets will close on December 24th, but the Village de l'Avent will continue into the New Year.
Organisers say they want the market to be more traditional this year, and have banned a long list of items that are either not local or were deemed 'too tacky'.
READ ALSO Champagne, tartiflette and dog toys banned from 2022 Strasbourg Christmas market
Strasbourg likes to boast that it is France’s ‘Christmas capital’. But, though smaller Colmar, less than an hour down the A35, has a Christmas market that’s perfectly formed - and less hectic, but still enjoys those Alsace-Lorraine festive traditions. It runs from November 24th to December 29th this year.
Sticking in the Christmas-loving north-east of France, medieval Eguisheim - with colourful Alsatian houses around the castle is a must-visit. Its authentic and traditional Christmas market is an opportunity to discover the local gastronomic products and enjoy a glass of vin chaud with the villagers.
The Christmas market, along with the Ronde de Noël on the town ramparts, begins on November 25th and runs until December 30th.
Mulhouse’s Christmas market takes place in a sea of Christmas fabric. Almost 10km of festive material decorate the frontages, monuments and pedestrian streets in the city’s historical centre for the celebrations, which kick off on November 24th and run to December 27th.
Try Alsatian sweets such as the Berawecka - a spongy cake with pears, plums, figs and kirsch - or the Pebkucha - a cake with honey and spices - and get handcrafted products such as wooden toys or Christmas decorations.
READ ALSO Eight of the best winter experiences in France
In case you were thinking Christmas celebrations in France were limited to the northeast of the country, Nice’s annual festivities run from December 3rd to January 2nd and bring a little southern flavour.
It's not a Christmas speciality, but while you're there definitely try the local socca bread.
In fact, the south of France has a Christmas tradition all its own, celebrated in Mouans-Sartoux - the Foire aux Santons opened on November 4th and runs until December 24th. As well as the traditional mini-figures, used to populate seasonal creches, there will be a Christmas market, light festival and other events to celebrate.
Another one on a slightly different note, Lyon's Fête des Lumières is a magnificent event which has made the reputation of the city.
Between December 8th and 11th, the Fête des Lumières invites visitors from across the world to enjoy enchanting walks in a setting of 46 lights and sound creations.
There's also a more traditional Christmas market with 90 illuminated chalets which offer local products and arts and crafts. Lyon is known as the foodie capital of France, so enjoy superior food at the market.
Montbéliard, on France’s border with Switzerland, calls its market “the Lights of Christmas”. During the advent period, from November 26th to December 24th, its picturesque city centre is illuminated with thousands of lights.
The market gathers 160 craftsmen who sell authentic and traditional products. The good fairy of the Pays de Montbéliard Aunt Airie keeps local traditions going by telling her story to the children.
Lille starts celebrating Christmas on November 18th, and doesn’t stop until December 30th.
Around 900,000 visitors a year head to the charming Christmas market in Flanders’ capital, which is set to feature more local artisans and traders, as well as those from regions of France, Poland, Canada, and Germany.
The capital hosts several Christmas markets. Opposite the Eiffel Tower, for example, 60 wooden chalets spring up, where - between December 16th and January 2nd - artisans sell craft products and culinary wonders.
There are also markets at Notre-Dame, Montmartre, gare de l’Est, Auteuil, Trocadéro au Champs de Mars, the Tuileries, the Hôtel de Ville, and Saint-Germain des Prés.
Beyond the periph’ the biggest Christmas Market in the greater Paris region is at La Defense and runs from November 23rd to December 24th, where some 350 chalets will be occupied by artisans and traders selling gifts for the season.
From November 25th to December 25th, the Allées de Tourny is transformed into a winter wonderland, with the usual array of stalls selling festive gifts, and treats while the unmistakable aroma of a foodie Christmas fills the air.
Bayonne invites visitors to rediscover the magic of Christmas from December 3rd to January 2nd - from the Ferris wheel on Place de la Liberté, Santa Claus village in Les Halles, Christmas market on Place du Réduit, lantern evenings, parades in town... to delight young and old alike.
Small towns
Most towns in France have some sort of Christmas market, even if it's just for a couple of days, and sometimes these are nicer and more relaxed than the big events.
Local craftsmen and shops take stalls and you can also try local food specialties - such as Toulouse sausage and aligot in the south, hot spiced cider in Brittany or the '12 desserts of Christmas' in Provence.
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An early start to the seasonal celebrations in Nancy, as the city’s St Nicholas’ festival kicks off on November 18th, and runs to January 3rd.
St Nicolas Day - December 6th - is a huge deal in Germany, and because of historic links to Germany many areas of north east France celebrate it as well.
In Nancy they combine St Nicolas and Christmas into a 40-day celebration which features a Christmas market, ferris wheel, ice rink artistic tours through the towns, and - on the weekend of December 3rd - a parade celebrating the patron saint of Lorraine.
Strasbourg has got pretty good at running Christmas markets over the years - it has been doing it since around 1570 and they brand themselves the 'Christmas capital of France'. This year’s celebrations kick off on November 25th and run to January 2nd - and the tree is already in place in Place Kleber.
This year, 300 chalets will host local artisans selling Christmas gift ideas on the Grande Île, while the streets will be festooned with illuminations celebrating a very Alsace Christmas. The markets will close on December 24th, but the Village de l'Avent will continue into the New Year.
Organisers say they want the market to be more traditional this year, and have banned a long list of items that are either not local or were deemed 'too tacky'.
READ ALSO Champagne, tartiflette and dog toys banned from 2022 Strasbourg Christmas market
Strasbourg likes to boast that it is France’s ‘Christmas capital’. But, though smaller Colmar, less than an hour down the A35, has a Christmas market that’s perfectly formed - and less hectic, but still enjoys those Alsace-Lorraine festive traditions. It runs from November 24th to December 29th this year.
Sticking in the Christmas-loving north-east of France, medieval Eguisheim - with colourful Alsatian houses around the castle is a must-visit. Its authentic and traditional Christmas market is an opportunity to discover the local gastronomic products and enjoy a glass of vin chaud with the villagers.
The Christmas market, along with the Ronde de Noël on the town ramparts, begins on November 25th and runs until December 30th.
Mulhouse’s Christmas market takes place in a sea of Christmas fabric. Almost 10km of festive material decorate the frontages, monuments and pedestrian streets in the city’s historical centre for the celebrations, which kick off on November 24th and run to December 27th.
Try Alsatian sweets such as the Berawecka - a spongy cake with pears, plums, figs and kirsch - or the Pebkucha - a cake with honey and spices - and get handcrafted products such as wooden toys or Christmas decorations.
READ ALSO Eight of the best winter experiences in France
In case you were thinking Christmas celebrations in France were limited to the northeast of the country, Nice’s annual festivities run from December 3rd to January 2nd and bring a little southern flavour.
It's not a Christmas speciality, but while you're there definitely try the local socca bread.
In fact, the south of France has a Christmas tradition all its own, celebrated in Mouans-Sartoux - the Foire aux Santons opened on November 4th and runs until December 24th. As well as the traditional mini-figures, used to populate seasonal creches, there will be a Christmas market, light festival and other events to celebrate.
Another one on a slightly different note, Lyon's Fête des Lumières is a magnificent event which has made the reputation of the city.
Between December 8th and 11th, the Fête des Lumières invites visitors from across the world to enjoy enchanting walks in a setting of 46 lights and sound creations.
There's also a more traditional Christmas market with 90 illuminated chalets which offer local products and arts and crafts. Lyon is known as the foodie capital of France, so enjoy superior food at the market.
Montbéliard, on France’s border with Switzerland, calls its market “the Lights of Christmas”. During the advent period, from November 26th to December 24th, its picturesque city centre is illuminated with thousands of lights.
The market gathers 160 craftsmen who sell authentic and traditional products. The good fairy of the Pays de Montbéliard Aunt Airie keeps local traditions going by telling her story to the children.
Lille starts celebrating Christmas on November 18th, and doesn’t stop until December 30th.
Around 900,000 visitors a year head to the charming Christmas market in Flanders’ capital, which is set to feature more local artisans and traders, as well as those from regions of France, Poland, Canada, and Germany.
The capital hosts several Christmas markets. Opposite the Eiffel Tower, for example, 60 wooden chalets spring up, where - between December 16th and January 2nd - artisans sell craft products and culinary wonders.
There are also markets at Notre-Dame, Montmartre, gare de l’Est, Auteuil, Trocadéro au Champs de Mars, the Tuileries, the Hôtel de Ville, and Saint-Germain des Prés.
Beyond the periph’ the biggest Christmas Market in the greater Paris region is at La Defense and runs from November 23rd to December 24th, where some 350 chalets will be occupied by artisans and traders selling gifts for the season.
From November 25th to December 25th, the Allées de Tourny is transformed into a winter wonderland, with the usual array of stalls selling festive gifts, and treats while the unmistakable aroma of a foodie Christmas fills the air.
Bayonne invites visitors to rediscover the magic of Christmas from December 3rd to January 2nd - from the Ferris wheel on Place de la Liberté, Santa Claus village in Les Halles, Christmas market on Place du Réduit, lantern evenings, parades in town... to delight young and old alike.
Small towns
Most towns in France have some sort of Christmas market, even if it's just for a couple of days, and sometimes these are nicer and more relaxed than the big events.
Local craftsmen and shops take stalls and you can also try local food specialties - such as Toulouse sausage and aligot in the south, hot spiced cider in Brittany or the '12 desserts of Christmas' in Provence.
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