France has a fine tradition of excellent markets in every town in the
country - and on the run up to (and sometime beyond) Christmas there
are some special Christmas markets around the country.
These often take the shape of a huddle of wooden huts adorned with bunting
and lights selling a whole range of gifts and other products - usually
small merchants with specialist craft-made goods - often with a merry-go-round
and big wheel for the kids - music and hot spiced wine!! Even an old
sceptic cannot but absorb something of the Christmas spirit. The fairs
sometimes run for several weeks and will open in the evening.
The best resource is to see our Web Calendar of Events in France which will have details of the latest dates as soon as we know them - but you can also check previous year dates which will give you an indication of when the next dates are likely to be. (NB This is not an exhaustive list)
ALSACE CHRISTMAS GASTRONOMIC FESTIVAL at OBERNAI (67
Bas Rhin, Alsace) on 26th-27th November 2005 - foie gras, choucroute,
chocolate, fresh water fish, snails, cheese, charcuterie, wines, eaux
de vie - sounds mouthwatering - see www.tourisme-alsace.info
ST
CHRISTOL CHRISTMAS MARKET - St Christol (34 Herault,
Languedoc) 26 November 2005 9am-5pm, and you can also visit one of our
favourite Coteaux du Languedoc winemakers - Chateau des Hospitaliers
(lots of Knights of St John history here) see http://www.saint-christol.com
Verneuil-sur-Vienne (87 Haut Vienne, Limousin)
19-20th November 2005 - Chateau de Penneveyre. Sat 2pm-9pm, Sun 10am
- 7pm - see www.tourismelimousin.com
Le Pouliguen (44 Loire-Atlantique, Brittany) 16-23 December
2005
Isle (87 Haut Vienne, Limousin) 4 December 2005 - 11th
annual Christmas Market with some German stalls as part of its twinning
celebrations - see http://www.tourismelimousin.com
Lille (59 Nord, Nord Pas-de-Calais) Christmas Market
- 23 November - 28 December 2005 in Place Rihour - see www.lilletourism.com
Montbeliard (25 Doubs, Franche-Comté) Christmas
Lights and Market - 26th November - 24th December 2005 - see www.ot-pays-de-montbeliard.fr/
Nantes (44 Loire-Atlantique, Brittany) 1-31 December
2005 - Place du Commerce and Place Royale - "the biggest Christmas
market in the West!"
Nort-sur-Erdre (44 Loire-Atlantique, Brittany) 17 December
2005
Strasbourg (67 Bas Rhin, Alsace-Lorraine) Christmas
Market - 26 November - 31 December 2005 Place de la Gare (Mon-Fri 10am-8pm;
Sat & Sun 10am-9.30pm)
Marseille (13 Bouches-du-Rhone, Provence) Christmas Craft Market 19th
November - 24th December 2005, Place General de Gaule
Marseille (13 Bouches-du-Rhone, Provence) Christmas
Truffle & Gourmet Delights Market (including chocolates in olive oil(?)
and "calissons", a local almond and candied fruit sweet) - 17th December
2005 - Place de l'église de Mazargues
Mulhouse (68 Haut-Rhin, Alsace-Lorraine) Christmas
Market - 22 November - 29 December 2005
France has a fine tradition of excellent markets in every town in the
country - and on the run up to (and sometime beyond) Christmas there
are some special Christmas markets around the country.