The best Christmas markets in France

Christmas is nearly here, which means festive music, gaudy decorations - and trips out to Christmas markets.

In November and December, France is home to some of the very best Christmas markets in the world. While France might not be the first country you associate with Christmas markets - the Germanic and Nordic countries tend to take the top spot in the popular imagination - it is surely one of the best, owing in no small part to the Germanic cultural influence on the Alsace region. This region, which was once part of Germany, is where many of France’s best Christmas markets are located, and where you’re likely to find strudel and glühwein being sold alongside tartiflette and bûche de Noël.

But that doesn’t mean you should discount the rest of France. The country is home to a diverse range of customs, cuisines and traditions when it comes to celebrating Christmas, and each town offers something truly unique.

If you find yourself in France over the Christmas period, or are thinking of visiting to see some of Europe’s best festive shops and stalls, these Christmas markets are simply unmissable.

Many Christmas markets are not as old as you might think. Across Europe, most cities only decided to introduce Christmas markets as late as the 1990s, including some of the locations on this list, such as Montbéliard.

Not so for Strasbourg, site of the oldest Christmas market in France. The Strasbourg market - also known as the Christkindelsmärik - dates back to 1570, meaning the market has been part of the Holy Roman Empire, Germany and France throughout its history, and over the past four and a half centuries it absorbed and developed the influences of different cultures to become one of the most exciting and unique markets in Europe.

Alongside the usual stalls, the Strasbourg market offers arts and crafts stalls, dazzling illuminations and even an ‘off market’, selling alternative products and vintage gifts. Make sure to take a selfie under the giant Christmas tree!

Lyon is one of France’s largest cities, and so it’s little surprise that this city in eastern France has such a fantastic Christmas market, complete with a petting zoo, a Santa’s grotto and over a hundred stalls selling toys, food and crafts.

The market is operational from late November to Christmas Eve. If you happen to be in the city between the 5th and 8th of December, you can also enjoy the stunning light displays that are part of the annual Fête des Lumières.

Colmar is a half-an-hour train ride away from Strasbourg, and with its timber-frame houses and stone facades has many of the same Alsatian charms as Strasbourg with less of the bustle. The market there is a collection of smaller markets, each with its own theme, from gourmet food to local crafts.

If you’re looking to buy Christmas presents, be sure to take a look inside the Koïfhus, the great Renaissance customs building where artisans display their crafts all year around, and which always has special festive items for sale.

Montbéliard is a small town in the Doubs department in eastern France, but its renowned for its elegant medieval streets, imposing château and a gorgeous Christmas market.

Part of what makes the Montbéliard Christmas market so special is the ambience. During Advent, the whole town is lit up with a stunning display of illuminations, comprising more than 100,000 lights and drenching the pavements and facades of the charming old buildings with festive colour.

The market is vast and is divided into different sections. In place Velotte, you’ll find the ‘Guests of Honour’, which are chalets featuring produce from particular regions of France or countries around the world, while the Solidarity Market, located on the Parvis des Droits de l’Homme, hosts stalls for charities and humanitarian organisations.

Aix-en-Provence is a beautiful town in the south of France, famous for its myriad fountains and the lush scenery which inspired the artist Cezanne. It’s also well known for its markets, where you can find local confectionaries and handcrafted products all year round.

In the lead up to Christmas, the markets take on a festive flair, selling Nativity santons, arts and crafts, mulled wine and gingerbread alongside the usual Provençal crafts and delicacies. The markets at Aix are also the perfect place to sample ‘Les Treize Desserts’, a 13-course meal which the people of Provence traditionally eat on Christmas Eve.