Magical Christmas Markets in the Alsace

Dotted with ancient, candy coloured towns that seem to have sprung straight from the pages of a children’s story, Alsace was made for Christmas. Small wonder then that this northeastern region of France is home to some of the best Christmas markets in Europe. Our Magical Alsatian Christmas Holiday 2024 takes to you four of them.

Alsace

The Six Magical Markets of Colmar

As November tips into December, Colmar's historic - and picturesque - Old Town is bathed in the magical glow of specially designed festive lights and the streets come alive with stalls, concerts and live enactments of Alsatian folklore. There are six separate Christmas markets dotted through the town’s various squares and each has its own particular theme, from traditional decorations to local food and hand made gifts, so visitors are sure to make some delightful discoveries.

Colmar

The Fairytale Facades of Riquewihr

In the festive season, Riquewihr combines its classic Alsatian architecture with the fairytale spirit of Christmas. The half-timbered façades of the buildings are decked out with the finest decorations, the window boxes that overflow with flowers in the summer give way to pretty festive ornaments and a myriad of lights are strung over the village streets and alleyways.

The Gastronomic Market of Obernai

For most of the year, Obernai is a pretty town on the Alsace wine route. Come late November however, the Marché de Noël transforms it into an enchanted place festooned in lights and festive decorations made from fir boughs and pine cones. The 40 or so chalets give pride of place to the local gastronomic specialities and regional produce such as bredele (bite-size butter biscuits), manalas (brioche) and kougelhopfs (ring cake filled with dried fruits) and the air is thick with the scent of gingerbread and Obernai’s famous white mulled wine.

The Fabulous Ferris Wheel of Freiberg

Frieberg’s 12-meter-tall antique wooden Ferris wheel takes centre stage in the city’s beautiful Kartoffelmarkt. If you have head for heights, climb aboard, otherwise simply watch it turn while indulging in another Frieberg festive tradition - a glass of Glühwein and a bag of roasted almonds, still warm from the oven. The market itself is a treasure trove of arts and crafts. At some stands, you can even watch glassblowers and candlemakers create new works of art.

Freiburg