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 Christmas Markets in Alsace holiday takes you to five of them.

Colmar

The fairy tale town of Colmar boasts multiple Christmas markets, each of them with its own unique atmosphere. The finest examples of local Alsatian gastronomy fill the wooden huts in Place Jeanne d’Arc, for example, while the Koïfhus specialises in craft goods by master glassmakers, cabinet makers, woodcarvers, hat-makers and jewellers and the Children’s Market in Little Venice transports visitors to a world of merry-go-rounds and magic. (Don’t forget to post your letter to Father Christmas in the giant letterbox provided.)

Ribeauvillé

Nestling in Alsace's wine producing region, Ribeauvillé - or the ‘strolling fiddlers’ town’- offers a taste of Christmas medieval style. Towers, ramparts and three castle provide an authentic – and occasionally illuminated - backdrop for fire jugglers, storytellers, troubadours and dancers, and even the Christmas trees bear coats of arms and banners!

Riquewihr

The picturesque narrow streets and half-timbered houses of this key town on the Alsatian wine route make a perfect setting for a fairy tale Christmas market. Illuminated by a thousand twinkling lights, the clusters of pretty wooden huts offer a tempting array of traditional Christmas baubles and decorations, and the cool air is rich with the scent of gingerbread, bretzels, confectionery, pastries and mulled wine.

Freiburg

Set right in the heart of the historic old city, Freiburg Christmas market is filled with rustic wooden stalls selling traditional craft products such as blown glass decorations and colourful wooden toys, as well as countless gifts from jewellery to gingerbread.

Discover more about our Christmas Market, Alsace programme here