CHRISTMAS IN STRASBOURG
Strasbourg, the capital of Christmas, is exceptionally renowned. Every year, close to two million visitors flock to the Alsatian capital to experience its enchanting market. For over a month, Strasbourg has been imbued with a festive, spiritual ambiance with few parallels anywhere else in Europe.
Treat yourself to a magical break in Strasbourg. Dating back to 1570, Strasbourg’s Christmas market is the oldest one in France and one of the oldest in Europe. During the Christmas market, the ambiance in Strasbourg is truly unique. The facades and streets are beautifully decorated, the shop windows sparkle, and the smells of cinnamon and spices waft through the air, bringing back childhood memories. Throughout December, Strasbourg is one of the most illuminated cities in Europe. Every year, a thirty-metre-tall Christmas tree is brought to Place Kléber and decorated with colorful ornaments and shimmering lights. This essential symbol of “Strasbourg, the Capital of Christmas,” is also the highest-decorated Christmas tree in Europe. Hundreds of merchants and craftsmen occupy the 300 chalets set up almost everywhere in the city center. Visitors can get ready for Christmas with original gifts, unique items to decorate their Christmas trees, and traditional treats, such as the little Christmas biscuits called bridle and mulled wine. A magical and enchanted setting with a fairy-tale atmosphere that enchants every visitor. Strasbourg, Capital of Christmas, a story that reinvents itself... and that has stood the test of time since 1570!
For the four weeks of the Christmas Market, as soon as the night falls, the city lights up with magnificent illuminations that add magic to the air when Strasbourg really reveals its most beautiful assets. Take a stroll after dark and drink in the magical atmosphere where clever lighting effects set off Strasbourg’s exceptional architectural heritage in a fitting manner. You will be blown away by the richly illuminated Rue des Orfèvres, or the original façade of the Patisserie Christian, in Rue de l’Outre…
On the square in front of Notre Dame Cathedral, the illuminations and atmosphere will immediately plunge you into the magic of Christmas. As you stroll through the narrow streets and little squares, admire the Christmas decorations, the shops, and their windows richly trimmed for the occasion
On Place Broglie, at the base of the Opera House, on this square where the carefully trimmed plane trees are lined up in perfect rows, you’ll find one of the historical sites of the Christmas Market. The Christkindelsmärik (market of the baby Jesus) has been held here since 1570. This “little bit” of the market is unique. Here, you’ll find exceptionally rich Christmas decoration stands, as well as the traditional mulled wine, with its sweet scents of cinnamon, cloves, and citrus. Don’t miss it!
During the Christmas market, the glowing lights and enchantment are outdoors, but Strasbourg is also a cozy and inviting place to be indoors. All the places of worship – Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox – are open to the public. Concerts, sing-alongs, exhibitions, and more are held in churches. Various events are also held outdoors throughout the city. Strasbourg is also a capital of culture and home to many museums covering a wide variety of subjects, including art, history, architecture, and illustration. At Christmastime, the Musée Alsatian is a must as it offers numerous special seasonal exhibitions and activities.
A land of tradition, Alsace celebrates Christmas with enthusiasm. In addition to Strasbourg, many villages and cities hold their own Christmas markets, most often in absolutely enchanting settings. The markets in Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, Colmar, Eguisheim, Mulhouse, Obernai, and Haguenau are among the most visited. These warm and cozy—and increasingly popular—markets showcase local know-how in a way that is respectful of ancestral customs.