Strasbourg Christmas Market

The spices and cinnamon may not have appeared yet, but wherever you are, Christmas is now an inescapable presence. 

In the UK, decorations are already in full swing in many places, while in France, people are getting excited about the upcoming Christmas markets, which draw scores of people every year.

A Time-Honoured Tradition

A long-adored aspect of French winter living, Strasbourg, capital city of the Grand-Est region, will host its Christmas market, Christkindelsmärik, as per the local dialect, and Marché de Noël in French, in December.

And, considering the city’s ancient allure, what could be a better place? Strasbourg, featuring Place Broglie, is home to the oldest festive market in the land. The city has hosted a Christmas market for an impressive 445 years, no less.

A Festive Wonderland

Comprising as many as 300 market chalets, it’s not hard to see why 1.6 million visitors make the journey to Strasbourg to shop, enjoy local cuisines, marvel at Place Kleber’s giant Christmas tree, and go ice-skating on Place du Château. Standing over all this, of course, is Strasbourg Cathedral, complete with its astronomical clock and dominating Gothic towers.

Endless Attractions

Some cities have just one or two attractions, and this is where Strasbourg separates itself by providing a wealth of diverse goings-on. If the skating doesn’t take your fancy, then a wander around the picturesque buildings and a journey to the gingerbread bakery and sweet shops surely will.

Food lovers will rejoice as ever, but in this place, that goes without saying. Picked cabbages (choucroute) will be one favourite on the menu, and three-meat baeckeoffe stew is bound to be another – that’s aside from all the wine and beer, which is a worthy factor on its own.

A Year Full of Music

Strasbourg welcomed a host of musical acts in recent years. Not limited to the market and Cathedral area, the entire city will thrive with music, making it an ideal destination for both a dash of Christmas shopping and sightseeing before the new year kicks in with a bang.

Travelling to Strasbourg

Going by train will take around 3 hours from Zürich, with a quick change in Basel, where you’ll cross French territory. Once you’re at Strasbourg’s central train station (la Gare Centrale), you can walk to the Cathedral in just fifteen minutes, or take a taxi to get there faster.