Arras Christmas Market

Grand'Place and Place des Héros, Flemish Baroque jewels

Arras's Grand'Place and Place des Héros, with their 155 Flemish Baroque gabled façades built between the 16th and 18th centuries, rank among the finest urban squares in Europe. Their houses are listed historic monuments and make a one-of-a-kind architectural setting for a Christmas market. The 75-metre belfry, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005 as part of the Belfries of Belgium and France listing, is visible from everywhere in town and is your landmark.

The market spreads across both squares and spills over onto Place d'Ipswich and Place du Théâtre. Close to 150 chalets in 2025 (154 by the town's final count), plus, for the first time, chalets run by local associations on Place du Wetz d'Amain. In chalet numbers, it is one of the largest markets in France, ahead of Amiens (120) and Lille (90) at regional level.

The belfry and the chalets lit up

At nightfall, the 150 illuminated chalets give both squares their evening atmosphere, beneath the Baroque gables and the belfry. No video mapping on the squares themselves: in 2025 the town scheduled it out in the neighbourhoods, on the façades of Place Verlaine, with other events at the Parc du Rietz.

You can climb to the top of the belfry: a lift, then around forty steps (the climb is not possible in a wheelchair). Panoramic views over the squares, the town and the Artois plain. Open daily 9.30am-12pm and 2pm-5.30pm, except 25 December and 1 January. Go in the middle of the afternoon to make the most of the winter light before dark, as the climb closes at 5.30pm.

Specialities from the Pas-de-Calais

Cœurs d'Arras, crisp heart-shaped spice biscuits, are the thing to buy. Created in 1894 by the Despinoy pâtisserie, they are still going strong. Several bakers make them today, sold in 200 g bags (€8-12). The recipe is based on flour, sugar, butter and spices (cinnamon, aniseed, ginger).

On the charcuterie side, the Arras andouillette (made with veal mesentery) is milder than the Troyes version. The cheeses of northern France are all here: Maroilles of course (taste before you buy, the smell takes people by surprise), extra-mature Mimolette, Vieux-Lille. Craft beers from the Pas-de-Calais (Brasserie Goudale, Saint-Sylvestre) are available to taste.

For something sweet, try the waffles filled with vergeoise brown sugar (a northern classic), chiques de Bavay (mint sweets) and bêtises de Cambrai. The mulled wine served here is spicier than in the south, with a hint of cardamom and ginger.

Ice rink, Ferris wheel and family fun

A Ferris wheel close to 35 metres high goes up on the Grand'Place, giving a view over the Baroque façades from above. In 2025 the town listed it at €6 for adults and €5 for under-10s in its programme (€5 and €4 in its FAQ). The open-air ice rink, also on the Grand'Place, is not free: €9 for adults, €7 for children and €4 for a skating aid according to the 2025 programme (€6 and €5 according to the FAQ). Two carousels complete the market plan. Prices for 2026 had not been announced as of 6 October.

In 2025, Santa's house stood on Place d'Ipswich, with a letterbox for posting your letter until 24 December. It was closed on Mondays and Thursdays, opened late in the day on the other weekdays, on Saturdays 3pm-9pm and on Sundays 10am-12pm then 3pm-8pm. On the same square, a free maze; at weekends, a free little train runs through the market.

History and remembrance

Arras is a town deeply marked by the First World War: almost entirely destroyed in 1914-1918, then rebuilt exactly as it was using the original techniques. If you are interested in history, the Wellington Quarry (an underground museum in the former British tunnels) and the Canadian memorial at Vimy (15 minutes by car) make a fitting addition to the market.

Getting there

Arras is only 50 minutes from Paris-Nord by TGV, making it one of the quickest Christmas market trips from Paris. To go further, Lille (with its own markets) is 40 minutes away by train. Amiens is also 40 minutes away. The northern climate is cold (4°C on average in December, sometimes snowy): pack a hat and gloves.