Beaune Christmas Market

Several Christmas markets in Beaune, not one big chalet village

Beaune's Christmas market is not a single event running right through Advent: the town has several short markets in December 2026, run by different organisers in different places. Everything is packed into two weekends, 5 and 6 December then 12 and 13 December.

None of these markets is held in the courtyard of the Hospices. The producers' market sets up at the Domaine Besancenot, faubourg Saint-Nicolas, and the comité des fêtes holds its Festi'Noël at Porte Marie de Bourgogne. The Hôtel-Dieu itself is visited as a museum, which makes it the obvious companion to a morning at the market.

The producers' Christmas market at Domaine Besancenot (5 and 6 December)

This is the fullest of the three. It brings together more than 25 local producers and craftspeople at 78 faubourg Saint-Nicolas. Entry is advertised as free on the listing where the market is posted; the tourist office does not publish a price. It opens Saturday 5 December from 10am to 7pm and Sunday 6 December from 10am to 6pm. The market is held under cover, which counts for something on a first weekend of December in Burgundy.

On the stalls, the tourist office lists wine, liqueurs, beer, honey, caramels, snails, cheese and chocolates, plus a non-food section: Christmas decorations, pottery and candles. The estate pours free tastings of its wines. Food is served on site, unapologetically Burgundian: bœuf bourguignon, œufs en meurette, chips, sausages and hot chestnuts.

For children, Father Christmas and Olaf are announced, with a pony-drawn carriage and entertainment. Animals are welcome. The listing where the market is posted also mentions access for people with reduced mobility, toilets and a refreshment stand, which the tourist office does not specify. Information on 03 80 22 18 76. You will see this same market advertised elsewhere as the marché de Noël gourmand et créatif: it is the same one, same dates, same times, same place.

The Festi'Noël run by the comité des fêtes (12 and 13 December)

The CFDB, Beaune's comité des fêtes et du développement, holds its Festi'Noël on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December 2026, in the Porte Marie de Bourgogne area. The organiser presents it as a market open to everyone, with craftspeople and makers: decorations, jewellery, toys, local treats and gift ideas. Music, lights and mulled wine round out the picture.

One caveat, and it matters if you are coming from far away: the opening hours are not published, nor is the number of exhibitors or any entry charge. Worth confirming with the comité des fêtes before you plan your day around it.

The Challanges market, the same Saturday (12 December)

Challanges, part of the commune of Beaune, holds its own Christmas market on Saturday 12 December from 2pm to 6.30pm, at 681 rue de Combertault. The Challanges comité des fêtes announces 18 exhibitors expected, free entry, Father Christmas arriving by horse-drawn carriage at 3pm and free carriage rides. It is small, it is local, and it follows on from the Festi'Noël on the same day. This information comes from the listing posted by the comité des fêtes on a community events site: worth cross-checking before you travel for that particular market.

The Hôtel-Dieu and the wines, the real setting of Beaune

The Hôtel-Dieu des Hospices de Beaune was founded in 1443 by Nicolas Rolin, chancellor of Burgundy, and his wife Guigone de Salins. You go in for the main courtyard and its glazed tiles, the Grande Salle des Pôvres and the apothecary. Allow about an hour and a half for the visit, with an audio guide available in several languages. Full price from €12.50, concessions from €9.50.

The town's wine event, meanwhile, falls before the markets. The Vente des Vins des Hospices de Beaune is in its 166th year and runs from 13 to 15 November 2026, with the auction on the 15th. The weekend comes with a funfair on Place Madeleine, a food market, folk group parades, a village of craftspeople and food artisans, and tastings at wine shops and estates. If you are after Beaune at its liveliest, that is where it is, a month before Christmas.

Getting there and planning your visit

Beaune station, on avenue du 8 Septembre, puts the town 2 hours 15 minutes from Paris with a change at Dijon, 1 hour 45 from Mulhouse and 1 hour 40 from Lyon. By car, the A6 serves Beaune at junction 24.1 (Beaune-Centre / Beaune-Hospices) and junction 24.0 (Savigny-lès-Beaune / Beaune-Saint-Nicolas); the A31 heads towards Dijon, Nancy and Lille. The nearest airports are Dole Jura and Dijon-Bourgogne, and Beaune has its own airfield, at Challanges.

One point of geography to keep in mind: the Domaine Besancenot is on faubourg Saint-Nicolas, outside the pedestrian centre, while the Festi'Noël is held at Porte Marie de Bourgogne. Two weekends, two addresses.

• For a big market in the region, Dijon is one train connection away and plays in a different league.
• Chalon-sur-Saône pairs easily with Beaune over the same weekend in Burgundy.
• Further east, Besançon completes a Burgundy-Franche-Comté circuit.