Épinal Christmas Market

There is a town where Christmas characters have been drawn for more than two centuries, among engraved woodblocks and printed sheets: Épinal, the capital of the popular print. The Épinal Christmas market is laid out around the Basilica of Saint-Maurice and the squares of the historic centre, where the light slides over the pink sandstone and along the banks of the Moselle. This is not just about chalets and mulled wine: the famous images d'Épinal turn up on the stalls, those colourful prints first produced at the Pellerin workshop in 1796, along with a whole Lorraine tradition that peaks with Saint Nicholas Day.

Saint Nicholas village around the basilica

The market takes the form of a village named after Saint Nicholas, the great figure celebrated all over Lorraine. Around thirty wooden chalets are strung out across Place des Quatre Nations, Place des Vosges and Place Pinau, with the Basilica of Saint-Maurice closing off the view. In the evening, a light projection plays across the Gothic front, and the whole centre glows under strings of lights. You wander on foot from one square to the next, trailed by the smell of waffles and tarte flambée.

What gives the Épinal Christmas market its character is this meeting of craft and imagery. On the tables, traditional prints sit next to objects turned from the wood of the Vosges forests, decorations and pieces by local makers. The Musée de l'Image is just a short walk away, and stepping inside carries the stroll on into the story of these sheets that once travelled all over France.

Vosges specialities and seasonal treats

The Vosges keep a generous larder, and it shows on the stalls. Gingerbread and Vosges sweets lead the way on the sweet side, including the famous pine sap sweets and those flavoured with brimbelle, the local name for bilberry. Mulled wine steams in the cups while you nibble a waffle or a slice of tarte flambée. If you want to recreate it at home afterwards, this spiced mulled wine recipe is just right for long winter evenings.

• Vosges sweets: pine sap, brimbelle (bilberry), honey, golden confectionery that scents a whole stall.
• Munster: the PDO cheese of the massif, to take home fresh or to taste melted on a hot slice of bread.
• Tofailles and Val d'Ajol andouille: Vosges farmhouse cooking, slow-cooked potatoes and smoked sausage.
• Gingerbread and waffles: the market classics that keep you warm between two chalets.
• Images d'Épinal: a colourful print from the town itself, the souvenir to bring home.

Ice rink, horse-drawn carriage and the Saint Nicholas parade

The programme of events gives the visit its rhythm. An open-air ice rink goes up on Place des Vosges, at the foot of the big Christmas tree, for a spin on the ice between two purchases. A Jules Verne-inspired carousel turns for younger visitors, and horse-drawn carriage rides take families through the cobbled streets.

The big event is still the Saint Nicholas parade, the highlight of the Lorraine calendar: around sixty illuminated floats cross the town, with brass bands and street performers. Every weekend in December, the Rendez-vous Givrés bring their share of shows and hands-on workshops to the centre. That is when Épinal really tips over into festive mode.

Opening hours, getting there and 2026 dates for the Épinal Christmas market

The dates of the 2026 edition have yet to be confirmed by the town, but the village traditionally opens in late November and runs until the very beginning of January. On weekdays it opens from late morning, with late openings on Fridays and Saturdays and all-day opening at weekends. Check the town's website before you set off: the exact times are published as the event approaches.

Épinal is easy to reach by train, and the station is a few minutes' walk from the centre, with direct services from Nancy. If you drive, three car parks surround the market: Quais, Basilique and Champ-de-Mars. The squares are step-free, suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs alike, although the weekend crowds can slow you down.

Around Épinal: Lorraine and the Vosges celebrate

The town makes a good starting point for a weekend of Lorraine markets. Less than an hour away, the Nancy Christmas market spreads across its illuminated royal squares and holds its own Saint Nicholas celebrations. A little further, the Metz Christmas market is one of the big events in the Grand Est, with its trails of light. And for a mountain atmosphere, the Gérardmer Christmas market, tucked beside its lake around forty kilometres away, rounds off a tour of the Vosges.