Orléans Christmas Market

On Place du Martroi, the equestrian statue of Joan of Arc watches over some sixty wooden chalets that light up as soon as evening falls. Orléans Christmas market spreads its lights across four squares in the historic centre, between the Gothic façade of Sainte-Croix Cathedral and the banks of the Loire. A big wheel turns above the rooftops, the scent of mulled wine and roast chestnuts floats in the cold air, and for a whole month the town feels like a big festive village. For the county town of a Loire Valley department, it's a well-staged affair.

Walking the four squares of Orléans Christmas market

The Orléans market is split across four separate spaces linked by the pedestrian streets of the centre. Each has its own character and crowd, and wandering from one to the next is what sets the rhythm of the visit.

Place du Martroi remains the beating heart. This is where most of the craft village is concentrated, at the foot of the Joan of Arc statue, with the big wheel towering over everything and serving as a landmark you can see from afar. Close by, Place de la République hosts Father Christmas's house, very popular with families who queue for a photo with the children. Place de Loire, as you head down towards the river, brings together the fairground rides (carousel, swing ride, little sleigh) and the food stalls where you eat standing up. And in front of the cathedral, on Place Sainte-Croix, the towers become a screen for light projections in the evening, a sight worth the trip on its own once night has fallen.

Walking from one square to another takes a few minutes, through a cobbled town centre handed back to pedestrians for the occasion. Allow a good hour and a half to see it all at your own pace, longer if you stop for a hot drink or a ride on the wheel. The mood changes through the day: family-oriented in the afternoon, with rides and children running between the chalets, it becomes more hushed in the evening, when the garlands take over from daylight and the town turns golden.

Treats and crafts in the chalets

When it comes to flavours, you're in Loire country, halfway between Loire Valley traditions and the great festive classics. The chalets give pride of place to regional producers: honey from the Gâtinais, gingerbread, Loiret saffron (a crop that has made a comeback in the department), chocolates and sweets from local artisans. You'll also find the seasonal staples, foie gras and matured cheeses, enough to fill a festive hamper from producers who explain their work.

Mulled wine flows at the food stalls, its spicy steam just right for a chilly evening. If you feel like making it at home, the homemade mulled wine recipe takes ten minutes with cinnamon, a little orange and the right amount of sugar. Alongside, roast chestnuts and waffles hold their own as comforting treats.

Crafts aren't left out either. Some of the exhibitors sell handmade pieces that make a change from the shops: jewellery, pottery, turned-wood tree decorations, soaps, leather goods. Taking the time to talk with the makers is often how you leave with the find you weren't expecting, and the story that goes with it.

• Mulled wine and roast chestnuts at the Place de Loire stalls, to warm up between two rows of chalets.
• Gingerbread and Loiret saffron, two emblematic regional products to take home.
• Gâtinais honeys and sweets from local producers, to taste at the stall before you buy.
• Handmade crafts: tree decorations, jewellery, wood and leather goods, for gifts that stand out.
• The big wheel on Place du Martroi, for a panoramic view of the illuminated town and the bend of the Loire.

Going with the family: what children love

Orléans ticks a lot of boxes for a day out with children, and the recent edition had a toy theme, with a different focus on each square, from wooden classics to retro games from the 1980s. Father Christmas's house on Place de la République is still the meeting point for the youngest, between the photo and the letterbox for posting their list. The rides on Place de Loire, with the carousel and swing ride leading the way, easily fill a late afternoon.

A ride on the big wheel is worth it with slightly older children: from the gondola, you can spot all four squares at a glance, the winding Loire and the slate roofs catching the lights. Bring warm clothes, as the cabins aren't enclosed, and keep some change for the rides and waffles, which are where the budget really goes. Pushchairs can get everywhere on the cobbles, and the centre's public toilets are signposted near the squares.

Opening hours, prices and getting to Orléans Christmas market 2026

The 2026 edition runs from Friday 27 November to Sunday 27 December, with the rides and the big wheel staying on until 3 January 2027. The market opens every day at 11am and closes at 8pm, with late opening until 9pm on Fridays and 10pm on Saturdays. Hours are reduced on 24 December (closing at 6pm) and 25 December (open in the afternoon). Entry to the market is free; only the big wheel and the rides are paid, at a few euros a go. The town publishes the detailed programme as the holidays approach, so remember to check the latest information before you set off.

To get there, Orléans station is a quarter of an hour's walk from the Martroi, or two stops on tram line A. The train from Paris takes about an hour, which makes a day trip entirely doable. By car, the central car parks (Martroi, République, Cheval Rouge) are close to the chalets but fill up quickly in the late afternoon; aiming for early afternoon or using a park-and-ride with the tram saves you circling the block. The pedestrian centre is flat and cobbled, with no steps, and accessible to pushchairs and wheelchairs alike.

What to see nearby during your stay

Orléans is easy to visit in a day, market included, and the name of Joan of Arc turns up on every street corner. Sainte-Croix Cathedral, whose stained glass tells the story of the Maid of Orléans, stands a few steps from the chalets; stepping inside to take in the silence between two glasses of mulled wine does you good. The medieval quarter around Rue de Bourgogne, lively and cobbled, and the Joan of Arc House recall the siege of 1429 that sealed the town's fate. The banks of the Loire, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, make for a lovely walk along the water when the sky clears.

If you want to stretch the trip across the region, Blois Christmas market and Tours Christmas market are easy to reach by train along the Loire Valley, each with its own château and atmosphere. To the north, Chartres Christmas market and its illuminated cathedral are worth a second day if you extend the weekend. Enough to string several Loire markets together without ever getting back in the car.