Strasbourg Christmas Market

Where the tradition began

Strasbourg is not content with being the oldest Christmas market in France: the city has called itself the “Capital of Christmas” for decades. And the numbers back it up: more than 2 million visitors every winter, 300 chalets scattered across the old town, and a giant tree standing proudly on Place Kléber.

The Christkindelsmärik (literally “market of the Christ Child”) dates back to 1570. At the time, Protestant reformers decided to replace the Saint Nicholas fair with a market tied to Christmas. The tradition has never stopped since. The 2026 edition opens on Friday 27 November. The closing date has not yet been published by the city (24 December in 2025).

Eight markets in one

What makes Strasbourg unique is the number of sites. Place Broglie hosts the historic market. Place de la Cathédrale spreads its chalets at the foot of the Gothic spire. Place du Château, more intimate, focuses on high-end crafts. And the OFF market, on Place Grimmeissen, showcases independent makers and fair trade.

Each square has its own character. You can spend a whole day wandering from one market to the next through the lanes of Petite France, strung with lights and lined with fir trees.

The highlights

The giant tree on Place Kléber is a yearly ritual. Standing 30 metres tall, it is decked with thousands of lights and switched on at the end of November. The sound and light show projected onto the cathedral façade is another high point: it is free and runs several times each evening.

For something different, board a traditional flat-bottomed boat on the River Ill. You glide under the illuminated bridges of Petite France with a glass of mulled wine in hand.

What to bring home

Bredele are the obvious choice: every Alsatian family has its own recipes for these little biscuits (cinnamon stars, almond crescents, buttery butterbredele). Handmade decorations in wood or blown glass (Meisenthal baubles) make elegant gifts. And the gingerbread from Mireille Oster, a Strasbourg institution, is worth the detour.