Toulon Christmas Market

There are few places in France where Christmas keeps its Provençal flavour while breathing Mediterranean air. Toulon Christmas market has both: on Place de la Liberté, its chalets line up at the foot of the Fontaine de la Fédération, ten minutes’ walk from the harbour and the boats heading out to La Seyne. People come for the santons as much as for the smell of roasting chestnuts, and that dual identity gives the Toulon event its particular colour.

Toulon Christmas market and its thousand santons

The real highlight is not commercial, it is artisanal. Under a marquee, the animated Provençal nativity scene spreads close to 1,000 santons over some 120 m² of scenery, with sound and light staging. The scenes move: the baker, the washerwoman, the shepherd and his flock, a whole miniature village telling the story of Provence as it once was. Every year the city adds new tableaux, sometimes with a local wink such as sheep shearing or a tribute to Toulon’s rugby team.

Santons, those hand-painted clay figurines, remain the region’s signature gift. On the craft chalets you will find the classic characters (the Ravi, the miller, the fisherman) and the famous santons de Provence dressed in Provençal fabrics. It is a living tradition, handed down from workshop to workshop, and a souvenir that keeps for years. If you want to compare with the neighbouring santon scene, the one in Aix-en-Provence is also worth a detour.

Chalets, treats and the 13 desserts

As for chalets, the 2025 edition had 53 of them, 19 devoted to local crafts. Ceramics, decorative objects, winter accessories, metalwork: the mix leans towards the handmade rather than the gimmick. And then there is the food.

Toulon’s sweet tooth revolves around the great Provençal classics. Orange-blossom-scented navettes, calissons from Aix, the pompe à huile with its soft crumb, candied fruits gleaming like jewels. All of this forms part of the 13 desserts, the tradition that closes the “gros souper” on Christmas Eve: each sweet has its meaning, and you are supposed to taste all thirteen. A glass of mulled wine held in both hands completes the picture; to make it at home, we have put together a home-made mulled wine recipe (in French).

Ice rink, Ferris wheel and children’s entertainment

Place d’Armes takes over with the children’s village. The ice rink runs there from late November to early January, at around €2.50 for 30 minutes, skates and helmet included (helmet compulsory for under-8s). Around it, rides, a toboggan run and a Ferris wheel set the pace of family afternoons. Some attractions are charged, with prices varying by activity.

In the evening, the Fontaine de la Fédération comes alive with a water and light show, usually from 7pm. Parades, live music and craft workshops are spread across the squares of the centre over the weeks. Access to everything is free: you only pay for what you consume or the rides.

Getting there and planning your visit

Place de la Liberté is the beating heart of the Mistral bus network: the Liberté stop serves as an interchange, so just about every bus line passes through. If you are driving, aim for the Q-Park car parks (Liberté, Place d’Armes, Peiresc), with a worthwhile evening rate if you book ahead. The SNCF railway station is a few minutes’ walk away.

And for the harbour atmosphere, try the water bus: the port is ten minutes from the market, and the crossings to Les Sablettes or La Seyne give you a view of the illuminations from the water. A weekend in Toulon combines easily with the big markets of the coast, between Nice and Marseille, all linked by train. For 2026, the city’s call for stallholders confirms the return of the market on Place de la Liberté and the children’s village on Place d’Armes; exact dates are yet to be confirmed, with the period usually running from late November to late December.