Christmas markets in Centre-Val de Loire

In the land of the Loire châteaux, Christmas takes on a royal hue. Medieval towns, lights on historic façades, Loire cooking and great wines: Centre-Val de Loire offers human-scale markets in exceptional heritage settings, away from the tourist crowds.

The signature markets

The Tours market, on Place de la Résistance, is the largest. Fifty chalets, an open-air ice rink, activities for children. Orléans hosts an elegant market on Rue Royale, in the shadow of Sainte-Croix cathedral. Chartres builds on its outstanding UNESCO-listed cathedral, lit every evening by video mapping as part of Chartres en Lumières (which runs on into December). Bourges and Blois round off the regional offer.

Specialities to try

The region champions its classic Loire cooking. Rillettes from Tours, AOP goat's cheeses (sainte-maure-de-touraine, valençay, crottin de Chavignol), géline chicken, Jargeau andouille. On the sweet side: tarte Tatin (created at Lamotte-Beuvron in the 19th century), pithiviers, Nançay shortbread, Orléans cotignac. On the wine side: Sancerre, Vouvray, Chinon, Cheverny. The mulled wine is often made with Touraine Gamay.

Practical tip

Tours is 1 hour from Paris Montparnasse by TGV, Orléans 1 hour from Paris Austerlitz by TER. For a themed weekend, combine Tours with an illuminated château (Chenonceau, Amboise and Chambord offer evening visits in December). Chartres deserves a detour of its own for the cathedral mapping. The region sees few tourists in December: excellent value on hotels.