Artisan chocolates
Sweet
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Artisan chocolates
Artisan chocolates are chocolate bonbons made in small batches by a chocolatier, pralines, ganaches, truffles or orangettes, sold by weight, and they count among the gift purchases at Christmas markets, the ballotin picked up at the chalet of the town’s chocolatier, to give rather than to eat on the spot.
Belgian pralines in Bruges, Liège and Antwerp
The Belgian praline was born in Brussels in 1912, the first filled chocolate bonbon, and the ballotin that protects it followed in 1915. At Belgian Christmas markets it is sold by weight or by the box. Bruges puts artisan chocolate forward, Liège Belgian chocolates, and in Antwerp Belgian chocolate is found on most of the stalls.
Where to buy artisan chocolates at a Christmas market
In Italy, Turin sells its gianduiotti and its Turin chocolate. In France, local chocolate houses take the chalets: Reims and Toulouse, Roanne, Blois, Megève with its Megève makers, Vichy with chocolates from the Vichy area, Cahors with those of its artisans, Grasse with scented chocolates. Beaune, Chantilly, Chamonix, Douai, Guebwiller, Le Havre, Le Mans, Obernai and Troyes have them in their aisles too.
Expect to buy by weight or by the ballotin, rarely a tasting on the spot. Our selection of foodie Christmas markets gives other ideas for food lovers.
Artisan chocolates in pictures
Where to taste it
Opens on 4 December
Antwerp Christmas Market
Belgian chocolate
Antwerp
From 4 December to 3 January 2027
Worth the weekend
Opens on 5 December
Beaune Christmas Markets
chocolates
Beaune
From 5 to 13 December 2026
Day out
Dates to be confirmed
Blois Christmas Market
chocolates
Blois
Local favourite
Dates to be confirmed
Boulogne-Billancourt Christmas Market
chocolate
Boulogne-Billancourt
Local favourite
Opens on 20 November
Bruges Christmas Market
chocolate
handmade
Bruges
From 20 November to 3 January 2027
Worth the trip
Dates to be confirmed
Cahors Christmas Market
chocolates
artisan-made
Cahors
Local favourite
Dates to be confirmed
Chamonix Christmas Market
chocolates
Chamonix
Local favourite
Opens on 11 December
Chantilly Christmas Market
chocolates
Chantilly
From 11 to 13 December 2026
Local favourite
Dates to be confirmed
Chaumont Christmas Market
Bouchon de Champagne
chocolate
Chaumont
Local favourite
Dates to be confirmed
Douai Christmas Market
chocolates
Douai
Day out
Dates to be confirmed
Grasse Christmas Market
chocolates
scented
Grasse
Local favourite
Dates to be confirmed
Guebwiller Christmas Market
chocolates
Guebwiller
Day out
Dates to be confirmed
Le Havre Christmas Market
chocolates
Le Havre
Local favourite
Dates to be confirmed
Le Mans Christmas Market
chocolates
Le Mans
Day out
Opens on 27 November
Liège Christmas Market
Belgian chocolates
Liège
From 27 November to 2 January 2027
Worth the weekend
Opens on 21 December
Megève Christmas Market
chocolates
from Megève’s own shops
Megève
From 21 to 31 December 2026
Local favourite
Opens on 27 November
Obernai Christmas Market
chocolates
Obernai
From 27 November to 31 December 2026
Worth the weekend
Dates to be confirmed
Reims Christmas Market
chocolates
Deleans
Reims
Worth the trip
Dates to be confirmed
Roanne Christmas Market
chocolates
Pralus and Révillon
Roanne
Local favourite
Dates to be confirmed
Romans-sur-Isère Christmas Market
chocolates
Romans-sur-Isère
Local favourite
Dates to be confirmed
Saint-Germain-en-Laye Christmas Market
Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Local favourite
Opens on 26 November
Toulouse Christmas Market
chocolates
Pillon
Toulouse
From 26 November to 27 December 2026
Worth the weekend
Dates to be confirmed
Troyes Christmas Market
chocolates
Troyes
Day out
Dates to be confirmed
Turin Christmas Market
Turin chocolate
Turin
Worth the weekend
- Vichy Christmas Market France