Strasbourg Christmas Market (Christkindelsmärik)

The market spreads across several squares of the city, from place Broglie to the cathedral, each with its own atmosphere. Lights, wooden chalets and the scents of mulled wine and cinnamon fill the centre of Strasbourg. Christkindelsmärik is the Alsatian dialect name of the historic market on place Broglie, which the organisers describe as one of Europe's oldest and for a long time the only one in France.

The market is expected to open on 27 November 2026 and close on 24 December 2026. These dates are an estimate, and the usual month is November. Strasbourg is in the Grand Est region of France.

The chalets stand on the city's historic squares. Opening is expected daily between 11:30 and 21:00, with a 14:00 start on the first day and an 18:00 finish on 24 December. The organisers list detailed hours and late openings. Park-and-ride parking is expected to cost €4.20 a day, with a return tram ticket included for every passenger.

The Village du Partage brings together dozens of charities. Visitors can donate, buy handmade items and share the traditional Soupe de l'Étoile made by Alsatian chefs. The Marché OFF gathers social and solidarity economy businesses in shipping containers, offering vintage furniture, responsible gifts, upcycling workshops and local organic food.

A children's area hosts storytelling shows, creative workshops, concerts and interactive games, through which families can discover Alsatian Advent traditions together.

Each winter the Grand Sapin, a large Christmas tree, is put up on place Kléber as the central symbol of the festivities. A giant Advent wreath lights up the main courtyard of the Hôtel de Ville.

The market began in 1570 as the Christkindelsmärik, a market devoted to the Christ Child. Before settling on place Broglie it occupied several sites, including the cathedral forecourt, place du Château and place Kléber.

In 1992 the market took the name Strasbourg Capitale de Noël, and in 2000 the Grand Sapin was set up on place Kléber. The Village du Partage was created on the same square in 2002, and the Marché Off, a space for social and solidarity economy players, was launched in 2015.

Between 2010 and 2014 the market drew close to 2 million visitors a year. It was cancelled in 2020 because of the pandemic, for the first time in centuries, and only the Grand Sapin remained. In 2025 Strasbourg Capitale de Noël gained ISO 20121 certification for sustainable event management.

In the evening the cobbled lanes and half-timbered façades are lit and reflected in the River Ill. A lit route links the cathedral, Petite France and the Neustadt, with each district dressed in its own colours and decorations.

The markets showcase Alsatian food, including spiced mulled wines, Bredle biscuits and gingerbread, as well as local produce.

Crowds are traditionally heaviest on Wednesday afternoons, Friday evenings and throughout the weekend, so the organisers suggest planning a weekday visit. Leashed dogs are allowed, but bringing one at weekends is strongly discouraged because of the crowds.

Cars are banned from the Grande Île during market hours, and park-and-ride car parks on the outskirts are suggested instead. Almost all stallholders accept cards, but cash machines inside the Grande Île are very busy, so visitors are advised to bring cash before crossing the access bridges.

Pushchairs can be used but are hard to manoeuvre at peak times, and a baby carrier is recommended at weekends. Bikes and scooters may not be ridden on the market squares while the chalets are open and must be pushed by hand across the Grande Île.