'Capitale de Noël'
Strasbourg promotes itself as the 'Capital of Christmas' (Strasbourg, capitale de Noël), the name of the city's official Christmas programme.
Source: Wikipedia. Some wording is drawn from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Strasbourg · France
Strasbourg Christmas Market
Christkindelsmärik
27 Nov – 24 Dec 2026 Official
Official websiteDates and hours may change. Check them on the market's official site.
Key facts
| City | Strasbourg |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Location | Place Broglie, Strasbourg |
| Dates | 27 Nov – 24 Dec 2026 Official |
| Official website | Official website |
| Map pin | 48.58475, 7.74906. Approximate location from the sources used for this page. |
About the market
The Christkindelsmärik ('Christ Child market' in Alsatian) has been held around Strasbourg Cathedral since 1570, when the city belonged to the Holy Roman Empire. That makes it one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe. It spreads across the Grande Île, mainly Place Kléber, Place Broglie, the Place du Marché aux Cochons de Lait and the cathedral square.
It attracts about two million visitors over its roughly five-week run and is considered one of Europe's most famous Christmas markets. It matters to the local economy: some hotels earn 15 to 17% of their annual income from market visitors and are booked a year ahead. The scent of vin chaud (mulled wine) is what many visitors remember most.
Sources: Wikipedia · Wikipedia. Some wording is drawn from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Traditions and specialities
What is particular here
The great tree on Place Kléber
The market's Christmas tree is famously tall: 32.5 m in 2010 and 35 m in 2019, towering over the surrounding buildings.
Source: Wikipedia. Some wording is drawn from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Vin chaud
Alsatian mulled wine, hot red or white wine with spices, is the market's signature smell and drink.
Source: Wikipedia · Wikipedia. Some wording is drawn from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Bredele
Small Alsatian Christmas biscuits in many varieties, such as aniseed, butter, and orange-cinnamon. Families traditionally bake them and give them to neighbours.
Source: Wikipedia. Some wording is drawn from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
About Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the largest city of the Grand Est region, in historic Alsace, with about 294,000 people (875,000 in the metro area). It is the official seat of the European Parliament and also hosts the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights. Alongside Geneva and New York, it is one of the few non-capital cities that host international bodies of the first rank.
The market's setting, the Grande Île, is the historic island centre around the cathedral. Strasbourg sits right on the German border, which explains the market's Alsatian-German name.
Sources: Wikipedia · Wikipedia. Some wording is drawn from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Photos
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AIA Labs publishes this page as an independent guide. It is not the market's own website.