Shopping at Christmas Markets in France

By: Imogen Saddleworth.

France provides wonderful opportunities when it comes to shopping for Christmas gifts. Christmas markets in France have grown to be popular with many shoppers from the UK because they offer a wide range of unusual Christmas gift ideas and they are great fun to attend too. Even the most jaded Christmas shopper would find it difficult to resist getting into the festive spirit while shopping at a Christmas market in France.

At French Christmas markets you can often find numerous stalls selling everything from delicious cakes, pastries, chocolates, sweets, cheese, patés, meats, and other produce, to traditional Christmas decorations, arts and crafts and Christmas gifts. Christmas Markets in France also offer many other activities including funfairs, concerts and entertainment.

With Christmas music playing in the background, twinkling Christmas lights, the delicious aroma of roasting chestnuts filling the air and the welcome offer of glass of vin chaud (hot wine) to keep out the cold, Christmas markets in France contain a truly magical Christmas atmosphere all of their own.

Most Christmas markets in France are annual events starting in late November with a small number opening in early December. As Christmas markets and events in France can vary from town to town, check with the local French tourist office for details.

Below is a selection of Christmas markets in the North of France, which, as they happen to be in easy reach of the UK makes for an ideal day's Christmas shopping or perhaps a much needed Christmas break.

Lille Christmas Market

Held in the centre of town in Place Rihour, Lille's month long Christmas market is a colourful Christmas scene full of lights and wooden chalets selling everything from French Christmas delicacies, local arts and crafts, jewellery, toys and Christmas gifts.

Highlights of Lille's Christmas market include; the big wheel situated nearby on the Grand Place, Father Christmas participating in a spectacular event every Saturday in December, when he "falls" from the Chamber of Commerce's 80 metre-high Belfry, and, on the last Saturday before Christmas an orchestra consisting of 450 tubas performs Christmas carols.

Lille Tourist Information

Lille Christmas Market (In French)

Amiens Christmas Market

Said to be the biggest and greatest Christmas market in Northern France, Amiens town centre transforms into a beautiful festive scene of Christmas Alpine splendour complete with chalets and stalls selling produce and goods from the Picardy region.

Visitors to Amiens Christmas market can shop with ease as they wander through the pedestrianised streets filled with Christmas trees and decorations. Entertainment is also provided in the form of shows, carol singing and activities for children.

It is also well worth paying an evening visit to the magnificent gothic Amiens cathedral, Notre-Dame d'Amiens. Listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1981, the cathedral of Notre-Dame d'Amiens is the centrepiece of the “Cathedral in Colours" light display, which is held during Christmas as well as at other times of the year.

Amiens Tourist Information (In French)

Amiens Christmas Market (In French)

Boulogne-sur-Mer Christmas Market

An annual event, Boulogne's Christmas Market is held within the city walls of the delightful old upper town. With its cobbled streets and picturesque charm, Boulogne's Christmas market features stalls selling all sorts of arts and crafts, Christmas gifts, regional delicacies and local specialities such as smoked herring and Craquelin pastries. Previous Christmas markets have included an ice sculptor, musical parade and fireworks.

Boulogne-sur-Mer Tourist Information (In French & English)

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