Visit Alsace’s Christmas Markets with your family – Our 11 ideas

1. Sélestat, Land of the Sa-pain (by Clémence)

Sélestat is THE city of the fir tree. This is where, for the 1st The first mention of the fir tree as a Christmas decoration dates back to 1521. Today, this makes the town the capital of the Christmas country of the same name.

Workshop at Maison du Pain d’Alsace

What immediately motivated me to go there was themanala workshop (mannele, as we are in the Bas-Rhin) at the Maison du Pain d’Alsace. In 1 hour, my little girl and I made our own little personalized men and women. The dough was already prepared but we shaped our manala (quite a technique!) and Luce also put them in the oven. Please note that the Maison du Pain d’Alsace regularly organizes workshops, depending on the time of year.

But Christmas in Sélestat is not only about the Maison du Pain d’Alsace! It is part of a 13-stage route through the city, with exhibitions, a Christmas village, an ice rink and various animations to enhance the stroll.

Library, church and vault

The 1st step is obviously the basic one: bringing the famous 1521 register to light in the brand-new Humanist Library.

Then, Luce and I really enjoyed the exhibitions about Meisenthal glass balls and thehistory of Christmas tree decoration in the Saint-Georges church. By the way, do you know the Meisenthal balls? When a dry winter hit the region, it was impossible to find apples to decorate the Christmas trees, as was the tradition. A glass blower had the idea to replace them with glass balls. Today, the CIAV (Centre International d’Art Verrier) in Meisenthal perpetuates this art.

Then, arriving in front of the Caveau Saint-Barbe, we met a group of zany elves called Les Gnomides.

Professor Sapinus

We push the door open and arrive in La Sapinière aux Mille Secrets, the lair of Professor Sapinus. Who’s that? The greatest connoisseur of fir trees in Selestat, Alsace and Mooonndde! In his stuwa (editor’s note: living room in Alsace), he tells Luce the legend of the Christmas tree. Even me, who has a rather extensive knowledge of the fir tree in Alsace, I learned some things! I won’t tell you anything here, no no. It’ll give you a chance to get to know this amazing teacher, if you’d like to find out more.

Designer’s market

After a small designer market on the 1st floor of the building, we arrive in the large hall on the 2nd floor.ème floor where the fir tree competition is held. Great, we can vote for our favorites, much to my little girl’s delight! They are all so different, it was not easy to choose them… We are looking forward to the end of the contest to know who will be the lucky one.

In short, a very nice stopover for the family, even on a rainy day. Of course, you have to walk between the different stages but almost all of them are under cover.

2. Dream Christmas in Obernai (by Clémence)

In the Christmas Land of the Fir Tree, Obernai is the other unavoidable step with Selestat. Obernai’s Christmas market is on a human scale, with 5 squares featuring chalets selling designers, craftspeople (textiles, wood, blown glass…) and delicacies (local produce, cookies, chocolates, spirits, crêpes, cheeses…).

The place of children

When you arrive, even on a rainy day, as soon as night falls, the wow effect is guaranteed ! Everything is illuminated and beautifully decorated, from Place Neher at the foot of the ramparts to Place de l’Etoile, the “Place des Enfants”.

This is where we decide to stop for a while: the Adam carousel and the Petit Train. Along the way, we come across a well-known figure in Alsace and northern Europe in general: Saint-Nicolas!

Gourmet snack

For a snack, we stop off at the Tourist Office’s “Nature et créations” chalet, where Anny offers milk and white chocolate in many forms, even hot, as well as waffles. We enjoyed those with Christmas spices. Yummy!

For me, this Christmas market is a great alternative to the bigger markets. The magic is there and the numerous visitors who strolled in the streets of Obernai understood it well!

Laurène’s comment: I took part in the Bredele Tour, a storytelling and singing walk in the streets of Obernai that can be done with children. We sing, we eat bredele and we walk in the streets of Obernai… Nice program, right?

3. Barr, a children’s paradise! (by Clémence)

Barr is a charming little town on the Alsace Wine Route, between Sélestat and Obernai. It was at the end of a rainy day that we discovered it, with our family. Here, the decoration is simple but very pretty as, for example, these garlands of lights which traverse whole streets.

Three Christmas markets

The 1st Christmas market (there are 3!) is in the town hall. In front of the town hall, the children and my darling have fun with the wooden games provided.

Further down town, we find “Le 66 Grand’Rue”, renamed “Village des enfants” for the occasion. This is where the children’s workshops are held, but there are also other wooden games. Unfortunately, we arrived too late to participate but the children and my darling were able to enjoy the wooden games. Very good idea to have done it indoors! In case of rain or cold, it allows to recharge the batteries without getting bored. At the end of the room, a pretty decorated passage takes us to a large room that I find charming with its wooden beams and its hangar air: it is the 2nd Christmas market with crafts, local products, a solidarity stand…

On the other side of the building “Le 66 Grand’Rue”, in a courtyard, a last block of cottages awaits us. There is also a small merry-go-round with a few stalls to please the gourmets.

Afternoon shows

The experience was really too short to be able to tell you more about this Christmas market, but you should know that there are also shows throughout the afternoon (le Colporteur d’histoires, la rond du veilleur de nuit…), storytelling at the Musée de la Folie Marco, participatory workshops… Yes, you’ll have understood, we were a little frustrated not to have spent more time there!

4. Soultz-sous-Forêts and its warm animations (by Thibaut)

The season of Christmas markets is in full swing in Alsace. If the eyes are naturally turned towards Strasbourg, Colmar or Kaysersberg, some smaller markets are doing well. I’ll take you to Northern Alsace to discover the one in Soultz-sous-Forêts, a little nugget hidden behind the forest of Haguenau. It is also possible to combine this visit with the Christmas market in Haguenau: both cities are only 20 minutes away from each other.

Soultz-sous-forêts, an intimate and family Christmas market

In the heart of the natural region of the Outre Forêt, the Christmas market of Soultz-sous-Forêts surprises me as soon as I arrive. There is a kind of serenity, far from the frenzy of other markets, and a good-natured side. The village of 3,500 inhabitants comes alive every Saturday and Sunday in December around its cultural relay of La Saline.

The Place du Général de Gaulle is home to a small skating rink where children can try their hand at the pleasures of sliding, both on skates and on their butts. All around are a few wooden chalets where craftsmen and local merchants offer traditional Christmas treats: bredele, mulled wine or other pancakes. You can also find Christmas decorations or wooden toys made in Alsace.

Beyond the ice rink, children will particularly appreciate the animations proposed on the square:

• The meeting of emblematic characters of Christmas like the Wiehnachtsmann all dressed in green who, under the bandstand, lends himself with pleasure to photos and confidences of children
• Mr. François, Santa’s personal mailman, who travels around the market telling funny and exciting stories on his scooter. As a good letter carrier, he will not fail to remind the latecomers to send their letter to Santa Claus.

Warm animations in La Saline

The other asset of the Soultz-sous-Forêts Christmas market is its pretty cultural center, the Saline, which allows you to enjoy activities (and toilets!) in the warmth of :

• Shows in Alsatian and classic cartoons in the auditorium (entrance fee)
• A bredele decoration workshop for children with a pastry chef
• A 19th century style Café Bistro as pleasant as it is supportive. The furniture is on loan from Emmaus Haguenau. If you like the chair you are sitting in to drink your coffee, you can buy it from the association.

In short, you will have understood, I really appreciated this small Christmas market where we don’t step on each other’s toes, where children have fun with many activities and where local actors are put forward.

5. Ribeauvillé, the medieval Christmas market (by Laurène)

If you’re looking for an original market with lots of entertainment for children, the Ribeauvillé Christmas Market is a great idea.

It is a Christmas market with a medieval theme, organized by the village associations who all take part in the game during two weekends in December. Everyone is dressed up, the animations are really medieval with old wooden games, and the atmosphere is really nice!

With children, you should not miss the part of the market called the“Kingdom of the Goblins“, which is entirely dedicated to them. Why not take a ride on Santa’s lap and slide down a wooden slide before playing some medieval games with your family?

6. Family Christmas in Mulhouse (by Clémence)

Not far from us, we’re lucky enough to have the Mulhouse Christmas market. The chance? Yes, because with children, it is a real pleasure!

The Christmas fabric

It is already a pleasure for the eyes for the whole family because the decoration is magical. It changes every year: the lights adapt to theexclusive fabric that decorates the old Renaissance town hall but also the market chalets and store windows. Mulhouse is a creative city, so artists also participate.

Ferris wheel and carousel

Outside, around the Christmas market, there is a period carousel but also and especially… a Ferris wheel! Attention, to the most frigid in the literal sense as in the figurative sense (it measures 38 meters). But the kids love it: it’s a mandatory step every year. And the view on the Christmas market is unique! Two pieces of advice: cover up when it’s cold and do your tour at nightfall.

Workshops at the Christmas Chalet

Being there on a Wednesday, I took the children to the Christmas Chalet. In the warmth of a cottage overlooking the beautifully decorated city hall and fountain, we participated in two workshops. On the occasion of Saint Lucy’s Day, the children created their own angel-shaped candle holders. A second workshop of fabric suspension was led by textile designers. We can easily occupy ourselves for three quarters of an hour. Workshops are held at least every Wednesday and Saturday during the Christmas market and the theme is different each time. At the Christmas cottage, you can also attend storytelling sessions, meet Santa Claus and his elves… In short, it’s THE place to be with children.

Boutique aux étoffes

You can also visit the Boutique aux Etoffes. In addition to great local gift ideas for Christmas, you may find “La Minute Textile”, a workshop to make your own postcard: every year, a new illustrator draws it, often in a humorous way. A piece of Christmas fabric is cut out and incorporated into the card to make a unique pattern. The advantages: it’s super fast and it’s a nice souvenir of a visit to Mulhouse.

7. Strasbourg, a huge market with lots of entertainment! (by Laurène)

The Strasbourg Christmas Market is undoubtedly the best-known Christmas market in Alsace. What is less known is that a large number of activities and events are organized for families on this occasion. Ideal to spend a good time with your children while allowing them to learn things in a playful way!

It’s also a good idea to allow them to take breaks from exploring the market: while adults can easily wander the aisles of the Christmas Market for an entire day, it’s not the same for children, who often tire of the stroll more quickly… Intersperse an activity in the day and everyone will be happy! 🙂

Impossible to list all the activities and animations proposed for the families so much they are numerous, but know that you can for example :

• visit a child-friendly Christmas village and take advantage of the many activities on offer
• take a treasure hunt on the trail of Santa Claus with Once Upon a Time in the City
• learn how to make bredele and mannele at the Marché des Délices d’Alsace
• participate in a variety of workshops at the Strasbourg Off Market (introduction to ceramics, creation of objects with a 3D printer, writing workshops…)
• participate in child-friendly tours of the city
• listen to a Christmas story while taking a boat ride with Batorama
• go skating under the Grand Sapin on Place Kléber

In short, you should not be bored! 😉

8. The Enchanted Forest of Altkirch (by Clémence)

In Altkirch, in the Sundgau region of France, Christmas is the perfect time to discover a forest of tales and legends. The Altkirch Enchanted Forest stands out from the traditional Alsatian Christmas markets traditional Alsatian Christmas markets Christmas experience. There is also a Christmas village, an ice rink and storytelling tours!

But where exactly did the idea of presenting tales and legends come from? In the Sundgau, legends have an important place in local traditions. And yes, at that time, the night and the omnipresent cold gave rise to many legends, sometimes quite dark.

Tales and legends of Sundgau…

We chose to discover the different tales by participating in a storytelling tour. Their staging alone is worth it: it is not lacking in humor. But it’s even better with a passionate storyteller who will make you live the tales and legends presented. The children, yes even they, remained particularly attentive. The theme of the year in my little loulou’s class is… storytelling! He listens carefully to the storyteller, especially during the story of Hansel and Gretel.

The tour lasted an hour and a half. We have “crossed” a dozen tales, from the Sundgau or more widely known, including :

• The damsel and the fountain
• Hansel and Gretel
• Les Fouletots (with a game to win a trip!)
• At the Farm with geese and rabbits
• The Ogre of Bombach
• The 2 Fir trees of the Sainte Aurélie church

We came at the end of the period so the village of the craftsmen was already closed. Note that there are also exhibitions every year at the Sundgauvian Museum and at the CRAC (Regional Center for Contemporary Art).

Take advantage of your winter walk to discover the street-art frescoes: the city of Altkirch is full of them!

The Fireflies Cave

A little further in the village, we stopped at the surprising “Grotte aux Lucioles“, a place created by a private couple. Here, several spaces follow one another: we start with the cave all illuminated with fairies, elves, trolls… Then we arrive in front of a window that protects… a huge model train! The kids love it. And in the meantime, parents can observe every detail and character in the scene. Layout artists are often great pranksters! We then go to the lair of the… Lord of the Rings! The couple collects the characters of size life of an orc in Frodo Saquet while passing obviously by Gandalf or Gimli. A final room is filled with old-fashioned porcelain dolls and automaton sprites. Santa’s elves? The mystery remains…

The visit takes about 30 minutes but it is an unusual little detour before leaving Altkirch.

9. Christmas at the Ecomusée d’Alsace (by Laurène)

I love the Ecomusée d’Alsace in general, and particularly recommend going with your family at Christmas time if you want to immerse yourself in Alsatian Christmas culture and traditions… There are tons of workshops and activities organized!

10. Christmas in the Garden at Parc de Wesserling (by Clémence)

The Parc de Wesserling can be visited all year round, but it offers especially nice animations for children during the Christmas period. Read Clémence’s full article on the Parc de Wesserling to find out more.

11. Christmas treasure hunts (by Clémence)

Every year during the Christmas season, Alsace’s Tourist Offices organize some sixty treasure hunts throughout the region. A great activity to (re)discover Alsace with your family!

Treasure hunt concept

The concept? Throughout the walk you will have chosen, you will have fun answering riddles and thus find a sentence or a treasure word, generally in connection with the village / city where you are. He/she will allow you to come back to the Tourist Office to get a small reward. For example, we received a beautiful wooden or ceramic hanging for our tree, made locally.

The hunts last between 1 hour and 1h30, which is perfect even with the youngest, and allow you to discover Christmas in Alsace and the towns and villages where they take place. I myself was surprised by some villages that I already know.

Recovering booklets

A booklet, which includes all the Christmas treasure hunts, is available in the participating tourist offices. Each year, some hunts are renewed or the participating locations change. And that’s great, because it allows us to discover new destinations and new routes every year!

In short, it is a perfect activity to complete a family Christmas market or any other Christmas animation. At home, the pups love it!