The Paris Christmas Markets

Every December, several Christmas markets spring up in Paris. Rows of wooden chalets decorated with pine and fake snow, the markets look like miniature Alpine villages.

Christmas markets are true one-stop-shopping venues when it comes to all things Christmas. You can buy your Christmas tree and all the trimmings, including tree stand, lights, garlands, tinsel and ornaments. You can buy little Santas and cinnamon-scented candles. You can shop for your Christmas dinner—you can find oysters, spice cakes, sausages from the provinces, foies gras, hams and wine. You can buy gifts for all your friends and family—scarves, candles, lamps, bags, kitchen supplies, antiques, jewelry, dolls and trinkets. The market has everything.

You can even eat lunch or dinner there. In the center of the market at La Défense is a sit-down oyster bar. Several stands have crêpes, churros, macaroons, chocolate and some even have shawarma and Chinese take-out. Most important of all is the hot chocolate and hot wine, cooked with orange slices and spices.

People come from all over to sell their goods at the Christmas market. There are several sellers who come from the different regions of France. I spoke with one man who sells pottery called grès rustique, which comes from Brittany. (In this week’s Grub Hub, we can find out which restaurant in Paris uses pieces of grès rustique to serve their cidre). Some of the more beautiful original pieces of artwork that you can buy come from Limans, in the Alps. The Atelier Duoverre sells its hand-blown glass pieces, including gorgeous Christmas tree ornaments at the market in La Défense.

At the market in La Défense, there is also a Russian woman selling happily and brightly decorated eggs and Russian nesting dolls, called matryoshkas. You can buy a little set of these adorable wooden dolls for as little as 8 euros.

Where are the Paris Christmas Markets?

You can find one of the Paris Christmas markets in front of the Gare St. Lazare, in La Défense in front of the Grande Arche, in front of the Tour Montparnasse and at the Place St. Germain. The markets are open throughout the month of December.

Even if you don’t want to buy anything, spending a half-hour or an hour wandering around a Parisian Christmas market is a nice way to get yourself into the Christmas mood. You could do worse than spend an afternoon on a gray, rainy December day people watching while sipping vin chaud.

What else is there to do in Paris for Christmas?

Paris goes out of its way to bring its citizens holiday cheer. This year, more than 100 streets in the city are decked out in Christmas lights, with the Champs Elysées being the most popular place to see them. In addition to the Christmas markets and lights, the City of Paris sets up free carrousels for the kids near the markets (in fact, these free carrousels are set up all over the city and are free until January 6).

The City also sets up ice skating rinks each year. Skating is free and the rinks are opened, for the most part, all winter. The cost to rent skates is 5 euros a pair. Ice skating rinks are located in front of the Hôtel de Ville (this one is huge and there is even an area for snow sledding) and the Tour Montparnasse. These will be open until March 9 of next year. Starting on December 22, an ice skating rink will open near Bibliothèque in the 13^th arrondissement; this one will only be open until mid-January.

And as usual, to take a virtual tour of the Christmas market in La Défense, click on the photo below for a short video.