Christmas in Strasbourg: Welcome to the Christkindelsmärik

Hello everyone!

This year, I embraced a grand Christmas tradition: I headed to Alsace to visit the Christmas market in Strasbourg! This is the famous Christkindelsmärik, or "Market of the Christ Child." It has been held since 1570 and was originally dedicated to Saint Nicholas.

Where to find the Christmas market in Strasbourg

When I say "the Christmas market," I should really say THE Christmas markets! I naively thought there was just one big square with a massive market, but I had no idea they were scattered all over the city.

In fact, the main festivities take place around the equally famous Cathedral, as well as at Place Gutenberg, Place Broglie, Place du Château and Place du Corbeau, Place Saint-Thomas, Place d’Austerlitz, Place de la Gare, Place Kléber, and the Meuniers, Benjamin-Zix, and Temple-Neuf squares, that’s quite a list! It’s almost easy to get lost, but thankfully, everything is well-organized: maps are available everywhere (tourist offices, hotels, etc.). Another huge advantage is that you can reach almost everything on foot without having to walk for miles.

For the occasion, the city of Strasbourg puts on its finest attire, and the lights illuminate and warm up the Alsatian night and the cold air.

Special themed events are scheduled as well: when the lights are officially turned on, signaling the start of the market, you’ll see displays like those at Place de l’Etoile or the giant blue tree at Place Gutenberg. And that’s not even mentioning the many groups playing music or singing on street corners.

Where these traditions come from

Every street is lit up with candles, lanterns, and other little lights. The magic of Christmas is everywhere! Plus, you’ll have the chance to dive into history. I learned so much about Christmas: apparently, the Christmas tree dates back to the Middle Ages, when "Paradise plays" were performed on cathedral squares to tell the story of Creation. For these plays, a tree was used, increasingly a fir tree, and decorated with apples, like the one Adam bit into. Legend has it that during a year when apples were scarce, Alsatian glassmakers created glass apples, the ancestors of the baubles that decorate our trees today.

Alsatian culinary specialties

You’ll also see the famous bredele appearing on trees, traditional Alsatian cookies made for the holidays. If you want to go on a bredele binge, head to Place d’Austerlitz, where you’ll find the "village of bredele and winemakers of the Golden Crown." There are several varieties of bredele, the most well-known being:

• anisbredela, made with egg whites and green anise,
• leckerli, made with gingerbread,
• not to be confused with the above: spice cakes (made with sugar rather than honey),
• butter shortbread,
• frangipane bredele,
• almond (Schwowebredele), hazelnut, or walnut cookies, depending on your preference.

Alsatian children eat them for an afternoon snack, but don't worry, adults can enjoy them anytime, often paired with a glass of mulled wine!! If you’re still hungry, you can also try pumpernickel, a dark bread made from rye and flour. And of course, the wide selection of gingerbread on offer won't leave you indifferent…

For those looking to broaden their culinary horizons, there is usually a guest country or region invited to the Strasbourg Christmas market to showcase its specialties. In my case, it was Switzerland. I was able to try Swiss delicacies at the market located on Place Gutenberg. I tested a Basler Brunsli made with rich chocolate! I’ll just say… it was incredible.

Discovering Strasbourg

But the market isn't just an excuse to pack on a few pounds! There are also plenty of city tours on offer. You can take them with a guide, in a group or solo. It’s a great way to discover the city's history and architecture.

I had the pleasure of taking the tour titled "Cathedral and Old Town."

We started at the cathedral and wandered through the city to the famous Petite France, a neighborhood that has kept all its medieval charm.

In short, it’s the perfect destination before the holidays to fully immerse yourself in the magic of Christmas.