Light, chalets and mulled wine.
For its 23rd anniversary, the Colmar Christmas market returns in an almost identical configuration to that of the 2019 edition. From November 26 to December 29, 2021, visitors will be able to discover six markets and 186 small houses (of Alsatian manufacture) distributed all over the old town.
As a reminder, the holding of the 2020 edition was made impossible by a difficult health context.
In 2021, with 76% of Alsatian exhibitors, the Colmar Christmas market is putting its traditions back in the spotlight. Starting with its gastronomy: foie gras, sauerkraut and gingerbread will be found in the nine chalets of the gourmet market, Place de la Cathédrale. Culinary shows presented by chefs will be held on Thursdays and Fridays, such as the one on Thursday, December 2, specially hosted in Alsatian and French by starred chef Marc Haeberlin and Serge Dubs, elected best sommelier in the world in 1989. Finally, some Colmar winegrowers will open their doors to oenophiles during the “Christmas Cellars”, offering wine lovers the opportunity to discover their know-how. All to the delight of foreign tourists: "
While around 60% of expected visitors are French, Swiss, German, Belgian and Italian customers will make a comeback,
”explains
the city's mayor (LR)
to
Le Figaro
, Eric Straumann.
Read alsoWeekend in Colmar, between culture and gastronomy
A long-awaited return
One month from its start, the event is eagerly awaited: “
We were very successful in 2019 with 1.2 million visitors.
The wait is general and we feel that the recovery is very strong.
There are already a lot of tourists on the streets of the city and reservations are in full swing
», Explains Éric Straumann. To welcome them as it should, the city will be adorned as usual with a myriad of light decorations: from the theater to the cathedral, via the station and the court, twenty-five kilometers of garlands will adorn the agglomeration down to the smallest nooks and crannies. Christmas balls and “shrubs” will complete the ensemble, while ninety projectors will broadcast video mapping images (video frescoes projected onto architectural constructions) without interruption throughout the holiday season. The traditional Christmas trees will have their own market, housed in the Champ de Mars park.
Regarding the health pass, the town hall announced that the markets, with the exception of the gourmet market, will not be subject to entry checks:
"It is impossible to implement
, insists Eric Straumann,
there is many traders and professionals settled in the old town.
We cannot impose this on residents
.
As if, this year, the Christmas market seemed unfazed.
Travelogue
Opening hours
: Monday to Thursday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday to Sunday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on December 24 and 2 to 7 p.m. on December 25.
Getting there
: by TGV, from Paris and Lyon, oui.sncf.fr.
By plane to Bâle-Mulhouse (70km), from Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nantes, Nice and Toulouse.
easyjet.com
Getting around
: free shuttles from the exhibition center to the Christmas markets will be available to tourists on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
For further information
: Colmar Tourist Office, tel.
: 03 89 20 68 92 and tourisme-colmar.com;
noel-colmar.com;
visit.alsace.com