Christmas Markets in France (marché de noel) provide a good excuse for a quick winter weekend away - great atmosphere and good shopping opporunities with a gallic twist -plus stocking up on wine for the Christmas Season. The following is not an exhaustive list, as most towns and cities will be holding some kind of Christmas fair at some point between late November and the end of December. These are some of the best - others will be posted on our Web Calendar
Agen (47 Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine) 3-5 Nov 2006 (yes - November!) - see www.ot-agen.org/fr
Aix-en-Provence (13 Bouches-du-Rhone, Provence) 24 Nov - 26 Dec 2006 - see www.aixenprovencetourism.com
Amiens (80 Somme, Picardie) 25 Nov - 31 Dec 2006 - see www.amiens.fr
Boulogne-sur-Mer (62 Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais) 9-10 Dec 2006 - see www.tourisme-boulognesurmer.com
Chartres (28 Eure et Loir, Centre) 2-24 Dec 06 - see www.chartres-tourisme.com/
Place des Epars, boulevard Chasles.
Colmar (68 Haut-Rhin, Alsace-Lorraine) 25 Nov-31 Dec 2006 - see www.ot-colmar.fr/
Dijon (21 Cote d'Or, Burgundy) 1-23 Dec 2006 - see www.dijon-tourism.com
Lille (59 Nord, Nord-Pas-de-Calais) 22 Nov - 27 Dec 2006 - see www.lilletourisme.com/
Marciac (32 Gers, Midi-Pyrenees) - 17 Dec 2006 - see www.marciactourisme.com
Montbeliard (25 Doubs, Franche-Comte) 25 Nov - 24 Dec 2006 - Christmas Markets and Lights - see http://lumieresdenoel.fr
Mulhouse (68 Haut-Rhin, Alsace-Lorraine) 22 Nov - 30 Dec 2006 - Place de la Réunion, Square Steinbach - see www.ot.ville-mulhouse.fr/evt/marchenoel.php
Nancy (54 Meurthe-et-Moselle, Alsace-Lorraine) 24 Nov - 24 Dec 2006 Place Maginot - Rue Notre Dame - Passage Saint Thiébaut - see www.ot-nancy.fr
Nantes (44 Loire-Atlantique, Pays de Loire) - 24 Nov - 24 Dec 06 - see www.nantes-tourisme.com
Niort (79 Deux-Sevres, Poitou-Charentes) 2-24 Dec 2006 - see www.niortourisme.com/
Noisy-le-Grand (93 Seine St Denis, Ile de France) 6-10 December 2006 - Place Galliéni - see http://english.pidf.com/
Reims (51 Marne, Champagne-Ardennes) 24 Nov - 24 Dec 2006 - see www.reims-tourisme.com/
Strasbourg (67 Bas-Rhin, Alsace-Lorraine) 25 Nov - 31 Dec 2006 - see www.noel-strasbourg.com/pages_prov/GB.html The original "Christkindelsmärik" dates back to 1570.
