Christmas is coming, it's getting cooler, and soon households will be putting up their decorations and thinking about gifts. The holiday season is also a time for wonderful getaways for two, with family or with a few friends. In France, the Grand Est is a region where Christmas traditions are celebrated in a magical way. From one territory to another, the communes are adorned with their most beautiful illuminations, the markets unveil their stalls and the culinary delights give off pleasant aromas. No matter where you go in the Grand Est: in Alsace, Lorraine, Moselle, Champagne, Ardenne or in the Vosges mountains, theChristmas offer is abundant, cities and villages are illuminated and animated in a spirit that always invites to share and to marvel. Here are 10 ideas of things to do in the Grand Est during the sweetest holiday of the calendar
1- Christmas activities and markets in Alsace
Alsace, a territory known for its hilly vineyards and its Alsatian Wine Route, is also famous for the very special atmosphere that reigns at Christmas. Wooden chalets are set up in the most beautiful Alsatian villages in the middle of the vineyards, and compete in beauty with the colorful half-timbered houses. Go to Riquewihr, Eguisheim or Kaysersberg. Colmar has no less than 6 Christmas markets. Illuminated stained glass windows on the Dominican square, arts and crafts at the Koïfhus indoor market, the stroll in the Little Venice is full of surprises.
Of course, one cannot talk about Christmas in Alsace without mentioning Strasbourg and its decorated medieval streets, its 300 wooden chalets displaying Christmas cribs, wax candles, wreaths... and the market of Alsatian delicacies in the Palais Rohan. While spending a few days in the region to soak up its Christmas atmosphere, you should not miss the 56 treasure hunts. Accessible every day of the week and free of charge, they take you off the beaten track in Alsace, to Strasbourg, Sarre-Union or the Bruche valley. Rewards at stake!
In Husseren-Wesserling, the Wesserling park celebrates Beauty and the Beast at the end of the year with a storytelling walk made of meetings with the characters and the contemplation of numerous illuminations. Another captivating moment at theEcomuseum of Alsace. The largest open-air museum in France also plunges into the magic of the end-of-year celebrations, with decorations, demonstrations of period crafts, horse-drawn carriage rides and the tasting of Alsatian bredeles.
2- Discover the3rd most beautiful Christmas market in Europe in Moselle and the know-how in Lorraine
For 5 weeks at the end of the year, Metz is transformed into a real Christmas paradise, with 5 markets set up on the main squares of the city. Near the cathedral of Metz, the Ferris wheel invites you to take the height at nightfall for a breathtaking view on the city of Moselle and its illuminations. After that, you can quietly go to the Place de la Comédie to taste some sweets. In the square Boufflers, the Lanterns Path invites you to discover the 400 lanterns of all sizes and shapes that create a magical universe under the bicentennial trees. Another sweet experience awaits visitors with a boat ride on the Moselle. The opportunity to see the reflection of the city's lights on the water. Note that in 2022, the artists' studios on rue Taison will open their doors to passers-by, who will not fail to discover the finesse of their gestures, and will want to leave with a new decorative object.
In Vannes-le-Châtel, during the weekends of December, the European Center for Research and Training in Glassmaking Arts offers the opportunity to the curious to discover the shaping of Christmas ornaments and to blow the glass themselves in the cane! In the same theme, don't miss the opportunity to take the road to Meisenthal to reach the International Center for Glass Art. Traditional and contemporary creations, the new tour of the site is exciting
3- Stroll to the rhythm of the illuminations, animations and Champagne specialties
Christmas is a sacred moment in the year to break out the champagne. In the Champagne region, the magic of Christmas also settles quietly in its unavoidable cities. Reims, flamboyant with its beautiful heritage including its majestic cathedral, sees the3rd largest Christmas market in France set up on the upper part of the Jean-Louis Schneiter promenades and on the Porte de Mars esplanade. A hundred or so chalets showcase regional specialties and other craftsmen's creations. The perfect place to find the perfect gift! The city also comes alive with the magical world of the "Children's Kingdom", the Ferris wheel on Place Drouet d'Erlon and the "Lighted Trail" which decorates the facades of monuments. Between two strides, you can warm up with hot chestnuts or a glass of champagne.
Another place is to join at all costs in the Marne at Christmas. It is Épernay to attend its event "Habits de Lumières", which will be held from December 9 to 11. On this occasion, the Champagne bars of the Avenue de Champagne offer to taste the best vintages while enjoying the decorations and video-mappings that illuminate the facades of the great Houses. Tastings, cellar visits, parade of old vehicles and gourmet moments on Saturday during "Habits de Saveurs", all the senses are in ebullition
4- Experience Saint Nicholas and marvel at the cribs in Lorraine
The end of the year festivities in Lorraine see the celebration of Saint Nicolas, protector of the Lorraine people and children. This wonderful tradition is to be discovered during a stay in the beautiful city of Nancy. During the Advent and Christmas festivities, the city lights up, the ice rink comes alive on the ice docks and every walk is an opportunity to stop and taste a gingerbread and greet St. Nicholas on the markets. The weekend of December 3 and 4 is a highlight. The markets are filled with crowds who come to taste a glass of mulled wine on Place Vaudémont or to take a ride on the carousel on Place de la Carrière. On Saturday, St. Nicholas is celebrated with a parade of floats, parades, merry-go-rounds, bands, music and street arts. We greet Saint Nicholas, always generous with children. At nightfall, a superb sound and light show is projected on the facades of the Place Stanislas, whose beauty has earned it the title of "Favorite Monument of the French" in 2021.
In Muzeray, a small village in the Meuse region of eastern France, the Musée de la Crèche presents more than 500 cribs from all over the world during its festival held from December 10 to 31. A place where you can experience the magic of Christmas 100%. Nativity scenes from Poland, Spain or Asia, we discover how this tradition is rooted everywhere and has its own specificities. Passionate about santons, we admire thousands of them. Without forgetting the highlight of the visit: the 18 m² space with 43 houses, 4,200 tiles and 107 dressed santons that recreate a decor in the colors of Provence. You can even see the smallest crib in the world, on a thimble! Note that the museum's collections are renewed every year.
5- Dive into the heart of tales and legends in the Ardennes
Christmas traditions are very present in the Ardennes. When visiting the region, a stop in Charleville-Mézières is a must to immerse yourself in the Ardennes legends during shows, workshops and strolls under the big top. The Ferris wheel, the ice rink and the merry-go-round are the landmarks for families who come to enjoy a few moments of fun, before joining the storytellers, choral songs and other puppet shows. The Christmas market allows you to stock up on local Ardennes products: sweets, beers and other organic jams. No doubt that the Christmas table will be well stocked after a stay in the Ardennes.
6- Christmas celebration in the mountains in the Vosges mountains
Christmas goes so well with the mountain environment. Why not take advantage of the end-of-year celebrations to get together in the Vosges mountains? In Munster, the chalets invade the Market Square and are full of local crafts and local products. Plombières-les-Bains offers an intimate setting in the middle of the mountains to celebrate Christmas. And then there are the resorts of the Hautes-Vosges where you can alternate between strolls on the Christmas markets and moments on the powder. With its Saint-Nicolas parades, its exceptional animations, its wooden chalets and its illuminated fir trees, Gérardmer remains a favorite resort for visitors. But you can also enjoy days on the slopes and evenings around the fire at La Bresse, Lac Blanc or Mont Champ du Feu
The project of a platform to accelerate the marketing of tourist, sports, cultural and wine tourism offers in the Grand Est (Explore Grand Est) is financed by the ERDF as part of the European Union's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
