1 Obviously Christmas in Alsace
Colmar is probably the most beautiful Christmas market in Alsace / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com : pillerss via depositphotos
Alsace is truly the land of Christmas in France. The tradition of the Christmas tree was first born here, before spreading throughout France in the 19th century. In fact, it's an enchanting sight to discover the large fir tree in Strasbourg's Place Kleber. Alsace is also home to some of the world's most beautiful Christmas markets. Night falls early in winter, so you can take full advantage of the 1001 colors of the illuminations in the towns (Strasbourg, Colmar...) but also in the small villages. You can also combine discovery with gastronomy, since Alsace is a renowned region for gourmets, with its Christmas cakes (bredeles, pain d'épices...) and traditional dishes such as sauerkraut. Beware, most Christmas markets close with Christmas (e.g. Strasbourg).
So many gourmet delights in Alsace over the festive season! Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: tashka2000 via depositphotos
Where to go in Alsace for the holidays?
Strasbourg with the largest Christmas market. Colmar with the most beautiful urban Christmas market. There's also Riquewihr, Kaisersberg, Eguisheim, Ribauvillé... That said, every village in Alsace is decked out in lights for the holidays so don't hesitate to hit the road. You can get to Strasbourg by train and Colmar the same way. If you go by car, don't forget the villages and find a drop-off point in the middle of Alsace. You can also push on into the Vosges and check out Lac de Gérardmer in Lorraine. Discover here the Christmas markets of Alsace selected by monsieur de France.
The village of Eguisheim at Christmas / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com : princeztl via depositphotos
2 Paris and Ile de France light up for the festive season
The Galeries Lafayette tree changes every year. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: davidzfr via depositphotos
Paris lights up for the holidays. You can daydream in front of the illuminations on the Champs-Elysées before joining hundreds of thousands of people to count down to the New Year in front of the Arc de Triomphe (watch out for pick pockets when you're partying). The Eiffel Tower also lights up and even kisses in the New Year. You can also discover decorated boutiques, notably on the Boulevard Haussman side near the Paris Opera. Around Paris, Disneyland presents its finest decorations and its Christmas parade. Versailles plays the game in its own way, but the most beautiful heritage spot to see over the holidays is the Château de Vaux le Vicomte for a dazzling visit of poetry and light. It's the most beautiful place in France, if you make the connection between decoration and heritage.
In front of the Arc de triomphe and a huge crowd on the champs-elysées is where the New Year's countdown takes place in Paris / Photo by Dyana Wing So on Unsplash
Where to go in Paris for the holidays?
In Paris itself: the Champs-Elysées, the Champ de Mars (for the Eiffel Tower fireworks), Boulevard Haussman (the Galeries Lafayette with the superb indoor Christmas tree)....If you choose Disneyland Paris, there are hotels and restaurants in the resort but you can also find accommodation around it (aibnb, gites ruraux...) and take the opportunity to visit the Château de Vaux le Vicomte (1H15 from Paris, 45 mn from Disneyland). Please note that Versailles is closed on December 25 and January 1
Disneyland Paris adorns itself in its festive clothes for Christmas / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com : bukki88 via depositphotos
3 Mountain parties
Christmas under the snow in the mountains is something to dream about, no ? Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: ventdusud via depositphotos
If you like snow at Christmas, you'll find it in Savoie, so in the Alps. Chamonix, of course, but also the big chic resorts like Courchevel or Megève. Take the opportunity to go to Annecy, which doesn't always get snow at Christmas (but it often does) but whose town is gorgeous and whose lakeside Christmas market is magnificent. You can also choose the Pyrenees. The Piau Engaly resort has the most snow. You can also try going to the Pic du midi observatory, still magnificent even in winter with an incredible view of the mountain from the terrace.The cheapest ski resorts are in the Vosges, in the East, but there's not often snow at Christmas. That said, this is the destination to choose if you like accessible mountains, large forests for hiking and good evenings with friends over good food.
Where to go in the mountains for the holidays?
Chamonix, Crest Voland, Courchevel, Megève for the Alps. In the Pyrenees, there's La Mongie and Piau Engaly. In the Vosges, the classics are Gérardmer and La Bresse;
There's nothing like a family ski vacation in France during the holidays. Photos selected by monsieurdefrance.com: Despositphotos
4 A Christmas in Provence
Provence is home to the most beautiful Christmas cribs in France / Crib photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: Image by Herbert Aust de Pixabay
Provence is a land of Christmas. It's home to some of France's great Christmas carols, as well as such delightful customs as the thirteen desserts. It's also, of course, the land of santons and magnificent nativity scenes. Come to Provence during the holidays for all this, and for the mild climate, which at least remains sunny in the depths of winter!
Provence is the land of Santons / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: Image by Onkel Ramirez de Pixabay
Where to go in Provence for the holidays?
Aix en Provence is well worth a visit, with its illuminations and Christmas market, but there's also Avignon or, heading up towards the Drôme Provençale there's Grignan. Rural gites are very affordable at this time of year in the golden triangle of the Luberon.
Gordes is the most beautiful village in the world according to an American magazine. Even in winter the Luberon is magnificent. Photo chosen by monsieur de France : Image by Siala de Pixabay
5 Royal festivities in the Loire castles
Chambord lights up for the holidays Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com : Domaine-national-de-Chambord-Noël-à-Chambord-©Leonard-de-Serres-1
And why not a royal Christmas? During the festive season, the Loire Valley castles take on a festive air, and it's a time when there are (slightly) fewer people than in summer. Take advantage of the festive season to treat yourself to a little country gite in the middle of the Loire castles and discover Chambord in party mode. See also: Chenonceau and Cheverny, among others.
Chambord gets in the mood for the holidays Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: Domaine-national-de-Chambord-Noël-à-Chambord-©Leonard-de-Serres-1
Where to go in the Loire castles for the holidays?
Chambord is magical at Noël (note that châteaux are closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day). Take an airbnb in Amboise, for example, or towards Tours. Otherwise, in the countryside is great. I landed in Indre, the castles are 45 Mn away but it's not expensive at all and you can group the visits by taking a little lunch break in one of the pretty Loire Valley towns. All you need to know about the châteaux of the Loire Valley is here.
A true royal Christmas is a golden Christmas, isn't it? Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com Image by Alexandru Manole de Pixabay
6 Christmas by the sea
Saint Malo is superb in winter too / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com : KovalenkovPetr via depositphotos
France has thousands of kilometers of coastline, so you might as well take advantage of it, especially as in winter you can choose between the good gales and tumultuous waves in Normandy, Brittany, on the Basque coast, or the blue, agitated sea under the sun in Nice for example. You can also choose the sun by going to France d'Outre-Mer where it's summer during the holidays: Réunion, Guadeloupe, Martinique will delight you.
Where to go to the seaside for the holidays?
Nice in winter is a superb stopover in France / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com valio84sl via depositphotos
Le Mont Saint Michel can be a nice stopover. it takes on its full meaning under the wind in winter, it allows you to measure the feat it was to build this city on the rock. You can sleep on the Mont or find a gite rural and also do Granville or push towards Saint Malo which is superb in hiver when the sea is rough and it hits the Sillon, the big beach. Biarritz, in the Basque Country eis also tumultuous and you'll take the opportunity to discover the villas after you've seen the sea hit the rocks. You can also opt for a chic stay in a villa or hotel on the côte Normande near Deauville, Trouville or Cabourg. On the Côte d'Azur, the holiday season is often mild. The villages of the Niçois hinterland are superbly decorated and Nice is without doubt the best idea for a holiday on the Côte d'Azur.
7 parties in the countryside
Do you fancy a glass of wine and some savoury delights in front of the fireplace? Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: alexraths via depositphotos
Christmas is a time when even the smallest commune is keen to decorate its streets. You'll discover decorated villages all over the country. Some do their utmost to dazzle.How about a short week in a country cottage with a beautiful fireplace and good food to share? The choice is yours!
Where to go for a party in the countryside?
The village of Sainte Suzanne in Mayenne. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: [email protected] via depositphotos
I have a real crush on the Mayenne region in the west with some very pretty, well-lit villages. Laval, the prefecture, is superbly decorated for the festive season! The Lot et Garonne is superb too, with a slightly milder climate. You can also choose to go and takethe fresh air in Auvergne, in the Puy de Dôme for example.
8 gastronomic christmas in France
And why not Christmas in Champagne? Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com foto-pixel.web.de
If there's one time of year when you can let loose in France when it comes to gastronomy, it's the holidays. You can choose to go to a region renowned for its specialties andand get cooking in a rented apartment or gite rural. For example, in Périgord (home of foie gras and truffles). In Brittany or Normandy, if you like fruits de mer. Paris remains a major stopover, but you can also take a trip to the vineyards of Bordeaux or Champagne. Lorraine is also a good region if you like gourmet food. In any case, this is the time of year when you should also go to the restaurant.
Where to go for gourmet christmas
Foie gras is ready for the holidays. This is the time of year when it's best Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com Reacticom via depositphotos
I recommend the Périgord. It's beautiful all year round and you'll find good produce in this terroir that's not a tourist magnet. Go for the foie-gras and truffles! Bordeaux is a magnificent city and you'll be able to find beautiful estates around it if you like wine. Don't overlook Reims, Epernay and Champagne. The cellars are magnificent, and you can also discovermany local winemakers during your stay.
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