The weather in Strasbourg, France, has been cloudy and rainy since November, but the annual Christmas market (Le Marché de Noël de Strasbourg 2022) began on November 25, 2022, and the old town of Strasbourg has returned to a festive atmosphere.
The Strasbourg Christmas Market dates back to 1750, making it the oldest Christmas market in France and one of the most popular in Europe. 314 chalets will be exhibited in 2022, and 2.5 million visitors are expected.
Every year, on the Friday night when the Christmas market begins, a Christmas illumination lighting ceremony is held at Place Kléber with guests invited.
The illumination is turned on after a grand countdown by all the participants, but in 2022, perhaps because I was on the backstage side, I could hardly hear the voices of the guests and the host 😬 and the illumination started suddenly.
People around me were hurriedly clicking their shutters of their cameras (cell phones) because of the unexpected opening 🤣
In a way, it was a very homemade and quiet lighting ceremony, which was nice. Still, Place Kléber was crowded with many people…. 😅
The difference from previous years was not only the opening ceremony, but also the memorial service at Place Gutenberg for Pierre Bardet, the longtime director of Strasbourg's Christmas Market Illuminations. But I don't know much about him 😅
Another of the biggest differences from previous Christmas markets is the response to rising energy prices. Strasbourg's lighting decorations have been cut by about 20% and the hours of the Christmas Market and Illuminations have been shortened. The goal set by the city hall is to reduce electricity consumption by 10% during the event.
Residents who are familiar with the Strasbourg Christmas market will notice a difference in the lighting decorations, but for those who are not familiar with it, "Is this really a reduction in lighting decorations? 🤔" and they are surprisingly vibrant 😆
🎄 Le Grand Sapin de Strasbourg 🎄
The theme for 2022 is "celui du flocon" (snowflakes)
The Christmas tree 2022 in Place Kléber is a huge Christmas tree, about 27 meters high, weighing about 6 tons, and about 50 years old.
The project for the Christmas tree usually starts in May and the tree is delivered to Place Kléber one month before the Christmas market starts. The tree is then transplanted, shaped, and decorated with lights.
The Christmas tree is the symbol of the Christmas Market, but sometimes it is not always a straightforward process: in 2013, it was tilted, and in 2017, the Christmas tree that was originally brought to Place Kléber was found to be faulty and was replaced by a spare Christmas tree.
The 2022 Christmas tree was cut down in the National Forest Park (Forêt domaniale de Champ), located between Saint-Dié and Gérardmer in the Vosges department, and the Christmas market was held without any major problems.
The Christmas tree at Place Kléber 🎄 flashes every hour from at least 5:00 p.m. for about 5 minutes with music. The flashing starts without warning 😁 So if you happen to be in Place Kléber at the right time, be sure to pay attention and take a look at the Christmas tree.
Strasbourg Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Strasbourg)
The rose window by German architect Erwin von Steinbach is lit up after 18:00.
The whole Strasbourg Cathedral is lit up is spectacular, but the Strasbourg Cathedral after the rose window is lit up is especially worth seeing 😉
There are so many ornaments for the Christmas tree that I never get tired of looking at them. But there are so many, it's hard to choose 😅
Oeuf de cigogn
I recommend Oeuf de Cigogne as a souvenir. It is a chocolate with a stork's egg, the symbol of Strasbourg. It's a great idea 😂
Vin chaud in Christmas Market, Strasbourg
La Tribu des Gourmets
The specialty of this store is vin chaud made with Alsatian wine. Alsatian wine is white wine. About 90% of the wine produced in Alsace is white wine.
Vin chaud is generally made with red wine, but at this restaurant, you can enjoy Vin Chaud Blanc. It might not be a bad idea to try a white wine, Vin Chaud Blanc, at least once in Strasbourg 🙄
Chez Mathilde (place Broglie, à côté de l'Opéra)
They sell vin chaud, but the main thing is that they sell spices for making vin chaud. After having a glass of vin chaud 🍷, you may be able to make your own vin chaud at home by choosing spices 🙄
BRETZEL & Choucroute
Local food unique to Alsace is lined up in the chalet. You may be able to endure the cold Christmas market if you eat local food while drinking a glass of vin chaud 😂
Christkindelsmärik de Place Broglie
Place Broglie is the place where the Christmas market has been held since 1871, when Strasbourg became a German territory.
Since the number of stalls in the market has been reduced since 2021, the market does not have the crowded tourist atmosphere of previous years, but this is a good thing.
Hermès
In some ways, the Hermès decorations at the new Hermès store may be the most talked about item at Strasbourg Christmas Market 2022. The Hermès Orange-colored advent calendars also show a sense of style.
Galeries Lafayette
It seems like every year there was one Christmas tree in Lafayette, but in 2022 there will be 3 trees and it will be more gorgeous.
I wonder if LACOSTE is sponsoring for the second time since 2020 🤔 This time LACOSTE mark is easy to take pictures 😁
Baccarat chandelier: Rue des Hallebardes
Gorgeous Baccarat chandelier, not on display in 2021 for some reason, but it was back in 2022.
But it is hard to photograph this beautiful Baccarat chandelier well 😅
Top Patisseries in Strasbourg 🎅🏻🤶🏻🎄
Christian
Address: 12, rue de l'Outre, 67000 STRASBOURG
The decorations are elaborate every year, but Christian in 2022 looks gorgeous.
NAEGEL
Address: 9, rue des Orfèvres 67000 STRASBOURG
Negel is a popular patisserie, but the decorations for 2022 seem to be the same as last year's. Maybe it means "sustainable" 🤔
Strasbourg's most popular bakery (boulangerie) 🎅🏻🤶🏻🎄
L'atelier 116
Address: 116 Grand'Rue, 67000 Strasbourg
This boulangerie was established in 2016 and is always crowded and very popular. Until lunch time, there is a wide selection of sandwiches, and in the afternoon there are many cakes.
Au Pain de mon Grand-Père
Address: 58, rue de la Krutenau
This boulangerie is said to be the best in Strasbourg. Personally, I think their brioche is very good 😋 My friend says that the main store is better than the one in front of the Cathedral.
Les mains dans la farine
Address: 16 rue du 22 Novembre 67000 Strasbourg
Since 2019, les mains dans la farine café is attached to the restaurant and there are also two branches. I thought the taste of the baguettes had changed with the new store, but I don't know 🙄
When does the Christmas Market start 🤔 For how long 🤔
Strasbourg Christmas Market 2022
Dates: Friday, November 25 - Saturday, December 24
Every day: 11:00am - 20:00pm
Friday, November 25: 14:00am - 20:00pm, Saturday, December 24: 11:00am - 18:00pm
Illumination will be turned off at 23:00pm every night.
The fir tree and the cathedral will be illuminated until 25:00pm.
✍🏻 France 🇫🇷 Strasbourg Christmas Market "Le Marché de Noël de Strasbourg 2022
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