Only a few days left until Christmas! Every year, several cities want to celebrate the magic of the end-of-year holidays, by installing multiple decorations and illuminations that highlight their heritage. Here is the program for ten French cities, spotted on France.fr.
Nancy
Listed as a UNESCO world heritage site since 1983, Place Stanislas in Nancy shines brightly for Christmas. Until January 5, 2025, a light fresco telling the legend of Saint-Nicolas, patron saint of Lorraine, is projected on the facades of the Town Hall. Meet every day at 6 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays also at 7 p.m. During school holidays, two shows will be offered every day at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., specifies the tourist office on its website.
In Angers, tradition dictates that the mayor gives the keys to the city to Santa Claus, who arrives in a carriage in the Mail garden. Many Winter Suns festivities follow. Among the main events planned, we can cite the colorful projections which illuminate Saint-Maurice Cathedral, a jewel of Gothic art.
Read also: Three places to absolutely visit this winter during a weekend in Angers
If video projection no longer has much originality today, Rennes can pride itself on having been one of the first cities to have organized this type of show. This year, the festivities began on November 30, with a light and musical parade. Not to be missed: the famous village of elves who occupy Place Saint-Germain, concerts, carriage rides and the arrival of Santa Claus.
Illuminations are installed in the four corners of the pink city. 10 km of garlands were installed in the city center and 90 illuminated trees in the neighborhoods. The tallest recyclable tree measures 12 meters and adorns the Cardinal Saliège park which adjoins Saint-Étienne Cathedral. Tourists can stop at Place Wilson to admire the Goudouli fountain with its animated arches and fir trees decorated in red and gold.
The town hall is innovating by even offering a free guided tour for dogs on the theme of illuminations, we can read on the Town website. It will take place on December 22, 2024 from 5:30 p.m.
On the Place du Capitole, visitors will be able to do some shopping at the Christmas market and some pirouettes on the ice rink. Santa Claus will come to meet the children until December 21, 2024 in the streets of the city. In the enchanted village, the little ones will finalize their letters and be able to take some photographs on the sleigh.
Every evening, until December 29, 2024, a 50-minute sound and light show is projected on the facade of the Gothic cathedral of Amiens, the largest in France. During your visit, don’t miss the Christmas market, which is full of local gastronomic specialties and craft products. It measures two kilometers!
Read also: Eight of the most beautiful French Christmas markets to enjoy the magic of the end-of-year holidays
To mark the end of year celebrations, video frescoes are projected on the main monuments of the city of Biarritz, such as the Rocher de la Vierge, the Casino and the Town Hall until January 5, 2025.
On its website, the Biarritz Tourist Office recalls that it is offering a guided night tour on December 30, 2024. The walking tour of approximately 2 km allows you to discover the history of the city around themes such as hunting. whaling, crowned heads or the birth of surfing on the Biarritz coast.
Menthon-Saint-Bernard
Just opposite Lake Annecy, the Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard hosts multiple activities linked to the Christmas holidays every year. Creating tree baubles, letters to Santa Claus, making tealight holders, ice rink, treasure hunt, reading stories… Children will not have time to be bored until January 4, 2025.
Every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, reindeer and Santa Claus wander through the castle gardens from 5 p.m. An ice rink was also installed. Little ones will finally be able to take part in a treasure hunt with Eden, Santa’s gardening elf who has lost his precious magic seeds.
