This year again, the security package is being put on the Christmas market in Strasbourg. It must be said that the stakes are major. Internationally renowned, visited by 3.3 million visitors in 2023, the city's hypercenter centralizes all the attention of state and municipal authorities. As the festivities begin this Wednesday, the 2024 security system presented yesterday by the prefect of Bas-Rhin Jacques Witkowski is generally similar to that of 2023.
Pedestrian patrols throughout the Big Island, made up of numerous internal security forces, supported by the mobile forces and the soldiers of Operation Sentinel, will keep an eye on things. Likewise, the deployment of national police drones, tested last year, is once again relevant. Not to monitor the population, but to “guarantee good coordination between the security forces”, explain the authorities.
Random checks, searches…
As in the past, random checks of pedestrians and cyclists will be carried out at access points as well as within the market perimeter. Without forgetting the systematic searches of bulky objects or containers for all people entering the Grande-Île. In total, every day, 1,000 people will be mobilized to ensure the security of the Christmas market, Jean Hayet, departmental director of public security for Bas-Rhin, said on Tuesday.
The entry points into the Big Island are more or less preserved, although with the possibility for the authorities to temporarily close certain pedestrian bridges “in the event of critical crowds observed”. Just like the Homme de Fer tram station which may also be closed temporarily to slow down the influx of new visitors. On-street parking prohibited, access to the city center by car very limited and subject to authorization… The car system is almost identical to that of 2023 with the small additional feature this year of closing the Place des Halles exit ramp for motorists arriving from the M35 (ex A36).
Flow management under surveillance
But the big novelty lies above all in the management of flows, particularly that of visitors, redesigned for some of the most tense areas. With in particular the establishment, not trivial it must be admitted, of… one-way streets for pedestrians. We might as well say it straight away, this measure has not necessarily gone down well with certain local residents, forced, once again, to make detours even on foot to simply return home… One direction of pedestrian traffic, applicable only on Saturdays and Sundays, or in case of excessive flow, and during the opening hours of the Christmas market.
This concerns the rue du Maroquin (towards the rue de la Grande boucherie), the rue des Orfèvres (from the rue des Halberdes towards the place du Temple Neuf) and the rue de l'Outre (towards the place des Etudiants). Exceptionally, a one-way pedestrian route may be set up on rue Mercière, from the cathedral towards rue du Vieux Marché-aux-Poissons. It is specified that city agents and security forces will be present to redirect recalcitrants.
Our Christmas market file
Still concerning the very significant peaks of affluence on weekends, the conviviality zone, including the place where you can eat quietly on Place Kléber, will be removed. As for the cathedral, a real tourist attraction in itself, located in the heart of the market and above all at the crossroads of several flows of visitors, will see its access modified. Entry and exit will only be from the south side, from the Place du Château, thus freeing the square from the lines of visitors to the building for the benefit of those from the chalets installed there.
