The Christmas markets in Luxembourg and the Greater Region are gradually getting underway. Throughout the end of November, several cities in the Grand Duchy, but also in France, Belgium and Germany, launch their festivities around the end of year celebrations.
But where to go to enjoy the Christmas markets in Luxembourg and neighboring countries? To find you there, Comma offers you a series of interactive maps, which will enhance a non-exhaustive selection.
In Luxembourg
In Luxembourg City
We start in the Grand Duchy with the Winterlights, in the capital, whose kick-off is expected this Friday, November 22. In a few figures, Winterlights 2024 will include around 1.3 million light points, 1,328 decorations, made up of 3,707 patterns and more than 78 km of light garlands. More than 100 chalets will be scattered between Place d’Armes, Place de la Constitution, Kinnekswiss, Place de Paris and Place Guillaume-II.
Concerts, film screenings, theatrical performances and even exhibitions will be part of the activities offered. The main entrance to Notre-Dame Cathedral will also be illuminated on the occasion of this edition, marked by the 400th anniversary of the Octave, a religious festival celebrated since 1624 to honor the Virgin Mary. The festivities will end on January 1, 2025.
More information on the section dedicated to Winterlights 2024 on the City of Luxembourg website.
To Esch-sur-Alzette
This year, the Esch-sur-Alzette Christmas market will have a “slightly reduced” duration according to the description communicated on the municipality’s website. The 2024 edition will run from Friday November 29 to Sunday December 22.
“For this edition, 24 stands will offer delicious pastries, hot drinks and many last-minute gift ideas. A varied program of shows and activities will entertain visitors on the main stage,” explains the City of Esch-sur-Alzette. New features are to be expected: “an open-air cinema will be installed on rue Helen-Buchholtz, just 500 meters from the stands,” specifies the municipality. Among the highlights, we find “the Kleeschen (Saint Nicholas) parade on December 1, which will cross the pedestrian zone from Place de la Résistance to the Christmas market”.
More information on the City of Esch-sur-Alzette website.
To Differdange
The oldest Christmas market in Luxembourg returns to Differdange for a 47th edition, which will take place from Friday November 29 to Sunday December 22.
The “Déifferdenger Chrëschtmaart” will be open from Wednesday to Sunday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Among the activities, we find in particular the Saint Nicholas parade on November 30, the “Chrëschtlaf” race on December 8 or the “Tipi Revival” weekend from Friday December 13 to Sunday December 15, with its DJ sets and its series of family activities.
More information on the City of Differdange website.
In Dudelange
The Dudelange Christmas market will kick off on Saturday, November 23, at Place Am Duerf. This new edition will last until Sunday December 15.
A Saint Nicholas Day parade is scheduled for Sunday, December 1st. On that day, the city’s businesses will be open.
Two distinct markets will be held: the first, more “traditional”, will take place on the Place d’Armes from Friday December 6 to Sunday December 15, with more than 60 stands dedicated to crafts and gastronomy. The other, the “medieval market”, will take place on Place Frantz-Kinnen on the same dates. This offers a Middle Ages atmosphere with its campfire and carousel.
More information on the City of Dudelange website.
At Ettelbruck
An entire weekend will be dedicated to Christmas in Ettelbruck, on Friday 13, Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 December. Meet from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
On the Church and Resistance squares, “musical shows will immerse you in the Christmas spirit,” according to the Commune of Ettelbruck website. Then in the Grand-Rue and on Place Guillaume, “various street artists will present their talents. You will also find the creations of amateur craftsmen, ideal for finding a unique Christmas gift,” adds the municipality.
More information on the website of the Municipality of Ettelbruck.
In Echternach
This year, the Echternach Christmas festivities will take place from Friday December 13 to Sunday December 15 in the A Kack car park, as in previous years.
The activities will be concentrated around the basilica. Visitors will be able to explore local artisanal treats and drinks.
At Steinfort
The 23rd edition of the Steinfort Christmas market will take place over two weekends: from December 6 to 8, then from December 13 to 15.
In total, around thirty chalets will host the event, in the park between the town hall and the Collart villa. The activities will be aimed at the whole family, between games for children and concerts in the park. A quiz allowing you to win several prizes will be organized.
More information on the Municipality of Steinfort website.
In France
In Metz
For this 2024 edition of the Metz Christmas market, 124 chalets will be scattered across the Saint-Louis, de la République, Saint-Jacques, d’Armes and de la Comédie squares. The kick-off is scheduled for Friday November 22 (November 29 at Place d’Armes), while the closing of the festivities will take place on Monday December 30.
Visitors will be able to walk the Sentier des Lanternes at Square Boufflers, but also gain height in the Ferris wheel installed on Place d’Armes as well as in the City Skyliner panoramic tower, installed on Place de la République. A “floating sled” will also be available in the form of an electric boat on the Moselle.
More information on the City of Metz website.
In Thionville
This year, the Thionville Christmas market will take place from Saturday November 23 to Sunday January 5.
For this edition, the municipality has promised a larger Christmas tree, a mapping projected on the square in front of the town hall, an enlarged ice rink… The Saint Nicholas parade on December 1, as well as visits and strolls, will contribute to the program of festivities.
More information on the City of Thionville website.
To Sierck-les-Bains
The Sierck-les-Bains Christmas market will be held this year from Saturday November 30 to Sunday December 22.
The municipality promises “a basket overflowing with new products”, while the attractions of the Christmas market will indeed be back, such as the 2,300 teddy bears which will decorate the city for this occasion.
More information on the City of Sierck-les-Bains website.
In Sarrebourg
The Sarrebourg Christmas market has become famous in Moselle thanks to its “Magic Christmas Forest”, with its path made up of giant decorative balls.
This year, meet at Place des Cordeliers from Friday November 29 to Sunday December 29.
More information on the City of Sarrebourg website.
In Nancy
In Nancy, don’t say “Christmas market”, but “Saint-Nicolas celebrations”. This year, the festivities will extend from Friday November 22 to Sunday January 5.
On the program, there will of course be the big Saint Nicholas Day parade, Saturday December 7, but other highlights are to be discovered: street shows Sunday December 8, a parade with Saint Nicholas on the water Saturday December 14 December… A sound and light display will be projected on Place Stanislas throughout the festivities.
More information on the Saint-Nicolas website in Nancy.
In Belgium
In Liege
In Liège, the Christmas Village will be set up on Place Saint-Lambert from Friday November 29 to Monday December 30. The oldest Christmas market in Belgium, 36 years old, will have around 150 chalets on this occasion.
At the same time, the large Christmas ice rink, Place de la Cathédrale, will also be open to the public from November 29, but will remain in place until Sunday January 5.
Every year, the Liège Christmas market attracts around 1.5 million visitors.
More information on the Liège Christmas Village website.
To Namur
Two squares will be the nerve center of the Christmas festivities in Namur. On the Place d’Armes, the Christmas market will last from Friday November 29 to Tuesday December 31. It will be decorated with chalets, decorations, as well as stands offering gift ideas and snacks. Several activities will be provided.
On the other hand, on the Place de l’Ange, the Christmas activities will last from Friday November 29 to Sunday January 5. Chalets will be present there until December 31, but the ice rink will play overtime until January 5. A “galloping carousel” will also take pride of place on the square.
More information on the City of Namur website.
To Durbuy
Nicknamed “the smallest town in the world”, Durbuy hosts a unique Christmas market which will take place this year from Friday November 22 to Sunday January 5.
The indoor ice rink will return this year to Roi-Baudouin Park. The other heart of the activities will be located on the Place aux Foires side.
More information on the Visit Wallonia website.
In Germany
À Sarrebruck
Unlike the Christmas markets mentioned above, the one in Saarbrücken has already been open since Monday, November 18. It is possible to benefit from it until Monday December 23.
Among the places to discover are St. Johanner Markt, Bahnhofstraße, the mulled wine pyramid on Tbilisser Platz, but also the ice rink and curling rink on Galeria Kaufhof.
More information on the site voir-la-sarre.fr.
In Trier
This year, the Trier Christmas market will host 90 chalets at the main market (Hauptmarkt) and the Cathedral Square (Domfreihof), from Friday November 22 to Sunday December 22.
In terms of entertainment, “a changing program for the whole family is offered on the atmospheric platform in front of the west facade of Saint-Pierre Cathedral”. At the same time, around thirty sellers will be present at Porta Nigra.
More information on the website sorter-info.de.
In Koblenz
The atmosphere is unique at the Koblenz Christmas market, which takes place this year from Friday November 22 to Sunday January 5.
According to the Rhineland-Palatinate state tourist office, “the colorfully illuminated skylights of the Baroque town hall on Jesuitenplatz are a special sight: together they form the city’s largest Advent calendar.” . Then, “a detour via the Deutsches Eck and from there a cable car ride to the cultural center of the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress is a must. This is where the Christmas sound and light installation ”Christmas Garden”, with more than 30 new elements this year, attracts visitors as one of the highlights of the event in Koblenz during the Christmas period. , adds the tourist office.
The Christmas Garden will be open from Thursday November 21 to Wednesday January 8.
More information on the website rlp-tourismus.com.
To Bernkastel-Kues
Bernkastel-Kues is not the largest town in the Greater Region, but its Christmas market is worth the detour. “Attractions such as torch swimming and fireworks, extraordinary things like the largest Advent calendar in the region, activities like the St. Nicholas hike and gourmet pleasures like the incomparable mulled wine Riesling: this is what you will find at the Bernkastel-Kues Christmas market,” writes the same website of the Rhineland-Palatinate tourist office. See you for this edition from Friday November 22 to Sunday December 22.
Among the highlights, we find the “torchlight swim in the icy waters of the Moselle”, rewarded with chocolate gifts. Boat trips on the Moselle are also offered. As for the “Advent calendar”, a small door in the windows of the half-timbered house of the Adler pharmacy opens every evening.
More information on the rlp-tourismus.com website.
