THE Magazine

This year, Strasbourg: Capital of Christmas is celebrating human creativity and local craftsmanship through a visual design created and produced without the use of artificial intelligence. This creation emphasizes artisanal techniques, natural materials, and handcrafted work.

A unique opportunity to meet the people who create, design, and craft original pieces.

Strasbourg is not known as the Christmas Capital for nothing: as the festive season approaches, the whole city embraces the tradition of sharing.

For its third edition, the Sapin Solidaire invites you to bring a moment of joy to 300 vulnerable children.

With their generous butter and vanilla fragrance, Butterbredle are the gourmet soul of Alsatian Advent. These golden shortbreads, once prepared with the family, are now enjoyed between two glasses of mulled wine. A classic that never gets old.

Soft, crackly and dusted with powdered sugar, Snowballs are the ultimate winter treat. Their cinnamon fragrance and melt-in-the-mouth texture are reminiscent of evenings spent by the fireside. A gourmet comfort to munch on without moderation.

Spritzbredle, the golden gems of Strasbourg's Christmas markets, combine tradition and refinement. Their delicate shapes, created using a piping bag, and their melt-in-the-mouth texture make them an essential part of the festive season in Alsace. A recipe that has been passed down through the centuries to warm up your Christmas tables.

Zimtsterne, or cinnamon stars, have been lighting up the festive season in Strasbourg since the Middle Ages. Their white icing, like a touch of snow, and their spicy softness make them a delight for both the eyes and the taste buds. A recipe that makes Christmas shine.

For more than 450 years, Strasbourg has been making the magic of Christmas shine. It all begins with the Chrìstkìndelsmärik, one of Europe's oldest Christmas markets, where history meets enchantment.

After enjoying the delicacies offered by the Irréductibles Petits Producteurs d’Alsace, come recharge your batteries and get ready for the holidays with friends or family at the Advent Village.

As it does every year, the City of Strasbourg supports local organizations by hosting them at the foot of the Grand Sapin. This tradition provides an opportunity to come together, listen to others, and learn about these organizations, all to foster a spirit of solidarity during the holiday season.

Strasbourg, the "Christmas Capital," is known and celebrated for the splendor of its many light displays, which transform the city into a veritable sea of lights.

Step behind the scenes of Strasbourg, Capital of Christmas, and discover the collective effort that makes the city and its Christmas Market shine year after year.

In Strasbourg, the Christmas Capital, crafts take center stage: local creations, Alsatian craftsmanship, and events dedicated to the arts and crafts.

Discover the flavours of Christmas in Strasbourg with Bredle, Männele, gingerbread and white mulled wine, the gourmet symbols of the Alsatian festive season.

She appears in the 16th century as a popular avatar of the Christ Child, and in 1570, she lends her name to Strasbourg's Christmas market, the Chrìstkìndelsmärik.At the end of the 19th century, Alsatian families begin to freely adopt various traditions. Thus, the Chrìstkìndel also makes its way into Catholic households, before being supplanted, a few generations later, by Father Christmas.

Standing in the heart of the square, the Grand Sapin is one of the symbols of Strasbourg, the Christmas Capital. Every year, the public follows its journey from the Vosges forests to Strasbourg, as if it were a thrilling soap opera! From cutting and transporting the tree to setting it up in the square and decorating it… every step is closely watched and, starting in October, heralds the imminent arrival of this long-awaited annual event. At its base, a magical setting invites visitors to immerse themselves in a special atmosphere, whether for a moment of daydreaming or to take a beautiful photo.

Christmas in Alsace is, of course, all about the must-see “Strasbourg: Capital of Christmas”—Europe’s oldest Christmas market, with its lights and giant Christmas tree—but there are also many other Christmas markets to explore throughout Alsace.

In order to address the challenges of ecological and social transition, the City of Strasbourg has been implementing an environmental and social policy for several years, particularly focusing on its event activities.

Discover Alsace’s Advent traditions — wreaths, candles and calendars — timeless symbols of joyful anticipation before Christmas in Strasbourg.