Montbéliard holds its annual Christmas Festival of Lights with a Christmas market (one of the best in the area), craft fair and many other seasonal festivities. The town is ablaze with lights and decorations during this festive time of the year and attractions include pastry-making workshops for children, chocolate and warm wine tasting and sleigh rides.
Montbéliard holds its annual Christmas Festival of Lights with a Christmas market (one of the best in the area), craft fair and many other seasonal festivities. The town is ablaze with lights and decorations during this festive time of the year and attractions include pastry-making workshops for children, chocolate and warm wine tasting and sleigh rides.
About the Market
Montbéliard’s traditional Christmas market is held outside the 17th century Saint Martin Church between 24 November and 24 December. It was a German principality for 4 centuries and has maintained its German heritage of celebrating this festive time of year.
Montbéliard holds an annual Christmas Festival of Lights. Therefore every nightfall the town is held spell bound as it is spectacularly illuminated with thousands of lights. The Montbéliard Christmas market is a feast of colours, flavours, sights and sounds. You can help yourself to a steaming mug of spicy mulled wine and a piece of gingerbread and admire the lights.
To assist Santa Claus in handing out his gifts to the Children is the fairy Aunt Airie. Also there will be workshops held by the Little Elves where children can learn how to make Advent crowns, lanterns and Christmas biscuits. There is also chocolate tastings, sleigh rides, warm wine tastings and much, much more. A truly festive, magical, Christmas!
Christmas Market Pictures - photographers: Claude Nardin and S. Carnovanni
More About Montbéliard
Montbéliard is in the Department of Doubs in the Region of Franche-Comté, 16km south of Belfort. In the festive month of December, not only is the wonderful Christmas Market held, but every two years there is an exhibition of crazy mechanical vehicles/moveable sculptures. Then on New Year's Eve the creators and their machines fill the streets in a grand procession.
The town of Montbéliard was only made part of France in 1793, previous to this it was part of Germany. Therefore there is a strong Germanic influence, especially found in the architecture of the old town. For instance, constructed in the 15th and 16th centuries, the imposing Château des Ducs de Wurtemburg stands. Since is restoration it holds various exhibitions and displays a collection of work by Georges Cuvier. Georges Cuvier was born in Montbéliard and was a famous zoologist whose work paved the way for Darwin.
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