Christmas Market Accommodation in Alsace

The famous Christmas markets within easy reach

From Dambach-la-Ville, the best-known markets in Alsace are a short drive or train ride away. Here are the highlights, with realistic travel times from the gîte:

• Strasbourg — the Capital of Christmas

  ~40 min

  The Christkindelsmärik has run since 1570, making it one of the oldest Christmas markets in Europe. A towering tree on Place Kléber and chalets ringing the great Gothic cathedral.

• Colmar and its illuminated old town

  ~30 min

  Half a dozen markets scattered through the historic centre and the canals of Little Venice (Petite Venise) — one of the most photographed Christmas scenes in France.

• Kaysersberg

  ~35 min

  An authentic village market beneath an imperial castle, in a place voted France's Favourite Village in 2017.

• Riquewihr

  ~30 min

  Medieval lanes and decorated ramparts make a true postcard setting — best enjoyed on a weekday to avoid the crowds.

• Eguisheim

  ~40 min

  A village of concentric circular streets, with a warm, intimate market and beautiful light displays.

• Obernai

  ~20 min

  A traditional market around the old belfry, full of Alsatian crafts and regional food.

Quieter, authentic markets right next door

The magic of an Alsatian Christmas is not confined to the big cities. Closer to Dambach-la-Ville, smaller markets offer a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere without the weekend crush.

Sélestat, just 15 minutes from the gîte, is the documented birthplace of the Christmas tree: a 1521 account book held in the town's Humanist Library (Bibliothèque Humaniste) contains the oldest known written mention of a decorated fir tree. The town celebrates that heritage each year with a lovely festive trail around the Saint-Georges church.

Barr, a neighbouring wine village, hosts an artisan market prized for its local makers. And Dambach-la-Ville itself comes alive through Advent — decorated façades and the floodlit fortified gate mean you step straight into the Christmas mood the moment you leave the front door.

• Sélestat — birthplace of the Christmas tree

  ~15 min

  Home to the oldest written record of the Christmas tree (1521) at the Humanist Library. A charming market and festive trail through the old town.

• Barr

  ~15 min

  An artisan market of local makers in a wine village full of character.

Practical tips for visiting the markets

Most Alsace Christmas markets open from late November and run until close to Christmas — some, such as Colmar, continue to the end of December. Opening dates shift slightly each year, so check the current season before you book.

A few things make the trip smoother. Weekdays and late mornings are far calmer than December weekends, when the towns are packed. Parking is the real headache of the season in Strasbourg and Colmar, so the easiest plan is to leave the car in the village (free parking) and take the train — Dambach-la-Ville has its own TER station on the Strasbourg–Molsheim–Barr–Sélestat line, with onward connections to Strasbourg and Colmar. Wrap up warmly and lean into the food that gives these markets their soul: spiced mulled wine (vin chaud), pretzels, gingerbread and bredele, the little Alsatian Christmas biscuits.

One more piece of advice: book your accommodation well ahead. Advent weekends are the busiest of the year in Alsace and the best places fill months in advance.

Why stay in Dambach-la-Ville for Advent

Dambach-la-Ville is an ideal base for a Christmas-market trip. The fortified wine village sits on the Alsace Wine Route, halfway between the region's two great festive hubs, and is easy to reach by car or train. Strasbourg's airport and the EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg both serve the area, the TGV links Paris to Strasbourg in about 1 hour 50 minutes, and a car is the most flexible way to hop between villages. After a day among the chalets, you come back to a peaceful village of medieval ramparts and half-timbered houses.

The gîte holds three independent apartments — Cœur de l'Ours (60 m² / about 645 sq ft, sleeps 4), Rêve de l'Ours (70 m² / about 750 sq ft, sleeps 5, mountain view) and Grenier de l'Ours (90 m² / about 970 sq ft, a loft sleeping 7) — for up to 15 guests in total. Each has a fully equipped kitchen, handy for quiet evenings in after a busy day, and a bakery sits directly across the street for morning pastries. With a 9.8/10 rating on Booking, it is a warm, well-loved place to call home for the festive season.