Riquewihr is definitely a fairy tale village. Christmas lights and markets from end of November to end of December every year.
La Guinguette de Noël is a private Christmas market held in a historical winemaker's property in the heart of Riquewihr.
2022 - CHRISTMAS celebrations and Christmas markets in ALSACE and RIQUEWIHR
The Christmas markets and celebrations in Alsace start every year with the first Sunday of Advent.
Usually, festivities start on the last weekend of November.
This Christmas markets atmosphere will last until beginning of January. By booking one of our holiday apartments in Riquewihr you will be ideally located to discover the Christmas markets all over Alsace and even nearby Germany.
Main street of Riquewihr. Our holiday apartments Marco Polo, Riesling, Muscat, Sylvaner and Klevner are in this part of the street.
Rue de la Couronne in Riquewihr in December …
The "Old Winery" is a collection of 6 outstanding romantic and luxury holiday homes: 4 of them are located in a big Renaissance house (actually a winery built in 1580) on the first belt of the ramparts (built 3 centuries earlier in the year 1291). The property is facing the famous Schoenenbourg Grand Cru vineyard producing some of the best Alsace wine; 2 other apartments are in a 17th Century adjacent house. The houses are surrounding a small garden. The Old Winery earned a Golden Award for the quality of the renovation works.
These holiday homes belong without any doubt to the finest vacation rentals in Alsace.
All apartments on this side are designed and equiped to offer you the best. They earned an official 5 star rating. Four of them have a private winter garden, a balcony or even a terrace which is a seldom opportunity in a medieval national heritage building.
The main Christmas market of Riquewihr is open every day, even on weekdays, from end of November to end of December
In this little street (rue des Remparts) there are 3 of our holiday apartment: the Romantic Studio***, The Sentinel***** and the Dove's Nest*****
Our self catering gites in Riquewihr are wonderful places to stay in Winter. In the lounge of the Dove's Nest as well as in the White Stork (2 persons) you will have a safe pellet fireplace. During the Christmas markets period (end of November to January), all our apartments, from the smallest studio to the largest flat, have a beautiful romantic Christmas decoration.
We have guests coming from all over the world especially for the Christmas markets period. Availabilities in our holiday apartments are vanishing rapidly.
For even more fun, make your explorations during weekdays. The Christmas markets will be less crowded.
Book one of our romantic gites as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Click here to see all availabilities!
The sitting room of our Dove's Nest house in Winter
Pellet fireplace and beautiful white Christmas tree in our White Stork holiday apartment
Riquewihr and the small towns and surrounding villages as Ribeauvillé, Kaysersberg, Eguisheim but also smaller and less known villages are a genuine delight during the festivities and Christmas markets. The Christmas markets time extends from late November to Christmas and even into the New Year (Colmar). The streets are decorated with many small trees and lights: delightful decorations so that the magic of Christmas is everywhere. Everywhere, on each christmas market, you will have the opportunity to sample specialties from Alsace directly in the street like that traditional sweets prepared at home or Glühwein (warm wine prepared with spices).
Nativity scene in Bergheim near Riquewihr. Every year a crib's trail is showing about 50 nativity scenes until January.
A giant Christmas fir is lit at the edge of the forest of Grendelbruch near the Mount Saint Odile.
The Christmas market in Eguisheim, south west of Colmar, deserves a visit. See my blog for details.
South West of Strasbourg, in Germany, the giant Advent calendar of Gengenbach and its Christmas market should be visited at the end of the afternoon.
Ottmarsheim, between Mulhouse and Basel presents the only Christmas market where museum shops are gathering.
Mulhouse organises a spectacular Christmas market usually open as soon as end of November.
A collection of 3 beautifully renovated romantic holiday gites in a historical and unique environment: the second belt of medieval ramparts of Riquewihr, built in the year 1500.
The Western side of our properties are part of the ramparts. On the eastern side, in the picturesque 'rue des Remparts', the house appears as a traditional Alsatian timber framed house. These holiday homes belong also to the finest gites in Alsace.
Christmas market in Colmar. Colmar is a beautiful city with famous Christmas markets.
The magic of Christmas operates in Colmar at any time of the day but especially at night.
One of the 5 Christmas markets of Colmar - only minutes away from Riquewihr and our apartments.
Christmas market atmosphere in Colmar. Colmar is within an easy reach by bus from Riquewihr. No need to take your car and bother for parking!
In Kaysersberg, charming little city near Riquewihr, Christmas markets are famous and crowds are filling the streets every weekend in December.
When the weather is chilly, Glühwein is the best medication to warm up hands, mouth and heart!
Ribeauvillé has a long history. Medieval times are surviving through the architecture but also through festivals all over the year, included the Christmas time. In Ribeauvillé, Christmas markets are... medieval.
At the medieval Christmas market of Ribeauvillé
In the archives of the city of Sélestat you will see the oldest written mention of a Christmas fir dating back to 1521
The Saint Nicholas parade is probably the most beautiful of that kind in Alsace and is attended by many kind children waiting for sweets!
A collection of 5 new holiday gites in the heart of Riquewihr.
Four apartments are located above a famous historical wine cellar. These 4 gites just came out of renovation and decoration works.
The Marco Polo gite is a very large apartment on the opposite side of the street, in one of the most beautiful National Heritage houses in Riquewihr.
Rue Mercière in Strasbourg leads to the cathedral
The impressive cathedral of Strasbourg dominates one of the 11 different Christmas markets of the city.
Winter is the season of traditional Alsace. Mid November, January and February offer plenty of discoveries for those who know how to look and approach closer. Riquewihr is your base for exploring the vineyard and the mountains of Vosges and Alsace!
In the aftermath of the Epiphany, the Feast of the Magi, 6 January, when the celebrations of Christmas fade in our memories, when the lanterns have been removed and the new year has begun its march towards Easter, then another Alsace unfolds. Some find it more authentic, far from the tumult of the crowds of the beautiful days.
And even if the snow is not present every year in Riquewihr, those who want to take a walk in snowshoes or cross-country skiing should find their happiness with a day out a little higher in the Vosges, a half an hour's drive barely (station du Lac Blanc). Finally, do not be worried by any wintry road conditions: of course caution on the road is always up, but in Alsace and in the Vosges, snow is not an unknown phenomenon and there is appropriate equipment available (and know how) to quickly clean the roads in case of snowfall ...
Vineyards of the Alsace grand cru Schoenenburg overlooking Riquewihr
Snow is not present every year but when it is, it gives a very special atmosphere to the village of Riquewihr and to the Vosges mountains.
La Vancelle is a beautiful residential village only 25 minutes north of Riquewihr. If calm, rest, silence and nature - while being near to all important places to see, including the Alsace wine route (only a 10 minutes drive) - are important for you during your holidays in Alsace, you should definitely have a look at our Mountain Hiker holiday home in La Vancelle.