Stuck in Paris and can’t visit Alsace this Christmas? No worries, Alsace comes to you! The Alsatian Christmas Market in Gare de l’Est, Paris, takes place under a marquee set on the forecourt of the railway station with trains servicing the Alsace. The region in eastern France near the German border is reputed to be the home of Christmas markets, with some of Europe’s largest found in Strasbourg and Colmar.
The Alsatian Christmas Market in Gare de l’Est
The Alsatian Christmas market includes some 15 local producers who have come from Alsace to offer their delicious regional gastronomy: fresh pasta, sauerkrut, sausages, foie gras, jams, cheese, gingerbread, Christmas cookies, chocolates, mannele (brioches), eau-de-vie, and Alsatian wines.
This is the oldest Christmas market organised by Alsace outside of the region.
The Alsatian stands
In 2017, the participants of the Alsatian Christmas market in Paris came from the two départements of Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin, including:
- Pâtisserie J. Oster (67, Barr), selling pâtisseries and confectionary
- Domaine Jean Becker (68, Zellenberg), selling wines, liqueurs and eau-de-vie
- Christlesgut (68, Breitenbach), selling charcuterie, cheese, jams, honey, confectionery, pasta and gingerbread
- Cave vinicole de Pfaffenheim (68, Pfaffenheim), selling Alsatian wines including crémants and Grands Crus)
- Compagnie Alsacienne de Promotion, selling Christmas decorations
- Foie gras Muller-Weber, selling goose and duck foie gras
- Distillerie F. Meyer (68, Hohwarth), selling eau-de-vie, liqueur, and Alsatian whisky
- Fortwenger (67, Gertwiller), selling gingerbread, Christmas cookies and stollen
- Jardins d’Alsace (68, Ensisheim), selling hampers, prepared dish, charcuterie, conserves and foie gras
- Domaine Materne Haegelin (68, Orschwihr), selling wines (incl. crémant) and eau-de-vie
- Wolfberger (68, Eguisheim), selling wines (incl. crémant) and eau-de-vie
- Tante Germaine (67, Hoerdt), selling fresh Alsatian pasta (incl. spatzle)
- Stentz Buecher (68, Wettolsheim), selling wines, liqueurs and eau-de-vie
- Geismar (68 Turckheim), selling charcuterie, Alsatian specialties, sauerkrut, tourtes and Christmas cookies
- La Cave du Tonnelier (68 Dambach-la-Ville), selling wines (incl. crémant) and liqueurs.
Each day, free tastings are organised, for instance:
- 1st Dec – Kugelhopf
- 2nd Dec – Foie Gras
- 5th Dec – Gewurztraminer
- 7th Dec – Riesling
- 10th Dec – Bredele
- 14th Dec – Munster cheese
Find out more about Christmas in Paris.
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All photos © French Moments
