You’ve been to the Strasbourg and Colmar Christmas markets. And you’re looking for another fantastic festive market in Alsace? You’ll have to go to Mulhouse, Alsace’s second most-populated city, to the South of Alsace. The Mulhouse Christmas market is a not-to-miss event in the area. It will be celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2020. What started as a small market has become so popular over the years one of the most visited Christmas markets in Alsace, alongside Strasbourg and Colmar. Over Advent, more than 1.5 million visitors come to experience an enchanting Christmas in Mulhouse. I hope you’ll like it as much as I did!
The information on the Christmas market in Mulhouse was last checked and/or updated on 31 October 2021. (the photos in this guide are from my last visit in December 2018). This year, the Mulhouse Christmas market is maintained from 24 November to 27 December 2021!
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The location of the Mulhouse Christmas Market
The Mulhouse Christmas market occupies the very central Place de la Réunion.
This is the main square of old Mulhouse. Well-known monuments illuminated for Christmas border the square:
The neo-Gothic Temple St. Etienne (France’s tallest Protestant church at 97 metres high).
The remarkable painted-façade of the former Town-Hall, a masterpiece of Renaissance style in the Upper Rhine.
And a number of old buildings dating from the Renaissance era.
A Ferris wheel dominating the market
Until 2019, a 38 metre tall Ferris Wheel stood in the centre of the square.
It offered a fantastic view over the Christmas market spread out across Place de la Réunion, as well as the neo-Gothic façade of the St. Etienne Protestant church and the roofs of the old town of Mulhouse.
No Ferris wheel from 2021!
⚠️ The Christmas Ferris wheel is gone from the 2021 edition.
Why? The municipality has announced the disappearance of this flagship attraction to allow visitors to stroll around in peace, “without feeling like they’re standing shoulder to shoulder with the others”. To save space and to separate the 80 chalets, the Ferris wheel will no longer dominate the centre of the Place de la Réunion.
The market around the St. Etienne Temple
Originally the Christmas market only occupied the square.
Over the last couple of years it was extended to the streets around the St. Etienne Temple: rue de la Lanterne, rue Roger Jacquel and place Lambert.
87 wooden chalets make up the Christmas market, including 25 dedicated to food and beverages.
The rich fabric of the Christmas market
The Mulhouse Christmas market is themed on rich fabric. Each year in December, thousands of metres of fabric decorate the Christmas market and make it different from any other market.
It is not by chance that Mulhouse uses extensively rich fabric in an extravagant way! In the past, the city was known for its powerful textile industry and the city hosts a renowned Textile museum. Between 2014 and 2016, the Christmas market was even renamed Les Étofféeries.
The Christmas tree on Place des Victoires
On Place des Victoires, just a stone’s throw from Place de la Réunion, stands the 30 metre-tall Christmas tree from the Vosges mountains.
Each year the decoration at its foot is renewed. In 2018 the theme was “a catastrophic slide”.
The Children’s Christmas village on the Place de la Bourse
Head to Place de la Bourse to discover the village dedicated to children. The decoration is the work of local artists and is inspired by the world of the famous nutcracker tale. Come on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays for special animations and activities.
The Christmas lights in the streets of Mulhouse
Don’t miss strolling along the main streets of the historic town to discover the spectacular fairy lights.
Gigantic luminous arches adorn Rue Mercière between Place des Victoires and Place de la Réunion.
The shopping streets of rue des Boulangers and rue Henriette are finely decorated.
Maybe you’ll find some exciting animations when strolling in the old town.
Such as alpine horn players…
And St. Nicolas!
In 2019, the Mulhouse Christmas market starts on 23 November and ends on 29 December (closed on 25/12).
English-French Vocabulary
(f) for féminin, (m) for masculin, (adj) for adjective and (v) for verbs
- Advent = Avent (m)
- Christmas market = marché de Noël (m)
- Christmas tree = sapin de Noël, arbre de Noël (m)
- fabrics = étoffes (f,p)
- Father Christmas = Père Noël (m)
- Ferris wheel = grande roue (f)
- holiday season = période de Noël (f), temps des fêtes (m)
- Santa = Père Noël (m)
- square = place (f)
- street = rue (f)
Find out more about Mulhouse and Alsace
- Discover the Christmas traditions of Alsace
- Book your stay in Mulhouse with our partner Booking
- The official site of the Mulhouse Tourist Board
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