The Grand Est, home of the Christmas lights!

When the magic of lights illuminates an entire region

As the festive season approaches, the Grand Est region is decked out in a unique glow.

From the villages of Alsace to the hillsides of the Champagne region, from the forests of the Vosges to the imperial cities of Lorraine, the Christmas lights spread out like a magical breeze, making the snowflakes sparkle and the faces light up. Here, Christmas is a celebration of sharing and conviviality, a living heritage where traditions and know-how are passed down from generation to generation. Sparkling markets, parades of Saint-Nicolas, carols that rise into the night... each light carries an emotion, and all together, they make the Grand Est shine.

Your exploration, your story, #EstSideStory

CELEBRATING - Festivals and traditions in the Grand Est region

In the Grand Est region, the end-of-year festivities are written like a living tale, woven from traditions and light.

From the very first days of December, Saint-Nicolas leads the way: in Nancy, Épinal, Saint-Nicolas-de-Port and Verdun, the streets are ablaze with colour, music and children's laughter following the parades of the Patron Saint.
Then the Christmas markets take over, transforming towns and villages into havens of conviviality where crafts and delicacies combine with the magic of the moment. In Strasbourg, the "Christmas Capital", the magic has been radiating across the Grande Ill for hundreds of years, and in Colmar, the town is transformed into a fairytale. In Reims, chalets light up the Promenades Jean-Louis Schneiter, while in Mulhouse, an exclusive Christmas fabric, l'étoffe de Noël, adorns the facades of the historic centre every year.
Continue your exploration of the Grand Est, and discover Metz, Troyes or Charleville-Mézières, where the markets combine local traditions and an intimate atmosphere, with ice rinks, Ferris wheels, Christmas bubbles and fairytales.

Get inspired with our 10 original ideas for a magical Christmas in the Grand Est and discover all the Christmas markets in the Grand Est.

SAVOURING - Christmas delights

In the Grand Est region, the festive season is all about gourmet delights, and the flavours of Christmas come in a thousand varieties.

Bredele with Christmas spices, mannele with chocolate chips, Saint Nicolas gingerbread or wine and hot apple juice with cinnamon, your taste buds will be awakened.
The markets are full of aromas and treasures: craftsmen, bakers, confectioners and chocolatiers bring back to life traditions that have been carefully preserved and passed down through the generations. Alsatian kougelhopf, pink biscuits from Reims, tourte from the Vosges, bergamotes from Nancy or dragees from Verdun, regional specialities are found on every table.

Discover 5 specialities from the Grand Est region to enjoy this Christmas

CREATE - Craftsmanship

Christmas is a time for craftspeople. In Eastern France, lights come to life under their expert hands.

In Meisenthal, in the heart of the Vosges du Nord, the historic glassworks founded in 1704 perpetuates the tradition of the hand-blown Christmas bauble. Each year, the Centre International d'Art Verrier unveils a new limited-edition creation, designed by a contemporary designer, symbolising the link between heritage and modernity.
Throughout the region, workshops are opening their doors to share their expertise: making Advent wreaths in Alsace, ceramics workshops in Lorraine or art cabinetmaking in the Vosges. These are just some of the precise, inspired gestures that perpetuate the magic of the festive season.

Admire the most beautiful Christmas tables made in Grand Est

DISCOVER - Culture and heritage in the spotlight

Under the glow of the decorations, the narrow streets, cathedrals and squares of the Grand Est region are transformed into enchanted settings where every stone seems to tell a Christmas story.
In Épernay, the Habits de Lumière celebrates its 25th edition in 2025: three days of shows, video-mapping and tastings on the famous avenue de Champagne, a UNESCO-listed site.
In the cathedrals of Metz, Reims and Strasbourg, Christmas concerts resound beneath the Gothic vaults, while museums, parks and châteaux host exhibitions and candlelit tours. And don't forget the lantern-lit tours of the villages of Alsace.
Between heritage, culture and enchantment, light sublimates everything it touches.

Discover the not-to-be-missed events in Eastern France

BREATHE - The fresh air of winter

Winter in the Grand Est invites you to slow down, breathe and enjoy.

The forests are covered in frost, the lakes are bathed in light and the valleys are enveloped in silence.
Take a bend in the path in the Vosges, between Gérardmer, La Bresse or Ventron, and you'll find the tranquillity of a world apart, made up of snow, mist and pure breath.
After the hike, it's time to warm up: nature spas, Nordic baths, inns where the fire crackles and you can savour the flavours of the land.
Then comes night, and with it, magic: villages light up, facades are adorned with stars, the scent of spices wafts through the air.
Here, winter is a poem of light and gentleness.

Let yourself be tempted by a snow holiday over Christmas

GET AWAY - Fairytale breaks and getaways

The gift of a holiday is a gift of emotion.

The Grand Est is an invitation to experience Christmas in a different way. Cosy chalets under the snow, elegant guest houses surrounded by vineyards, charming hotels and exceptional residences. .. each address reveals an art of living where comfort and authenticity meet.
And for an unforgettable souvenir, Explore Grand Est's "Stays under the Christmas Tree" packages open the door to precious moments: relaxation in the Vosges mountains, a champagne feast or a romantic escape in Alsace. And for those who dream of prolonging the magic, a host of "Christmas and Winter" themed offers make it easy to book your stay online.

🎄 Discover our holiday ideas to put under the Christmas tree!

The Grand Est, a land of light and emotion

From Champagne to the Vosges, from Lorraine to Alsace, the Grand Est region shines with a thousand lights, thanks to the diversity of its festivals and the warmth of its people. Every winter, traditions come to life, reinventing themselves and lighting up under the glow of candles and sparkling garlands.
Come and experience them, savour them, share them... because in the Grand Est, Christmas light illuminates hearts as much as landscapes.

In the Grand Est,Christmas light becomes magic.