During December in Provence the local bakeries and gourmet grocery stores are filled with delicious specialties and the winding streets of hilltop towns come alive again (after quiet November) for the Christmas markets. The gift of food is king here. I have to say I cannot be more on board with that French policy.
Attend any of the events below and you’ll find yourself nibbling roasted chestnuts and wandering around a town square with a glass of champagne or mulled wine in your hand. Provence may not be known for it’s festive season in comparison to the Alsace region of France, but I’m certainly not complaining. If you happen to be in the area, I’m still offering market tours despite the more chilly weather. We’ll just have to sneak an extra glass of red to keep us warm!
Just about every single village in the Provencal countryside has their own Christmas market. I like the outdoor markets better than the markets held in the local community centres. I also prefer the markets that last only a weekend or a day. See Noel.org for a complete list of the many many Christmas markets and light festivals. Christmas markets (Marchés de Noel) generally only start at 10am and go until 6pm.
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