The Sélestat Christmas market in France is perhaps the least visited of the cluster of Alsacian markets and is located between the two most popular and larger markets in Strasbourg and Colmar. I saw mentions of it being small, and an afterthought, and not much to see. So that piqued my curiosity and I went to check it out myself!
Sélestat takes pride in marketing itself as the Home of the Christmas Tree in Alsace, because the first mention of a Christmas tree in the region can be found in the Sélestat town archives in 1512. That’s more than 500 years of this beloved Christmas tradition, so that alone was reason enough to go.
And while it’s true that the market itself is tiny, it does include wares from local artisans, a Christmas village, and some delicious food stalls. I found our visit to Sélestat to be a perfect addition to our exploration of Christmas in Alsace. The town is charming, medieval, and understated. Yes there are Christmas trees, but nothing gawdy or enormous – just quaint, old-fashioned Christmas cheer.
You can even visit the historic Humanist Library which has a Christmas display including those old records of the Christmas tree, St. George’s Church with a full Christmas tree and ornament history display, and have a lovely unhurried couple hours which is a welcome respite from the sometimes crazy hustle and bustle of the bigger markets.
This article will tell you all the reasons I liked Selestat, why it should be on your itinerary, how to get there, and how to make the most out of this quaint little stop on your Christmas market road trip.
Sélestat Christmas Market Dates and Hours for 2025
November 21 – December 28, 2025 (closed Dec 25)
🥳 Yes, the Obernai Christmas market is open even after Christmas Day!
Daily Hours:
- Sunday – Thursday: 11 AM – 7 PM.
- Friday & Saturday: 11 AM – 8 PM.
Special Hours:
- December 24 (Christmas Eve): 11 AM – 4 PM.
- December 26: 2 PM – 8 PM.
- December 28: Until 7 PM.
Sélestat Christmas Market Locations
The Sélestat market features small clusters of stalls, mainly in the Place d’Armes. But these aren’t really Christmas markets that feature the large displays of wares and food you may be used to seeing in other places. This is an easily walkable market area, and you’ll be able to see it all in short order.
What is the Sélestat Christmas Market Famous For?
If Sélestat isn’t really famous for the markets themselves, then how does it fit into an Alsacian Christmas market trip? Sélestat is all about the Christmas tree! You’ll find trees everywhere, made of glass, in historical displays, on street corners, in contests, and in the museum archives.
But know that it won’t be a massive Rockefeller Center style tree. These trees have apples, stars, historical decorations, and lots of Alsacian heart (and hearts!)
What this small-style festivity means is much less crowding, leisurely wandering through the winter streets, time to savor your vin chaud (hot spiced wine), soak in the medieval buildings, the window decorations, and of course the beautiful understated Christmas trees, without getting claustrophobic.
Hard core Christmas market shoppers, and people who treat Christmas mug collecting like a sport will pass on Sélestat, so if a place like this sounds interesting, and a lot more chill, all the better for you!
Sélestat is a unique Christmas experience, and fits perfectly into an itinerary of Alsacian markets. Plan it for a day when you want to rest, recoup, nourish your soul, and explore the unique and fascinating history of the most famous symbol of Christmas with its roots in this region.
What You’ll Find in Sélestat at Christmas Time
Use this map to find all the points of interest for your Christmas exploration of Sélestat!
- St. George’s Church with a display of Christmas trees and ornaments through the ages
- Christmas villages with crafts
- St. Foy Church with its gorgeous hanging tree made of famous hand-blown Meisenthal glass Christmas ornaments
- The House of Bread with exhibitions about the history of bread-making and a gift shop full of breads and bredele (Christmas cookies) that will make your mouth water
- A few chalets selling gifts, and all the Christmas market food and drink staples
- The Humanist Museum with its free Christmas exhibition including original Christmas tree documents
- A stunning medieval town decked out for the holidays
- A really cool clock tower that’s one of my favorite towers in Alsace
Food and Drink at the Sélestat Christmas Market
Don’t worry, despite its small size you’ll find all the traditional Christmas market food and drink. There are sizzling sausages (saucissons), spaetzle, traditional Alsacian choucroute, vin chaud (hot spiced wine), bredele (French shortbread Christmas cookies), hot chocolate, and more.
It’s not a super foodie market, but you definitely won’t go hungry!
Best Places to Stay During the Sélestat Christmas Market
You may choose to day trip to Sélestat from Strasbourg, Colmar, or other towns in the area, but if you want to stay at this centrally located, and relaxed location, check out this map of hotels in the area. It updates in real time so you can see what’s available.
🚨 Pro Tip: Book your hotel in Sélestat as early as you possibly can for the best selection and price. The closer it gets to Christmas, the higher the prices go.
How to Get to the Sélestat Christmas Market
From Strasbourg
By train: About 18 minutes
By bus: About 58 minutes
By car: About 38 minutes
From Other Points
If you are coming from other points in the region and want maximum flexibility and freedom to explore all the Christmas markets and villages of Alsace on your own schedule, renting a car (or using your own) is the best option. You can compare prices and book confidently with DiscoverCars, which searches all major rental companies to get you the best deal.
🚗 We highly recommend DiscoverCars, because the process is fast, affordable, and incredibly smooth. Pickups are easy, selection is huge and reasonably priced, and they have free cancelation, no hidden fees, and 24/7 customer service in English.
👉 Check prices for your Alsace rental car here.
🅿️ Parking for the Sélestat Christmas Market
It’s comparably easy to find parking near the Sélestat Christmas market. There’s a large open parking area called Parking Vauban (see the Google map above). We parked there, and it was free on Sunday.
There’s also parking on the street. In Alsace, you’ll notice markings on the street saying “PAYANT” which means you can park there, but you have to find the nearby payment kiosk on the sidewalk and pay in advance for the time you’ll be in Sélestat.
PARKING TIP: Always buy more time than you think you’ll need! You’ll be surprised how time flies, and there are always more things to see than you think.
Tips for Visiting the Sélestat Christmas Market
💶 Bring cash in Euros. Most vendors are unable to accept credit cards.
🥾 Wear comfortable, warm, waterproof or water-resistant shoes. It’s a chilly and often rainy time of year.
🧤Pack and wear layers, and check the weather right before you go so you can dress accordingly.
Is the Sélestat Christmas Market Dog Friendly?
Of all the Alsacian Christmas markets, I’d rate Sélestat as one of the most dog friendly because crowds are small. This was one of the few markets we enjoyed with our neurotic frenchie, and she actually did pretty well! She barks at other dogs, but there were plenty of alleyways and Christmas trees to duck behind when we noticed one coming.
Sights to See in Sélestat
While you are enjoying your Christmas experience in Sélestat, be sure to take a few moments to explore and enjoy these historical points of interest!
St. George’s Church
St. George’s Church displays a series of hanging Christmas trees which represent the evolution of the Christmas tree over the centuries as part of their historical display. There are explanatory placards in French and English.
There are also cases containing historical Christmas ornaments on both sides of the church.
St. Foy Church
This is really an interesting little church! It’s fairly small, but displays a gorgeous hanging “tree” made of the very famous Meisenthal blown-glass Christmas ornaments, local to the area. Also keep an eye out for the labyrinth in the floor, and some interesting astrological mosaics representing the signs of the zodiac.
If the crypt is open, you can also go see some more Meisenthal ornaments there.
Humanist Library Exhibits
The Humanist Library makes the exhibits on the first floor free to all. These contain various Christmas displays including artworks, photos of old-time Christmas trees, and the very town archives that prove the ancient traditions of the Christmas tree in Alsace that the town is now famous for.
So beloved was the Christmas tree tradition by the people of Sélestat, that the town actually had to put guards in the forest and fine people for cutting down trees!
Clock Tower (Tour de l’Horloge)
You can’t miss the old Clock Tower of Sélestat! It’s just gorgeous and acts as your passageway into the interior of the Old Town where all the Christmas festivities are happening.
The tower dates back to the 13th century, originally serving as a city gate and part of its fortifications. That makes it over 700 years old!
The House of Bread in Sélestat
The House of Bread is both a bakery and a museum! And the gift shop is everything you could possibly imagine. You will not leave empty handed! You’ll find 18 kinds of bread (of course) and traditional French shortbread Christmas cookies called ‘bredele.’ The smell almost made me swoon when I walked in the door!
The bredele cookies come in many forms, like anise-flavored anisbredela, orange-cinnamon schwowebredle, jam-filled Boules de Linz, and spritz cookies, and are traditional to Alsace and surrounding areas.
You can also take a museum tour which takes you from the first ear of wheat to the first types of flour, and from the master baker’s work then and now. You’ll also learn about the origins of the pretzel to the Kougelhopf, to bread in all its forms.
The Self-Guided Walking Tour
If you look down as you walk through town, you’re bound to see triangular bronze arrows, and rectangular plaques on the sidewalk with the paw prints of a lion, and sometimes of a giant! They symbolize the lion on the coat of arms of the town, and the mythical founder of the town, a giant named Sletto!
They mark the route of a self-guided tour through Sélestat to all the main points of interest. The route is 2.8km, and has 24 stops. walking route through Sélestat’s historic core. It will take you through the historic core of the town and starts at Commanderie Saint‑Jean and ends at Bibliothèque Humaniste.
There are about 500 bronze directional arrows and 24 numbered bronze plaques – one per stop. You can pick up a full map with interesting stories and legends at the Tourist Information Center which is right next to the House of Bread.
How to Get to the Sélestat Christmas Market from Strasbourg
By Train: 18 minutes
By Car: 38 minutes
Best Nearby Alsacian Christmas Markets to Combine With Your Trip
Sélestat would pair well with any Alsacian market you visit, because it’s a completely different but complementary experience. So add it to an itinerary that includes some of these markets:
Strasbourg, Colmar, Eguisheim, Haguenau, Requiwihr, Obernai, Rebeauvillé, and Mulhouse.
Is the Sélestat Christmas Market Worth Visiting?
This is a good question! And the answer honestly depends on what you are looking for. If you want a lavish, fairytale market, filled with stalls, and rides, and over-the-top Christmas decorations, then this is not the market for you. However, if you want a unique Alsacian experience to help deepen your celebration the holidays, tinged with history, and an unhurried charm then definitley consider it.
➡️ I’d recommend visiting the Sélestat Christmas Market if:
1. You want a beautiful and relaxing respite from larger, and sometimes overstimulating markets in the region. Every market you visit will have some crowds (especially on evenings and weekends), but Sélestat will be the closest to a relaxing market experience you will have.
2. You have already visited some of the other markets already. Markets like Strasbourg, Colmar, and the others are insanely popular for a reason. You should definitely go and fill your heart and soul with all the festivities. Then if time permits, add Sélestat to your longer itinerary.
3. If you are a history buff, you’ll love Sélestat. I just love local history, and this area is fascinating and quaint. They really pride themselves in their Christmas history and it’s a great way to see how these small local Alsacian towns celebrate themselves, and what makes them unique.
Other Christmas Markets in and Near Alsace You May Enjoy
Christmas in Colmar: Ultimate Guide to France’s Magical Market
Strasbourg Christmas Markets: Guide to the Most Glorious in France
Obernai Christmas Market 2025: Best Guide to a Hidden Gem in Alsace
Haguenau Christmas Market: Hidden Gem in Alsace
Metz Christmas Market: One of Europe’s Best Hidden Gems!
Freiburg Christmas Market: Dates & Travel Guide
Ravenna Gorge Christmas Market: Plan Your Visit
