During the festive season, the Annecy Christmas market is a must in the Alpine Christmas landscape. In the little Venice of the Alps, numerous chalets offer festive products.
The two Christmas markets of Annecy
From the last week of November to the first week of January, the town of Annecy puts on its festive clothes by offering two Christmas markets to its inhabitants and numerous visitors. In total, over 90 exhibitors present their products in 120 wooden Savoyard chalets.
The first market is located in front of theTown Hall, quai Vicenza and rue Saint-Maurice, not far from the Old Prisons. It goes around the Saint-François-de-Salles church. The Alpine chalets present gift ideas for Christmas as well as Savoyard culinary specialities such as tartiflette and diots with white wine. Santons, nativity scenes, games and toys are also on offer. As this market is located at the entrance of the Old Town of Annecy, you can continue your visit in the old streets dating from the Middle Ages.
Annecy’s second Christmas market is located in front of the Courier shopping centre on Place François de Menthon. Called the Alpine village, it recreates the atmosphere of an Alpine winter sports resort. Numerous stands in the form of chalets present original creations of clothing and costume jewellery. In the evening and at lunchtime, you can enjoy a fondue, oysters or a raclette. At the end of the day, the village comes alive with a festive musical programme in a guinguette atmosphere. An ephemeral ice rink of 430 m² is installed to allow you to learn how to skate. Skates are available for hire, with an area reserved for younger children.
A city in festive clothes
Discovering Annecy in this winter period allows you to stroll through the pedestrian zone with its many monuments: the Saint Maurice church, the rue Sainte-Claire, the river Thiou which crosses the Old Town, the Jardins de l’Europe and the Pont des Amours. The Christmas decorations dress up the town with a thousand lights. A sound and light show is held on the façade of the Hôtel de Ville opposite the Christmas market from 5pm to midnight every evening. It is a show that celebrates the magic of the end-of-year festivities for about twelve minutes.
Practical information
We advise you to park in the Bonlieu car park or the Courier car park located 200 metres away, avoiding the Hôtel de Ville car park which is often full. The Christmas market is open from the last week of November to the first week of January, from 11am to 9pm, and during the holidays, on Fridays and Saturdays until 9.30pm. Admission to the market is free.
Past editions
The 2022 edition
The 2022 Christmas market will take place from 19 November to 1 January 2023 in the Annecy area. The 150 chalets will be spread over 9 sites, from Annecy to Seynod via Cran-Gevrier and Meythet.
This year, the organisers of Noël des Alpes are making it a point of honour to respect the environment. Thus, drinks will be served in eco-cups and the lights will be switched off every evening, one hour after the stands close.
The 2021 edition
Whether or not the Christmas Market will be held in 2021 will depend primarily on the health situation. The town hall has decided to change the format of the market by proposing Christmas markets in all the delegated communes of the new commune of Annecy with a theme for each site. The ice rink that was located opposite Courier on the square should be located in Seynod. A Father Christmas village will be set up in the Martyrs of the Deportation square behind Bonlieu. For the products offered, the emphasis will be on short circuits and an eco-responsible approach. Discover the programme of the 2021 Annecy Christmas market which will be held from 22 November 2021 to 2 January 2022.
The 2020 edition
Following the health crisis linked to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 edition of the Annecy Christmas market has been cancelled. The large number of people attracted by this event was not compatible with the necessary social distancing measures.
