Riquewihr Christmas Market Guide 2024 (Events, Travel Tips)

Last Updated on 28th October 2024 by Sophie Nadeau

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Perched on a hillside somewhere along the Alsace wine route, Riquewihr is a fairytale town that feels like it’s been plucked straight out of a storybook. The medieval town remains partially fortified to this day and pastel hued homes are dotted around the small settlement in abundance. Come Christmastime, Riquewihr is home to one of the most frequented markets in the Alsace. Here’s your complete Riquewihr Christmas Market guide, as well as what to know before you go.

Riquewihr Christmas Market Dates 2024: November 29th – December 22nd Monday to Friday from 10 am to 6.30 pm; Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 7:30 pm.

Introducing Riqeuwihr

Riquewihr is pretty unique in that it is one of the few remaining walled towns in France. All timber-framed houses and pastel façades, the town looks much the same as it did all the way back during the 16th-century.

In fact, the town is of such beauty and historical importance that it has been named ‘one of the most beautiful villages in France’.

Nestled among world-famous vineyards of the Alsace region, Riquewihr is where Riesling wines are produced and it is alleged to be the very settlement which inspired Disney in creating Belle’s Village in Beauty and the Beast (along with the equally charming Ribeauvillé).

Riquewihr Christmas Market location

The Christmas Market is free to enter, and in order to access it, you just need to enter into the inner town via one of the historic city gates (Riquewihr is pedestrian only and no outside cars are allowed within the inner town walls).

Rue des Remparts

Truth be told there is no single location for the Christmas Market. As the town is quite small, the area within the walls is transformed into a Christmas town, with over 100 stalls lining the rue des Remparts.

It’s worth noting that there are actually more stalls present on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays during advent, and there are even more stalls erected on the main road (Rue du General de Gaulle) and on some of the surrounding side streets.

Cour des Nobles

One particular speciality Christmas Market is Le Sentier des Saveurs (the flavour trail) which is held in the Cour des Nobles and sees around a dozen chalets selling local produce. This includes Alsace whisky, local charcuterie, and fresh cheeses.

Riquewihr Light Show

One of the more fun things to do in Riquewihr during the Christmas period when night falls is to enjoy the beautiful light show. This takes place on a daily basis post-nightfall and sees much of the town illuminated in various golden lights. Please note that the illuminations are likely to be switched off by 10 PM each night in order to save on electricity.

What to buy at the Riquewihr Marché de Noël

As you might expect from its location in the heart of the Alsace, the main thing to buy is locally made specialities such as foie gras, honey, and Alsatian biscuits. Riquewihr’s close association with Riesling wine production means that local sparkling wine (called crémant d’Alsace) is also for sale.

What to eat and drink at the Riquewihr Christmas Market

As you might expect from a town which leans heavily into the Christmas Market spirit, there’s no shortage of delicious foodie stalls selling all sorts of Christmas Market treats in Riquewihr. Here are some things you’ll want to try:

• Bredeles – these delicious little spiced biscuits are baked in the shape of stars
• Pain d’epices – this spiced gingerbread is baked in all sorts of shapes and is similar to gingerbread
• Tarte Flambee (Flammekeuche) – this is the Alsace answer to pizza. Tarte Flambée is a thin breaded crust topped with creme fraiche or cheese, as well as mushrooms or lardons
• Crepes and waffles- If you’re looking for a snack on the go or a sweet treat, then one of the quickest and most affordable things to do buy is a crepe.
• Vin chaud – Mulled wine is a firm favourite at the Christmas Markets. You can get vin chaud in both red and white wine (and occasionally even rosé). If you want to make some mulled wine for yourself, check out our hot wine recipe. Unlike in most other French Christmas Markets, you can actually buy a souvenir mug at the Riquewihr Christmas market to keep as a souvenir from your trip (most Christmas Markets in France only supply plastic cups).
• Spiced apple juice – if you are looking for a non-alcoholic alternative to mulled wine, then spiced apple juice can be found all over the markets

How to visit Riquewihr

The easiest way to access Riquewihr is on your own four wheels and so I would recommend a car rental. Check here for the best car rental comparison rates.

Since the market is quite small, I highly recommend planning a visit to the Christmas Market in conjunction with visits to the Eguisheim Christmas Market, the Kaysersberg Christmas Market, and the Obernai Christmas Market.

Riquewihr is also not far from the Colmar Christmas Market, though this is one of the largest Christmas markets in the region, there is plenty to see and do, and visiting everything thoroughly takes an entire day (see our suggestions for one day in Colmar).

How to visit Riquewihr as a day trip from Colmar or Strasbourg

By far the easiest way to reach Riquewihr (especially if you’re planning to visit a few different Christmas Markets in the region) is by renting your own car- check car rental comparison prices here.

However, one of the most important things to note is that parking in Riquewihr can be a bit of a nightmare! There’s no parking within the walled town itself and so you’ll have to park on the side of the road leading up to Riquewihr. As such, be sure to arrive at the market for opening in order to ensure that you can park your car as close to the market as possible.

If you would prefer to take public transportation, then a great budget option is to make use of the Christmas Shuttle. This bus service runs from Colmar to the Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr and Kaysersberg Christmas markets. You can find information online (in French) on their official website.

If you don’t have access to your own vehicle, then another great option is to head to Riquewihr as part of an organised tour. You can check out a guided excursion from Colmar here and a full day guided excursion from Strasbourg here.

Where to stay in Riquewihr

Thanks to its status as one of the most magical villages in the Alsace, Riquewihr is a cosy place to stay if you’re looking for a smaller town with a more countryside feel.

Hôtel de la Couronne: This cosy hotel is nestled right in the heart of Riquewihr’s centre and is set against the backdrop of a building dating back to 1550. Highlights include a bar onsite and that it’s pet friendly (for an extra charge). Check prices and availability here.

Best Western Hotel & Spa Le Schoenenbourg: This four-star tourist hotel is located just outside of the town centre and boasts amenities such as a pool, spa, and free parking (the parking is a particularly handy amenity in Riquewihr). Check prices and availability here.

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