My wife and I are planning a trip to France during the winter holiday season of 2017.
We will fly into Toulouse (my city of birth) and end up in Paris. I would like suggestions as
to which cities to visit and when lights will be set up for the Christmas holiday season of
2017. We have added (?) Bordeaux and Dinan as possibilities. Any other suggestions would
be greatly appreciated!
Posted by
Washington DC
28363 posts
How much time do you have?
Posted by
OP
108 posts
Probably 2 - 21/2 weeks. Instead of Dinan perhaps Angouleme would be ok.
Posted by
Eagle, CO
288 posts
When we were in Paris the Champs Elysees Market was already started on the weekend of November 20. Lots of other things were starting the following weekend. Here is 2016 schedule http://www.xmas-markets.org/paris-christmas-markets/.
Posted by
Paris
2466 posts
You'll have to check back to see when the lights will be taken down in Paris in 2017. They do seem to start earlier every year - now it's normally around the 3rd week of November.
This year, the Champs-Elysees Marche de Noel will be extended until 8 Jan.
But nobody knows if this date will be permanent.
Normally, the lights are taken down sometime between 3 - 6 January.
If anyone is looking for the ice skating rink in front of Hotel de Ville, it is not there, this year. There is a small rink on the Champs-Elysees that's good for kids, though.
The Grand Palais will host a huge indoor skating rink this year:
http://www.sortiraparis.com/enfant-famille/articles/56582-le-grand-palais-des-glaces-2016-la-patinoire-geante-du-grand-palais
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15798 posts
Consider Alsace. The markets have lots of local products and decorations are gorgeous. Noel en Alsace
Posted by
151 posts
About Dinan : there are many beautiful places to see in the medieval town, but also around in Brittany (Saint Malo, Cape Frehel, pink granite coast, ...). So I would recommend to stay at least 3 or 4 days in Brittany to enjoy other places than just Dinan (you can find some information about Dinan and places around on http://visite.bretagne.free.fr/index.php/en/towns/dinan.html).
You can enjoy Christmas lights in quite many towns or cities until January, 2nd for example in Dinan, Rennes (especially on the city hall, there is a short light show every night), Vitré, Nantes, or even in Mont Saint Michel (from 6pm till midnight).