Set in the town centre, Place du Vieux Gérardmé (in front of the church), the Gérardmer Christmas Market is one of the most charming in the Grand Est region. Less overcrowded than Strasbourg or Colmar, it keeps a village and family feel. 2025 / 2026 edition: from 22 November 2025 to 4 January 2026 (weekends only until 14 December, daily after that).
History of the Gérardmer Christmas Market
The Gérardmer Christmas Market has existed since the 1990s, when the major Alsatian and Vosges cities relaunched the Advent market tradition. Gérardmer distinguished itself by positioning the event by the lake, which gives it a unique atmosphere in the region. Over three decades, the market has grown from around thirty chalets to over fifty today, with annual attendance estimated at several tens of thousands of visitors each year-end.
Gérardmer vs the Alsatian markets
Strasbourg attracts over a million visitors in six weeks. Crowds are dense, prices high (mulled wine between 4 and 6 €), public transport saturated on weekends. Beautiful but exhausting.
Colmar is more authentic than Strasbourg but remains highly touristic, with strong international attendance and aligned prices.
Gérardmer offers a more intimate alternative: reasonable queues, sensible prices (mulled wine between 2.50 and 3.50 €), local artisans, and the incomparable setting of a Vosges lake in winter. The atmosphere is more “family holiday” than “mass tourism”.
Specialities to try
The Gérardmer market is also an opportunity to discover authentic Vosges flavours:
- Mulled wine with munster: local specialty, grilled munster served hot with onions and cumin, paired with a glass of spiced mulled wine. Not to be missed.
- Vosges gingerbread: denser and less sweet than the industrial version, spiced with cinnamon, cardamom and anise.
- Alsatian bredele: Christmas shortbreads (cinnamon stars, almond sablés, butter spritz). Buy a tin to take home.
- Vosges fir honey: dark, intense honeydew produced by bees on fir aphids, protected by a geographical indication. Rare and delicious.
- Sauerkraut and sausage: some stalls serve fresh choucroute to eat on the spot.
Getting there without a car from La Bresse
Several options exist for reaching Gérardmer from La Bresse while avoiding parking headaches:
- Winter shuttles: during peak periods (December weekends, Christmas holidays), the La Bresse Hohneck Communauté de Communes organises or relays shuttles between La Bresse and Gérardmer. Ask the La Bresse Tourist Office during your stay.
- Carpooling: BlaBlaCar Daily and local Facebook groups allow you to organise shared rides.
- Vosges taxi: taxi drivers serve the valley. Expect around 20 to 30 € per way depending on the operator.
- By car with a relay car park: overflow car parks are set up in Gérardmer during peak periods, with free shuttles to the centre.
The La Bresse to Gérardmer drive is 15 minutes via the D417.
Shopping: typical Vosges gift ideas
The market is ideal for filling Christmas gift bags with local produce:
- Turned wooden toys: local craftspeople working Vosges wood (fir, beech). Pyramids, spinning tops, hand-painted animals.
- Knitted woollens: scarves, hats and socks in Vosges wool, handmade. Warm and long-lasting.
- Artisan soaps: local soap makers using essential oils of Vosges fir and pine.
- Jams and jellies: wild bilberries, mirabelle plums, quetsches. In 250 g jars, easy to transport.
- Craft beers: several Vosges breweries are present with their gift sets.
- Decorative ceramics: regional pottery with Vosges floral motifs.
Pack a large, sturdy bag: you always buy more than you planned.
Coming with very young children
The Gérardmer Christmas Market is well suited to families with toddlers, with a little organisation:
- Covered spaces: several chalets have overhanging roofs or are enclosed on three sides. In rain or snow, you can visit the main stalls without too much exposure.
- Traditional carousel: a carousel with wooden horses and carriages takes children from age 2. Modest price, reasonable queues outside weekends.
- Father Christmas appearance: signing sessions and photos with Father Christmas are organised on Friday evenings and certain afternoons. Check the official programme before you come.
- Pushchairs: the aisles are wide enough on weekday mornings, but Saturday afternoon crowds make circulation with a double pushchair difficult. Sunday morning is better.
- Heated tables: the main refreshment area has covered tables with gas heating, ideal for a sheltered snack break.
Weather and dressing: the basics
In December and January, Gérardmer sits at 670 metres altitude. It is cold, sometimes very cold:
- Temperature: between -2 and 6 degrees during the day, potentially dropping to -8 or -10 at night
- Wind: Gérardmer’s streets can be windy near the lake. A waterproof windbreaker is essential.
- Ground: in frost or snow, paving and pavements can be slippery. Shoes with grip soles are recommended.
Essential packing:
- Hat covering the ears
- Long scarf or neck gaiter
- Warm gloves
- Waterproof insulated jacket
- Wool socks
- Waterproof ankle boots
If you are coming from La Bresse, you are probably already kitted out for the mountains: the same outfit works perfectly.
What you’ll find
- Local artisan chalets: turned wood, blown glass, embroidery, traditional toys
- Vosges food: homemade mulled wine, gingerbread, Alsatian bredele biscuits, grilled munster
- Free entertainment: choirs, children’s storytelling, parades
- Outdoor ice rink with a view over the frozen lake (in good years)
- Traditional carousel and wooden games for little ones
Magical moments
- Friday night: illuminations and Father Christmas arriving by carriage
- Saturday: choir concerts inside the church
- Sunday morning: calm returns, best vibe for shopping
Combine with La Bresse
Gérardmer is 15 minutes by car from La Bresse. Ideal formula: skiing day at the Hohneck, Christmas market in late afternoon, dinner at a lakeside restaurant, back to the chalet with spa for a cosy evening.
Local tips
- Car parks often saturated: arrive before 3pm or take the shuttle from La Bresse
- Mulled wine with munster (local specialty) worth trying at least once
- Magical photos from the opposite shore at sunset
Around your stay
Booking a winter chalet? See available chalets in La Bresse: 15 minutes from the Gérardmer Christmas Market, right next to the slopes.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Gérardmer Christmas Market held?
2025 / 2026 edition: from 22 November 2025 to 4 January 2026. Weekends only until 14 December, then daily from 19 December. Hours vary by day, generally 11am to 7pm.
Where exactly is the market?
Place du Vieux Gérardmé, in front of the church, in the centre of Gérardmer.
Is there an ice rink?
Yes, an outdoor rink with a view over the lake (frozen in good years). Skate rental on site, affordable sessions.
Is parking easy?
Car parks get saturated. Arrive before 3pm, or come by shuttle from La Bresse. Free car parks slightly further from the centre are often a better bet.
Can I combine it with a ski day in La Bresse?
Absolutely. Gérardmer is 15 minutes by car from La Bresse. Morning and afternoon skiing at the Hohneck, market in the late afternoon, dinner by the lake, back to the chalet for the evening.