The first Friday of December 2026 falls on the 4th, and that weekend, 4 to 6 December, two Christmas markets start in the Moselotte valley: La Bresse’s, on place du Champtel, and Cornimont’s, with its Saint Nicholas celebration. The tourist office listings give the dates and the programme, but not yet the opening hours. Here is what is published, reread on 11 October, and how to organise the weekend.
La Bresse: the Christmas village opens on 4 December
La Bresse’s Christmas market opens on Friday 4 December on place du Champtel and stays open on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6. It reopens on the weekends of 11 to 13 and 18 to 20 December, then every day from 21 December to 4 January 2027. The listing publishes no hours for 2026: the town hall answers on 03 29 25 40 21.
The chalets host producers and craftspeople, and Norwegian torches light the village. Children can post their list in Father Christmas’s mailbox, in the heart of an illuminated forest, and have their photo taken with Saint Nicholas and with Father Christmas. The free activities announced for the whole market are an Advent decoration workshop, a sweet treats workshop, a fireside gourmet evening, an après-ski evening and a Christmas show at the ice rink. The listing does not say which activity falls on which day. The full programme of the season is in our article on Christmas in La Bresse.
For the ice rink, the town hall only states an opening from mid-December to mid-March: call 03 29 25 37 37 in season, or 03 29 25 40 21 out of season, before counting on it that weekend.
Cornimont: market and Saint Nicholas on 5 and 6 December
In Cornimont, the Christmas market takes place on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December, at 16 rue des Grands Meix, with about forty exhibitors and free entry. Food is available on site on Saturday evening and Sunday lunchtime. The listing does not give opening hours; the contact is 03 29 24 11 13.
On Saturday evening, Saint Nicholas arrives around 6 pm. The parade that accompanies him starts from the Square de Saulcy multi-sports court: meeting at 4:45 pm, departure at 5 pm along passage Perrin, then rue de la 3e DIA, place Pranzière around 5:30 pm and the Centre de Polyactivité around 6 pm. Saint Nicholas then visits the market with the children in costume. The parade is free.
The La Bresse guide, winter 2026-2027 edition
Opening dates, official pass prices, school holidays and good addresses, in a free PDF updated on 24 October 2026.
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Planning the weekend
| When | Where | What the listings say |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 4 December | La Bresse, place du Champtel | Christmas market opens, hours not published |
| Saturday 5 morning | Thiéfosse | Covered market of the Ferme aux Hirondelles, 8:30 am to noon |
| Saturday 5, 4:45 to 6 pm | Cornimont | Saint Nicholas parade, free |
| Saturday 5 evening | Cornimont | Saint Nicholas arrives around 6 pm, food on site |
| Sunday 6 morning | La Bresse, place du Champtel | Sunday market, from 8 am to 12:30 pm or 1 pm depending on the listing section |
| Sunday 6 | Cornimont | Christmas market, lunch on site |
On Sunday morning, La Bresse’s Sunday market is held on the same square as the Christmas village: you can combine shopping and chalets in a single visit, provided the chalets open on Sunday morning (hours not published). The valley’s weekly markets are described in our guide to the weekly markets of La Bresse, Cornimont, Saulxures and Thiéfosse, and the neighbouring village has its own page: Cornimont.
Before and after this weekend
The La Bresse Hohneck resort announces that skiing opens on Saturday 19 December: the calendar is in the 2026-2027 ski season. For November, which comes before these markets, read the November 2026 calendar for La Bresse. In December, also check the winter equipment requirements described in winter tyres and chains in La Bresse.
The La Bresse guide, winter 2026-2027 edition
Opening dates, official pass prices, school holidays and good addresses, in a free PDF updated on 24 October 2026.
Your details are used only to process this request. Privacy policy (in French).
Free PDF, no newsletter sign-up.
Frequently asked questions
When does the La Bresse Christmas market start in 2026?
On Friday 4 December 2026, place du Champtel. It then opens on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 4 to 6, 11 to 13 and 18 to 20 December, then every day from 21 December to 4 January 2027. Opening hours are not yet published.
What are the dates of the Cornimont Christmas market?
Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December 2026, free, with about forty exhibitors. Saint Nicholas arrives on Saturday evening around 6 pm, and food is available on site on Saturday evening and Sunday lunchtime.
What time does the Saint Nicholas parade leave in Cornimont?
On Saturday 5 December: meeting at 4:45 pm at the Square de Saulcy multi-sports court, departure at 5 pm, arrival at the Centre de Polyactivité around 6 pm. The parade is free.
Is the La Bresse ice rink open on the first weekend of December?
The town hall announces an opening from mid-December to mid-March, without a precise date. Call the ice rink before you go, on 03 29 25 37 37 in season or 03 29 25 40 21 out of season.