Sélestat Christmas Market 2026: the town that holds the oldest written record of the Christmas tree

The Sélestat Christmas Market 2026 opens on Friday 20 November 2026, across three squares in the town centre, in the Bas-Rhin. Entry is free. This Alsatian town bills itself as the capital of the Christmas tree: it holds the oldest known written mention of the Christmas tree, dating back to 1521.

Three squares to locate before you park

The market spreads across Place d'Armes, Place de la Victoire and Place du Docteur-Maurice-Kubler. Chalet opening times for 2026 have not yet been officially confirmed: call the tourist office before setting off, especially if you're planning a visit around Christmas itself. In Strasbourg, the calendar is different: the dates of Strasbourg Christmas Market 2026 are worth checking if you're combining both outings.

1521: the Christmas tree in your living room started here

Sélestat is home to the earliest known written record of the Christmas tree, dated 1521. The original document is kept in the town archives; the Bibliothèque Humaniste displays a facsimile, alongside an exhibition on the tradition of the Christmas tree. Entry to the temporary exhibition rooms is free. For the museum itself, expect to pay 7.50 € full price and 5 € concessions (Musées Grand Est pricing, autumn 2026). A visit that changes how you see the Christmas tree you'll buy in December.

Visiting with children? Aim for Sundays

Saint Nicholas visits Sélestat on Sunday 6 December 2026, a free event that truly kicks off the excitement for little ones. The rest of the family programme, as listed by local events site jds.fr:

• lighting of the Advent candles, Place de la Victoire, on Sundays 29 November, 6, 13 and 20 December at around 4.45pm;
• Father Christmas letterbox at the entrance to Place d'Armes until 17 December;
• two trail games, a Christmas tree hunt and a treasure hunt, running until 3 January 2027.

Wishes sparked in front of a chalet tend to evaporate between two cups of mulled wine. Writing up the children's list before you set off means you won't come home with three vague ideas and no actual toy name.

What you really bring home from Sélestat Christmas Market

Alsatian crafts, bredele biscuits, hand-blown Meisenthal baubles displayed at the Bibliothèque Humaniste: here, you buy pieces one at a time, and they travel well by car. What remains is the classic pitfall of group outings: everyone falls for the same stall, for the same person, without telling the others. A shared list between family members settles the question before you even arrive, and a gift idea under 20 euros fills whatever gap is left on the way home. Stall names, meanwhile, fade within half an hour: a photo of the label beats a fuzzy memory, and your Christmas list keeps track of it all until the 24th.