With the festive season fast approaching, are you already looking forward to the magic of Christmas? While some markets will already be opening in November, we’d like to invite you to discover the most beautiful villages in the Christmas spirit near Paris. These medieval villages, with all their charm, are sure to enchant you!
Provins – A medieval town in festive dress
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Provins is a superb medieval city. But in December, it’s transformed into a fairytale setting thanks to its huge medieval Christmas market. Crafts, entertainment and a period atmosphere: a complete change of scenery.
🚗 By car: approx. 1 h 45 from Paris
🚆 By train: 1 h 23 from Gare de l’Est station
Senlis – a genuine Christmas village at the heart of history
With over 2,000 years of history, Senlis is a fascinating medieval city that you need to discover at least once. Its cobbled streets, majestic cathedral and remarkable Chaalis Abbey create a magical setting that’s absolutely unique, especially during the festive season!
🚗 By car: approx. 50 min from Paris
🚆 By train: about 1 h 20 from Gare du Nord station
Riquewihr – the Alsatian village that inspired Disney
Looking for a magical getaway? Just 2 hours from Paris, Riquewihr is undoubtedly one of France’s most colorful villages. With its picturesque alleyways, flower-decked facades and half-timbered houses, this magnificent medieval village seems to have stepped straight out of a fairy tale, so much so that the Disney team used it as inspiration for the world of Beauty and the Beast. As well as admiring the picture-postcard setting, you can visit the wineries and, in winter, enjoy its unmissable Christmas market: the atmosphere is truly magical and has nothing to envy the region’s best-known.
🚆 By train: approx. 2 h from Paris
Moret-sur-Loing – A magical medieval getaway
An ancient fortified village, Moret-sur-Loing has retained all the charm of its past. With its dungeons and vestiges of the Middle Ages, this picturesque village has inspired many of the region’s artists with its unique, bucolic charm. In winter, its Christmas market attracts young and old alike!
🚗 By car: approx. 1 h to 1 h 30 from Paris
🚆 By train: approx. 45 min to 1 h from Gare de Lyon
Janvry – a tiny Christmas village near Paris, in the heart of Essonne
This little village in the west of Essonne is going all out for the festive season, decked out in winter colors for the whole family to enjoy. Take a pony ride, admire nativity scenes from around the world or stroll through the illuminated chalets in the heart of the fortified village… A charming place, less well known than Provins or Senlis, and yet well worth the detour.
🚗 About 40 min from Paris
🚆 About 1 h 20 from Gare du Nord station
Rochefort-en-Yvelines – Rustic charm and unspoilt nature
Located in the heart of the Rambouillet forest massif, this picturesque Yvelines village captivates with its cobbled streets and peaceful ambience. At Christmas, you’ll find small markets and an authentic atmosphere, far from the hustle and bustle of Paris, that will automatically propel you into Santa’s village. A beautiful natural interlude to savor in winter.
🚗 By car: approx. 30 min from Paris
🚆 By train: 1 h 40 from Gare du Nord station