Franconville Christmas Market

Franconville Celebrates Advent

Franconville is a residential town in the Montmorency Valley, nestled in the south of the Val-d'Oise department between wooded hills and the plains of the Île-de-France region. Well-served by public transport from Paris, it attracts many families who find a calm yet dynamic living environment. Every December, Place du Général de Gaulle, the heart of the town's civic life, transforms into a charming Christmas market where residents gather to celebrate Advent in a friendly and family atmosphere.

Twenty Artisans and Merchants in Chalets

The Franconville Christmas Market brings together about twenty exhibitors selected for the quality and originality of their products. The wooden chalets arranged on the square host independent creators and local producers offering a carefully selected range of Christmas items: handmade jewelry, decorative objects, candles and scented candles, fashion accessories, creative toys, ceramics, and decorative items. The gourmet offer is also present with artisanal sweets, seasonal treats, honey, and spices, accompanied by the essential hot drinks — mulled wine, hot chocolate, hot cider — that warm visitors under the December sky.

The Sledding Slope and Entertainment

One of the main attractions of the Franconville market is the free sledding slope set up on the square for children's enjoyment. This popular attraction draws long, joyful queues of children and creates an atmosphere of happiness and carefree joy typical of the Christmas holidays. A traditional carousel spins nearby, offering its enchanted rides to the youngest visitors. Throughout the three days of the market, the square resonates with Christmas music, laughter, and the joyful animation that characterizes the best Advent markets.

Santa Claus and the Téléthon

Meeting Santa Claus is one of the highlights for children at the market. The jolly old man receives children for souvenir photos in his beautifully decorated chalet. This activity is offered for the benefit of the Téléthon, the major annual fundraising event organized by AFM-Téléthon for research on neuromuscular diseases. A voluntary donation — with a symbolic minimum of one euro — is suggested to support this essential national cause. This generous gesture combines the magic of Christmas with solidarity, making the Franconville market much more than just a commercial event.

Franconville and the Montmorency Valley

The Montmorency Valley is one of the most pleasant and greenest regions of the Val-d'Oise. Its wooded hills are home to a continuous series of towns with their own Christmas markets and events, creating a festive territory throughout December. The proximity of the Montmorency Forest, one of the largest suburban forests in the Île-de-France region, invites invigorating winter walks with family before or after visiting the market.

Practical Information

By train: Franconville–Le Plessis-Bouchard SNCF station (line H from Paris-Nord). The station is a 15-minute walk from Place du Général de Gaulle.

By bus: Bus lines serving the center of Franconville from Ermont-Eaubonne (RER C) and Argenteuil.

By car: A15 towards Cergy, exit Franconville. Free parking available near the square.

Free admission to the market and entertainment. Free sledding slope. Voluntary donation for photos with Santa Claus (minimum €1, donated to the Téléthon).