Christmas Market of Avallon

The Christmas Market of Avallon: Christmas in the fortified town of Morvan

Every year in December, the town of Avallon (Yonne, 89200) hosts its Christmas Market in the historic town center. Nestled on the heights of a granite hill overlooking the Cousin valley, Avallon offers an exceptional medieval setting for this festive and free event, organized with the support of the Grand Vézelay Tourist Office.

This Christmas market embodies the spirit of the holidays in a town with numerous heritage attractions—medieval ramparts, Saint-Lazare collegiate church, old town alleys—and at the gates of the Morvan Regional Natural Park, this vast forest and lake massif which is one of Burgundy's green lungs.

Numerous local creator artisans

The Avallon Christmas Market brings together numerous local and regional creator artisans, carefully selected for the quality and originality of their creations. This strong local connection is one of the characteristics of this market, which promotes the artisanal know-how of the territory.

Among the creations offered, visitors can discover:

• Jewelry and adornments: creations in silver, resin, minerals, or metal, unique pieces or small series.
• Ceramics and pottery: artisanal tableware, decorative sculptures, stoneware or porcelain objects.
• Wood and stone work: artisanal toys, carved objects, Christmas decorations in natural materials.
• Textiles and fashion: hand-knitted, embroidered, or sewn clothing and accessories, ushankas, scarves, mittens.
• Natural cosmetics: artisanal soaps with plants, natural oils and balms, eco-responsible beauty products.
• Local gastronomy: honeys, artisanal jams, foie gras, terrines, gingerbread, chocolates, and seasonal sweets.

The diversity of the stands guarantees finds for all tastes and budgets, making this market an ideal place to find unique and personalized gifts for the holidays.

Christmas troupe parade and festive entertainment

One of the original features of the Avallon Christmas Market is the Christmas troupe parade through the streets of the historic center. Colorful characters—elves, goblins, giant puppets, fairy-tale characters—parade through the alleys and pedestrian streets throughout the day, inviting visitors to participate in the magical atmosphere of the holidays.

These artistic parades are punctuated by musical moments and small street shows, creating a festive and relaxed atmosphere that makes this market an experience in itself, far beyond a simple commercial event.

Workshops for children and Santa's house

The Avallon Christmas Market is particularly attentive to welcoming families and children. Creative workshops are offered to the youngest throughout the day, allowing them to create their own Christmas decorations, paint, make, or craft under the guidance of caring facilitators.

The highlight of the day is the arrival of Santa Claus at 4 p.m., enthusiastically welcomed by children and their parents. The great Saint Nicholas, accompanied by his elves, parades through the market aisles, distributes treats, and poses for photos, before settling in to individually welcome children who wish to confide their wishes to him.

A raffle is also organized, with prizes offered by the exhibitors and local partners of the market.

Avallon, gateway to Morvan

Avallon is a city of art and history in the Yonne department, perched on a granite spur overlooking the Cousin valley. Its almost entirely preserved medieval ramparts, its bastions and its towers dominate the surrounding landscapes and give it a characteristic silhouette. The Saint-Lazare collegiate church (12th-16th century) houses beautifully sculpted Romanesque portals, with historiated capitals and geometric figures of rare finesse.

The old town of Avallon, with its sloping alleys, its turreted houses, and its Renaissance mansions, constitutes one of the most beautiful historic centers in Burgundy. A few kilometers away, the basilica of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Vézelay, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the major stops on the Way of Saint James of Compostela and one of the masterpieces of Romanesque art.

The Morvan Regional Natural Park, which begins at the gates of Avallon, offers idyllic landscapes of forests, lakes, and meadows for hikers and nature lovers. Avallon is accessible from Paris in about 2 hours by the A6 motorway, making it a prime destination for a winter weekend in a town full of history and charm.