Uploaded December 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Tuileries Garden Christmas Market (La Magie de Noël), located next to the famous Paris Louvre Museum, is like no other Christmas Market (Marché de Noël) in Paris.
It is the liveliest, the biggest, the loudest, and the funnest Christmas market in Paris. It is a top destination for visitors from all over the world and Parisians. It runs 7-weeks long (November through January).
It is part traditional Christmas Market and part holiday carnival. The Tuileries Christmas Market stretches for a half a mile along the north side of the garden between Place des Pyramides and Place de la Concorde.
Before I arrived, I was very skeptical that this was going to just be like so many other Xmas markets I have visited around the globe. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how nice this market was. This pop-up seasonal destination practically bursts with fun activities, gifts for everyone on your holiday list. Specifically, I was extremely impressed there were so many high quality regional foods and beverages that were offered that I had never tried before. There were many types of hot wine (vin chaud), roasted chestnuts, escargot, and many, many melted cheeses (raclette) as well as truffles. I even got to try French frog legs! As I got closer to the market, I began to smell the delicious aromas of raclette (melted cheese dishes), sizzling sausages, and freshly made crepes and waffles inside of the market's wooden chalets. I heard a mixture laughter and Christmas music.
As I walked across Tuileries Garden toward the Christmas market (Magie de Noël) the huge Ferris wheel silhouetted against the skyline and bright lights from all the amusements promised fun and entertainment beyond what I expected from a Christmas market.
This Xmas Market is a continuation of the tradition of "Fun Faires" in Paris that have been going on ever since Medieval times!
This Christmas market has 3 major parts:
1. It is a Christmas themed carnival that is packed with faire ground attractions.
2. There is an "Artisan Village" featuring hand made crafts and gifts from all over the world.
3. There was a huge selection of local foods, snacks, dining, and drinks. There was a small ice skating rink, a Champagne igloo, and dozens of Christmas trees everywhere.
In addition, there are large plastic Santas, reindeer, and candy canes, and of course all types of colourful flashing Christmas lights sizes. There is even a small Eiffel Tower.
In case you were wondering: this Christmas Market was not tacky at all. The festive mix really captured the joy of the season (joie de vivre). Even the giant plastic Santas seemed charming.
For many Parisian locals, the highlight of the Tuileries Christmas Market is the food. The choices range from snack foods such as hot waffles (gaufres) with your choice of toppings, crepes, and croque madames, to sausages, cheeses, and other regional specialties, to brasseries offering a full range of casual food like hamburgers, fried steak, and French onion soup.
For something even sweeter than a Nutella crepe, you will find plenty of chalets that offer chocolates and other specialty candies, including nougats from the South of France.
In addition, you will find numerous bars where you can get hot mulled win), regular wine or beer, brandies and Calvados (a type of brandy made in Normandy from apples and sometimes pears) hot chocolate, and even espressos.
If you like strong liquors, you should definitely try Calvados.
The stands that offer regional specialties are very popular, both for eating on the spot and buying for gifts.
There is a Champagne bar at Tuileries Garden Christmas Market as well as specialty foods from France's Auvergne region including sausage and tasty cheese and potato dishes (aligot and truffade).
Truffade is thinly sliced potatoes that are sauted in goose or duck fat and layered with a regional cheese named "tomme fraiche de Cantal". You should definitely try them, as they are so delicious. All of these dishes pair well with beer and wine, which you can also buy at this Christmas market.
Two of the most popular carnival attractions at the Tuileries Christmas Market are the brightly-lit multi-story "fun" houses.
Head to the amazing Fun House "L'Aventure de Noël" ("Christmas Adventure") for "chills and thrills" including a maze, monsters and clowns, viewing platforms, numerous Santa Clauses, and a circular toboggan slide.
So, when you want to spend a few hours shopping for holiday gifts and sip on a cup of hot mulled wine (vin chaud), while enjoying views of the Eiffel Tower's nightly light show from the top of the Ferris wheel, or perhaps riding in a bumper car, then head over to the Tuileries Christmas Market.
It is truly a magical experience!
#Christmas #ChristmasMarket #Marche #MagiedeNoël #Noël #Market #Paris #France #Tuileries #LaMagiedeNoël #France #Paris #Europe #Fair #Faire #Carnival #Foods #Cheese #Escargot #Wine #Vin #Garden #Jardin #Noel #Santa #vinchaud
Tuileries Garden Christmas Market (La Magie de Noël), located next to the famous Paris Louvre Museum, is like no other Christmas Market (Marché de Noël) in Paris.
It is the liveliest, the biggest, the loudest, and the funnest Christmas market in Paris. It is a top destination for visitors from all over the world and Parisians. It runs 7-weeks long (November through January).
It is part traditional Christmas Market and part holiday carnival. The Tuileries Christmas Market stretches for a half a mile along the north side of the garden between Place des Pyramides and Place de la Concorde.
Before I arrived, I was very skeptical that this was going to just be like so many other Xmas markets I have visited around the globe. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how nice this market was. This pop-up seasonal destination practically bursts with fun activities, gifts for everyone on your holiday list. Specifically, I was extremely impressed there were so many high quality regional foods and beverages that were offered that I had never tried before. There were many types of hot wine (vin chaud), roasted chestnuts, escargot, and many, many melted cheeses (raclette) as well as truffles. I even got to try French frog legs! As I got closer to the market, I began to smell the delicious aromas of raclette (melted cheese dishes), sizzling sausages, and freshly made crepes and waffles inside of the market's wooden chalets. I heard a mixture laughter and Christmas music.
As I walked across Tuileries Garden toward the Christmas market (Magie de Noël) the huge Ferris wheel silhouetted against the skyline and bright lights from all the amusements promised fun and entertainment beyond what I expected from a Christmas market.
This Xmas Market is a continuation of the tradition of "Fun Faires" in Paris that have been going on ever since Medieval times!
This Christmas market has 3 major parts:
1. It is a Christmas themed carnival that is packed with faire ground attractions.
2. There is an "Artisan Village" featuring hand made crafts and gifts from all over the world.
3. There was a huge selection of local foods, snacks, dining, and drinks. There was a small ice skating rink, a Champagne igloo, and dozens of Christmas trees everywhere.
In addition, there are large plastic Santas, reindeer, and candy canes, and of course all types of colourful flashing Christmas lights sizes. There is even a small Eiffel Tower.
In case you were wondering: this Christmas Market was not tacky at all. The festive mix really captured the joy of the season (joie de vivre). Even the giant plastic Santas seemed charming.
For many Parisian locals, the highlight of the Tuileries Christmas Market is the food. The choices range from snack foods such as hot waffles (gaufres) with your choice of toppings, crepes, and croque madames, to sausages, cheeses, and other regional specialties, to brasseries offering a full range of casual food like hamburgers, fried steak, and French onion soup.
For something even sweeter than a Nutella crepe, you will find plenty of chalets that offer chocolates and other specialty candies, including nougats from the South of France.
In addition, you will find numerous bars where you can get hot mulled win), regular wine or beer, brandies and Calvados (a type of brandy made in Normandy from apples and sometimes pears) hot chocolate, and even espressos.
If you like strong liquors, you should definitely try Calvados.
The stands that offer regional specialties are very popular, both for eating on the spot and buying for gifts.
There is a Champagne bar at Tuileries Garden Christmas Market as well as specialty foods from France's Auvergne region including sausage and tasty cheese and potato dishes (aligot and truffade).
Truffade is thinly sliced potatoes that are sauted in goose or duck fat and layered with a regional cheese named "tomme fraiche de Cantal". You should definitely try them, as they are so delicious. All of these dishes pair well with beer and wine, which you can also buy at this Christmas market.
Two of the most popular carnival attractions at the Tuileries Christmas Market are the brightly-lit multi-story "fun" houses.
Head to the amazing Fun House "L'Aventure de Noël" ("Christmas Adventure") for "chills and thrills" including a maze, monsters and clowns, viewing platforms, numerous Santa Clauses, and a circular toboggan slide.
So, when you want to spend a few hours shopping for holiday gifts and sip on a cup of hot mulled wine (vin chaud), while enjoying views of the Eiffel Tower's nightly light show from the top of the Ferris wheel, or perhaps riding in a bumper car, then head over to the Tuileries Christmas Market.
It is truly a magical experience!
#Christmas #ChristmasMarket #Marche #MagiedeNoël #Noël #Market #Paris #France #Tuileries #LaMagiedeNoël #France #Paris #Europe #Fair #Faire #Carnival #Foods #Cheese #Escargot #Wine #Vin #Garden #Jardin #Noel #Santa #vinchaud
