Hotels near Autour de la Cathédrale

The cathedral market spreads its chalets across Place de la Cathédrale and Place du Château and along Rue des Hallebardes and Rue Mercière, right under the west front of Strasbourg Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame). The red sandstone facade, lit at night, is the backdrop most people picture when they think of Christmas markets in Strasbourg.

It is also the tightest part of the market. The lanes are narrow, the crowds funnel towards the cathedral doors, and at peak times you move at walking pace at best. The stalls themselves are a mix of decorations, gifts and food, with plenty of mulled wine (vin chaud) and bredele, the small Alsatian Christmas biscuits.

Historically this is where the market began: before 1570, a Saint Nicholas market, the Klausenmärik, was held on the cathedral square around 6 December. The whole Grande Île has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988, and the official Strasbourg Christmas market map uses the cathedral as its reference point.

Pro Tip: Visit the cathedral's astronomical clock at 12.30pm, when its figures parade, then browse the stalls before the afternoon rush. After dark, view the facade from Rue Mercière for the classic photo.