In the month of December, Marseille gets decked out for the holidays!
Organized in the Old Port, Marseille ‘s Christmas market is held in conjunction with the Santons Fair, nativity figurines, originally from Aubagne, used to tell the story of the Nativity.
The Marché de Noël takes place at the Old Port and features more than 80 wooden chalets. These structures offer Christmas decorations, games, toys, gift ideas and traditional Marseille products.
An opportunity not to be missed is the chance to visit Santa Claus in his chalet and capture the moment with a photo.
The market opens every year on the penultimate Sunday in November and lasts until early January.
Christmas in Marseille offers another great event for visitors. At the same time as the market, the Santons Fair takes place. The event is dedicated to“Santons,” nativity figurines, originally from Aubagne, used to tell the story of the Nativity.
The origins of the fair date back to the period just after the French Revolution, when churches were closed and large nativity scenes were banned.
Private and domestic nativity scenes became an important way to keep religion and tradition alive, making it one of the oldest Santon fairs in Provence.
The event brings together many of the oldest nativity families and allows those interested to purchase all varieties of Santon, from the rarest to the most original, as well as handcrafted nativities made from cardboard, cork or glued paper.
To learn about other Christmas markets in Provence, click here.