From huge and world-famous to small, cute and traditional, France has plenty of options for enjoying a Christmas market.

Nancy

An early start to the seasonal celebrations in Nancy, as the city’s St Nicholas’ festival kicks off on November 21st and runs to January 4th.

St Nicolas Day on December 6th is a huge deal in Germany, and because of historic links, many areas of north-east France celebrate it as well.

In Nancy, Place Stanislas will host the city’s illuminated Christmas tree, Place de la Carrière will have its Ferris wheel, and the pedestrian area will be decked with lanterns, while there will be no fewer than eight ‘Saint-Nicolas villages’ or market areas.

More good news for visitors: public transport is free every weekend in the Greater Nancy Metropolis.

READ MORE: 19 must-visit winter festivals and events in France

Strasbourg

You know Christmas is coming when Strasbourg gets all festive. The north-eastern French city has hosted Christmas markets since around 1570, and has become pretty good at them down the centuries – it’s the reason the city brands itself the ‘Christmas capital of France’. This year’s celebrations kick off on November 26th and run to December 24th.

As usual, hundreds of chalets host local artisans selling Christmas gift ideas on the Grande Île, while the streets will be verily festooneth – festooneth, we tell you – with illuminations celebrating a very Alsatian Christmas. For more information, click here.

Colmar

Not to be outdone by its big-city neighbour, Colmar, less than an hour down the A35 from Strasbourg, has a Christmas market that’s just as perfectly formed – and fe