The French are known for their penchant for enjoying fine food and wine for the sake of it, so when an occasion like Christmas comes around a lot of families go all out – which is why a French Christmas Market is fun - it’s the best of French luxury and then a little extra sparkle. Firstly their market is supposed to run for a month but the dates seem to have been gradually expanding so that the 12 days of Christmas is now more like 40, secondly Lille’s main square, beautiful to begin with, is decorated in light, and finally as well as around 50 stalls selling all sorts of goodies – local gift-y things as well as important staples like luxury food and drink – there is a fun fair with a 50 metre high big wheel which spins charmingly over a reproduction village, complete with chapel, frozen ice-skating pond, cottages and of course an icing of snow.

Lille also has its own individual spin on Santa’s rooftop antics, here he takes an annual tumble from the 80 metre high bell tower of the Chamber of Commerce on the Saturday before the big day. Lucky the big man is known for padding – but that’s what you get for too much Christmas spirit and messing around on rooves. The tradition of having a photo on Santa’s knee doesn’t differ from the norm, but you may want to get in before his daring high rise antics just in case.

Details: Place Rihour, open from 10am

Written by  World Reviewer Staff.

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