'Tis the season to be jolly in Paris in 2022. The city is packed with Christmas and holiday festivities, including sparkling windows at the department stores, concerts and operas, and specialty Christmas markets. Here’s our list of highlights to experience the best of Paris during this special time of the year.
Department Stores
Galeries Lafayette: The theme this year for Galeries Lafayette holiday celebration is a children’s tale of "The Planet of Fir Trees," based on a book by Claire Castillon and illustrated by Florent Chavouet. Little Annie’s father doesn’t believe in Christmas and she is visited by Nordmann, a fir tree from the imaginary planet Elato, who finds Annie in the store, and eventually restores the father’s faith in Christmas. Inside the store, the iconic, massive tree in the center has a sound and light show every 30 minutes; plus, there’s a Christmas Tree immersive show and Santa’s Workshop.
Printemps: Supermodel Cindy Crawford and her supermodel daughter Kaia Gerber cut the ribbon this year to inaugurate the official holiday season at the store with a circus theme. The windows display trapeze artists swinging to and fro alongside cheerful circus clowns with Santa as their ringleader. On the seventh floor, kids and parents can discover the joys of the newly opened, 4,000-square-foot toy department with oodles of fun games, toys, dolls, tech gadgets, board games, stuffed animals and hobby kits.
Le Bon Marché: It’s the 170th anniversary of the oldest department store in Paris, Le Bon Marché, and it's celebrating big-time. The store's towering Christmas trees are decorated in four themes: Crazy, traditional chic, snowy and enchanted. In the windows, little elves are hard at work in the bauble factory.
BHV: The splendor of the beloved Provence region of France is the highlight of the BHV department store this holiday season. The store has partnered with Provence Tourism and Marseille Tourism offices to show off the wonderful offerings of the region including gift items, crafts, and clothing.
Concerts, Ballets and Operas
Eiffel Tower: A special Christmas and New Year’s Eve concert is being performed at the Salon Gustave Eiffel, inside the world’s most famous monument. The Orchestre Paris Classik orchestra and several soloists will be playing classic holiday favorites.
Mozart and Beethoven: A piano and violin concert with works by Mozart, Beethoven, Amadeus and Liszt is played by candlelight at the 18th-century St. Ephrem Church.
Swan Lake: The Paris Opera Bastille presents "Swan Lake," Tchaikovsky's first ballet, choreographed by the late Rudolf Nureyev.
The Marriage of Figaro: The Mozart masterpiece, "The Marriage of Figaro," is having a grand production at the Paris Opera Garnier with special holiday performances.
Christmas Markets
Le Magie de Noel: The beautiful Tuileries Garden is the setting for the largest and most festive market in Paris. There are over 100 authentic Swiss-style chalets offering artisan crafts and tree ornaments, all made in France or from French colonies, and food stalls with everything from hot mulled wine to crepes to sausages to French pastries to roasted chestnuts. The market also has an amusement park with rides such as a Ferris wheel, roller coaster, and bumper cars.
Notre-Dame Market at Square Viviani: In front of the splendid Notre Dame church—the Gothic masterpiece from the early 1300s—is one of the finest markets in Paris. Stalls offer high-quality crafts, clothing, and accessories, all made in France, as well as gourmet foods. Musicians make frequent appearances, along with Santa.
Hôtel de Ville Market: The Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) market is the most beautiful in Paris with a dazzling light show, glittering evergreen trees, and simulated snowflakes falling from the handsome, 19th-century gem. Gourmet foods and hand-crafted souvenirs are available in the eight chalets spread out through the square.
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