Christmas Markets

Apologies for mentioning the "C" word so early on, but it's our first Christmas in France and I would love your recommendations for the best Christmas Markets for my Christmas Shopping (I prefer to buy local handmade work wherever possible). We are in the South Vienne, but would happily travel for a good market. Many thanks in advance..

Ooooooh and me too? Where to go? We spent a month in the Correze last Dec/Jan testing ourselves to see if we really did like the Correze as much as we thought we did. We did...............and we saw our house in January on a very wet day and here we are. Whilst over here we went to the Christmas market in Argentat and also experienced a couple of more local markets in Meyssac and Quatre Routes (the one near Meyssac). I think they may change every year, but, for example, the one in Argentat was a full blown arts/crafts/local produce market with a tent where you could get your lunch - moules/frites, pudding plus beer, wine, coffee. The more local ones were very craft-orientated and fun with vin chaud and stuff. Ask the locals is my advice and also watch out for our more experienced Forum members' recommendations.....can't wait. K.

I used to get the brochure from the Limousin tourist board when it came out but that was to my old e mail but I will get in touch with them and report back once they reply
A couple of links to being going on with
http://noel.org/Limousin/

http://www.tourisme-animation.fr/FRANCE/marche_de_noel/marche_de_noel_87_Haute-Vienne.php

THere are xmas chalets installed in Limoges in the run up to xmas and the last couple of years they have had a small ice rink
Marché de Noëlla semaine précédent Noël, place de la Motte
Pendant toute la semaine précédent Noël, vous pouvez découvrir sur la place de la Motte une trentaine d'artisans

http://www.ville-limoges.fr/index.php/fr/economie-emploi/halles-et-marches-de-plein-air/animations

I personally find Brive has a nice atmosphere , with their xmas chalets located around the base of the cathedral
http://www.territoires19.fr/actualites/marche-de-noel-2013.html
Le marché de Noël de Brive se déroulera du 14 au 28 décembre 2013 inclus sur la place Charles de Gaulle dans le centre historique.

One of the larger ones I have been to in Haute Vienne is in Isle, a suburb of Limoges

I will let you know when I find out more  

Thanks, Noodles. I love Christmas as well as Izzy Edwards. That's also got me thinking about snow, christmas trees/decs, vin chaud and getting my skis out........oooooooooooohhhhhhh.

Looking out for the sapeurs/pompiers again this decembre. Turned up on our (rented) doorstep last year with their calendrier and I wondered why they were hovering....husband prompted me they wanted donation! Felt so embarrassed that I forgot to offer them traditional christmas cake and ricard.....won't forget this year as local SIRTOM camion driver will be calling with calendrier! Doesn't it just make you glad to be alive ! K.

Apparently the Christmas events brochure from Limousin tourist board is not ready yet, I will share once I get it, hopefully before xmas    

Fab - thanks Noodles!

Here we go..............Christmas Markets/ Events  in Limousin 2013

http://www.tourismelimousin.com/en/do-not-miss/documents/marchesnoel2013.pdf



Edit...  I don't want to teach granny to suck eggs but if anyone needs anything translating on the list please feel free to pm me

Thanks, Noodles. Got 3 earmarked; good opportunity to share a vin chaud with les gens du coin me thinks ! Can't wait. K.

Fantastic - thanks so much Noodles. x

Brive has a lovely Christmas Market (14th to 28th December this year) in the central area of the city with small wooden huts being used by artisans selling their wares surrounding a (artificial) skating rink available to all; there are some lovely things for sale and local produce available.

The Uzerche market (Page 8 of the list) is also interesting and worth a visit.

So we've been to 2 local ones - 1 yesterday and 1 today. I rather naively thought that (from my past limited experience) these would be local gens selling their hand-made wares. This year we have seen a couple of "stall-holders" at both markets and they obviously go round more than one market. That spoilt it for me and I confined by purchases to those made locally supporting those with a one-off chance of selling their wares. To the next one...........

it is said, one image has the value of thousand words, so look at these 5 000 words;) 
Christmas market Brive 2012

Excellent pictures Very 19 - very well illustrated!  

Lovely pictures, I love the atmosphere in Brive, so much nicer than Limoges which I find to be a rather depressing place, it always reminds me of Preston in Lancashire  

Brive market looks lovely; reminds me of Castres. Can almost taste the Aligot and vin chaud.......Should I recognise any of the Pierre Noels? Hey ho, hey ho, it's off to Brive we go............

Sadly I have had a similar experience to Blakevine - the couple of local markets I have been to have been 90% bought in goods being sold on. Not that there's anything wrong with that, we're all just trying to make a living, but I, like Blakevine, was hoping for local, handmade work.. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place at the wrong time? I love the look of Brive but it's just too far for us. Can anyone (even by pm if more appropriate) recommend markets or craft fairs (not necessarily Christmas ones) where there is a requirement for stallholders to have made the items they are selling? Would be ever so grateful. Ta! xx

You find Limoge at xmas depressing !!  

TBH I find Christmas pretty depressing all round, but at least it's a nice opportunity to have fun looking at pretty things for presents for other folk!

Try Panazol market every sunday all year ,agood market clothes at all prices mediam and cheap prices ,local produce ,Pierres cheese stall very good ,xmas  local products well worthe the drive ,a very big market but full of local produce  

Now THAT sounds more like it - thanks Red

and if you fancy a drive to Meymac we have just been to their market which is on today and tomorrow(Sunday). It's based in the place de l'eglise and features a selection of stalls lining the streets displaying everything from foodstuffs (including Limousin snails) to a lovely pottery lady from whom we bought a sheep (pot not real). The vin chaud was excellent too and we walked around with our two dogs for a couple of hours. Dogs were made a fuss of too as there were quite a few folks with their own who wanted to chat and let the dogs say hello. There is also the Contemporary Art place which has an expo by Martin Kasper;it's an advent calender made up of illuminated windows which have different people featured in them. All in all, we shall be going back to Meymac (only 45 mins) from us and I'm going to check out when their normal market day is. Have fun. K.

Izzyedwards wrote:Sadly I have had a similar experience to Blakevine -  the couple of local markets I have been to have been 90% bought in goods being sold on. Not that there's anything wrong with that, we're all just trying to make a living, but I, like Blakevine, was hoping for local, handmade work.. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place at the wrong time? I love the look of Brive but it's just too far for us. Can anyone (even by pm if more appropriate) recommend markets or craft fairs (not necessarily Christmas ones) where there is a requirement for stallholders to have made the items they are selling? Would be ever so grateful. Ta! xx

Try the smaller towns and villages where there are often weekend Christmas Fetes or Markets (marché de Noel) where you'll find plenty of artisan products on sale.

Thanks Amber. I went to Melle Christmas market today which was small but perfectly formed- about 20 stalls, all selling handmade work, with one exception and then a local food producers section indoors. A delight!