Living in France: Les Marches de Noel a Paris

Night falls early in Paris this time of year. In every window of every street of every arrondissement tiny decorative lights illuminate the city, from the trees along the Champs-Elysees, to the East Indian motif that coats Galeries Lafayette, from the decorated Christmas trees that line the sidewalk, to the Christmas markets.

You still have a day or two to browse these traditional Christmas markets that offer handcrafted items from all over France, before they close for another year. You'll find them all over Paris, set up like mini-villages of open-stalled merchants and you can count on at least one stand to offer Vin Chaud or pain d'epice to fuel you while making decisions on what to purchase for whom.

The one at Les Halles, the Grands Marchés de Noël du Centre de Paris, de Beaubourg à Saint-Eustache (1st arrondissement, tel. 01.30.80.06.24) is one of the most authentic with 150 illuminated chalets... open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tomorrow is its last day.

At Le Village du Pere Noel at Place Saint-Germain-des-Pres (6th, tel. 01.47.22.40.99) you can get a taste of the traditions and folklore of another era. Its last day is also tomorrow.

Le Village du Père Noël under the arcades of the Centre Commericial Maine-Montparnasse (15th, tel. 01.47.22.40.99) is open until December 31.

And before taking your train out of Paris, make sure you visit one of the Le Marche de Noël markets (tel. 01.47.22.40.99) at Gare de Lyon, Gare du Nord, Gare de l'Est, Gare Montparnasse, or Gare Saint-Lazare. All are open until tomorrow evening.

Adrian Leeds
for International Living in Paris