The holiday season is particularly magical in Paris, with Christmas markets popping up in almost every arrondissement, and festive light displays adding sparkle to the boulevards and alleyways. The major department stores like Printemps and Le Bon Marché celebrate the season with over-the-top window displays, while Galeries Lafayette is famous for the gigantic Christmas tree suspended from the magnificent domed ceiling. (Actress Léa Seydoux from Midnight in Paris and Ghost Protocol inaugurated the Haussmann store’s seasonal shop windows this year.) There’s an ice skating rink in front of the Hotel de Ville, and a giant ferris wheel installed at the foot of the Champs-Elysées.
The Marché de Noel on the Champs-Elysées deserves a special shout-out because of the ice skating rink, “flying Santa” (on a zip line), cafes serving hot mulled wine, and wood chalets brimming with gifts and food items. For a full run-down of holiday season activities and events in Paris, see the Tourism Offfice’s official website: www.parisinfo.com
Photo of the Champs-Elysées Christmas Market: © OTCP - Amélie Dupont
Photo of the Galeries Lafayette shop window via Facebook.com/galerieslafayette