Even without a chalet, can the Strasbourg Christmas market seduce?

The usual entrance to the Christmas market, rue du marché aux fish in Strasbourg.

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• No chalet, but lights, entertainment and concerts: this is what the Strasbourg Christmas "market" will look like this winter.

• The announcement of this reduced version was disappointed, especially among economic players.

• But others want to see the glass half full and hope that another clientele will come to Strasbourg to celebrate Christmas.

Spaced out stands, removed checkpoints or even obligatory places to eat… For months, the city of Strasbourg has been planning the 451st edition of the Christmas market.

Patatras!

This Thursday morning, the mayor of the Alsatian capital announced that the famous meeting with 2 million visitors was canceled.

"No, I'm not canceling it," continues Jeanne Barseghian.

“We presented two scenarios to the Bas-Rhin Prefecture: one with its 300 chalets, the other without.

We chose the second plan, ”she adds before justifying her choice.

“The health situation is deteriorating, the restrictions are getting stronger and we are not in a bubble.

"

"A special edition"

No more chalets, the city councilor prefers to surf the “Strasbourg, Christmas capital” concept.

He is well maintained!

Clearly, the big Christmas tree will still be installed on Place Kléber, the city lit up and organized activities.

"There will be strolls, concerts, choirs ... It will be a special edition", summarizes the elected environmentalist, who inevitably made many disappointed with this news.

In particular among the fairgrounds, with whom the tension is rising.

“If we don't work, we'll die.

We were counting on this Christmas market to pay late bills and save us.

We have to find solutions otherwise we will have a mess for a month.

We will demonstrate every day, ”threatens Sassi Ben Mourdi, who usually runs a confectionery shop on Place Broglie.

With several of his colleagues, he now relies on holding a “Christmas fair”.

“We met elected officials and they didn't tell us no.

"

Among other economic players, we try to see the glass half full.

"It is a new blow after the attack of 2018 and the cancellation of the European sessions but everything is not deleted", relativizes Pierre Bardet.

The director of the shopkeepers association Les Vitrines de Strasbourg hopes to see another clientele move to the city center of the Alsatian capital.

“Perhaps Alsatians or people from the first or second crown who did not come any more will come back.

"

An opinion shared by Patrice Gény, the director of the Strasbourg Tourist Office and its region.

“This edition will allow us to refocus on the Christmas festivities which are part of the Alsatian tradition.

We will then be able to better appreciate the events that were a little obscured in previous years and that may appeal to people, ”he explains, without being too delusional about the crowds.

“Out of the 2 million visitors each year, we will lose the 15% of people who came from abroad and the 30% of nearby Europeans.

But there are still all the French customers who can be seduced by the magic of Christmas in Strasbourg.

It's still one of the rare times of the year when you can fight with the coastal regions!

Even without a chalet.

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• Strasbourg

• Christmas market

• Society

• Christmas