Limoges Christmas Market 2026: Dates, Location & What to Buy

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The Limoges Christmas Market (Marché de Noël de Limoges) runs from Friday, November 27 to Sunday, December 27, 2026, on Place de la République and Place de la Motte in the heart of the city, according to Destination Limoges, the city's tourist office. Entry is free. For a month, wooden chalets, lights and music fill the old center of France's porcelain capital, and it is one of the largest Christmas markets in west-central France.

Here is what to know before you go: dates, where the market is, how to get there, and what to bring home.

Limoges Christmas Market 2026: Dates and Location

• Dates: November 27 to December 27, 2026 (31 days)
• Where: Place de la République and Place de la Motte, in the city center
• Entry: free
• Official program: noel.limoges.fr (the city's Christmas site)

Daily opening hours, the Santa schedule and the shows for 2026 had not been published when this guide was written. Check the official site or the Limoges tourist office before you travel.

Twelve Days of Christmas Limoges Box with Removable Wreath

What You'll Find at the Market

Wooden chalets in the city center

The main market is a village of wooden chalets (about sixty in recent years) selling food, drinks, decorations and gifts. Expect mulled wine (vin chaud), roasted chestnuts, crêpes and local Limousin specialties.

Sledding and roller tracks

The tourist office lists free sledding and roller tracks as part of the festivities, which makes the market a good outing for families.

The artisans' market by the cathedral

A separate market of artisans and food producers, with around a hundred exhibitors, is usually held on Place Saint-Étienne in front of the Gothic Cathédrale Saint-Étienne. Its 2026 dates had not been announced yet, so check the official program.

The funfair

Each winter a large funfair, with around 80 rides, sets up on the Champ de Juillet near the station. It usually runs from early December into early January.

Red Nutcracker Center Hinged Limoges Box

How to Get to the Limoges Christmas Market

Limoges is easy to reach by train. Direct Intercités trains run from Paris Gare d'Austerlitz to Limoges-Bénédictins station in about three and a half hours. From the station, the Christmas markets in the historic center are about a 10-minute walk. Read our step-by-step Paris to Limoges by train guide for stations, times and tips.

Arriving at night is part of the magic: Limoges-Bénédictins is one of the most beautiful railway stations in France, with its copper dome and clock tower lit up against the winter sky.

Snowman with Blue Scarf Limoges Box

What Else to See in Limoges at Christmas

• Musée national Adrien Dubouché, the national porcelain museum, with one of the world's great ceramics collections. A perfect warm-up between market visits.
• Cathédrale Saint-Étienne and the gardens of the Bishop's Palace, next to the Musée de l'Évêché and its medieval Limoges enamels.
• The Quartier de la Boucherie, the medieval butchers' quarter, with half-timbered houses and the tiny Chapelle Saint-Aurélien.
• The Christmas lights, which run through the historic center for the whole month.

For more ideas, see our full Limoges, France travel and history guide.

Winter Cardinal on Bell Christmas Limoges Box

What to Bring Home from Christmas in Limoges

A Christmas visit to the porcelain capital calls for a piece of porcelain. Look for a Christmas Limoges box: a small hinged box, hand painted in the region, with a little clasp and often a tiny charm inside. Santas, nutcrackers, snowmen, Christmas trees and carolers are all classic subjects.

Before you buy, turn the box over. Genuine pieces carry marks such as Limoges France and Peint Main (hand painted). Our guides on what Peint Main means and how to spot fake Limoges marks explain what to look for.

Can't make the trip this year? You can bring the market home with our Christmas Limoges boxes, each one hand painted in France.

Oval Merry Christmas Limoges Box

Tips for Visiting

• Go on a weekday evening for the lights with fewer crowds.
• Dress warmly. December evenings in Limoges are often cold and damp.
• Bring some cash for small stalls, although most chalets take cards.
• Stay at least one night. Limoges is lovely after dark, and it lets you see the museums by day.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Limoges Christmas Market in 2026?

From Friday, November 27 to Sunday, December 27, 2026, according to the Limoges tourist office.

Where is the Christmas market in Limoges?

In the city center, on Place de la République and Place de la Motte. An artisans' market is usually held on Place Saint-Étienne in front of the cathedral.

Is the Limoges Christmas Market free?

Yes. Entry is free, and the tourist office lists the sledding and roller tracks as free too.

How do I get to Limoges from Paris?

Take a direct Intercités train from Paris Gare d'Austerlitz to Limoges-Bénédictins, about three and a half hours. The markets are about a 10-minute walk from the station.

What is a good souvenir from Limoges at Christmas?

A hand-painted Limoges porcelain box with a Christmas design. Check the bottom for the Limoges France and Peint Main marks.

Shop the Limoges Boxes from This Story

• Twelve Days of Christmas Limoges Box – a holiday classic with a removable porcelain wreath
• Red Nutcracker Limoges Box – a festive soldier for the mantel
• Snowman with Blue Scarf – a cheerful winter keepsake
• Winter Cardinal on Bell – a red cardinal on a snowy bell
• Oval Merry Christmas Limoges Box – a simple, elegant holiday gift