Esch-sur-Alzette’s Krëschtmoart will be set up in Place de l’Hôtel de Ville from 13 November to 23 December inclusive. A little train is due to run along Rue de l’Alzette, while weekend events and the Kleeschen parade will punctuate the season. If you are planning a visit, it is important to distinguish between the chalet opening times, those of the stage and Friday evening’s opening ceremony.
Market opening times and event times
The Krëschtmoart, set up in Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, is open to the public from 13 November to 23 December inclusive. The opening times published by the City are as follows:
- Monday to Thursday and Sunday: 12:00 to 20:00.
- Friday and Saturday: 12:00 to 22:00.
The official opening is scheduled for this Friday at 19:00. This event marks the launch, but the market is due to open from midday. The City is offering mulled wine from 19:00 to 20:30 on opening day: the offer applies to this time slot, not the entire season.
The times for concerts and events on the main stage are not the same as the market’s opening times. The announced programme runs on Friday and Saturday from 16:00 to 21:30, and on Sunday from 16:00 to 19:30. These time slots indicate when events are scheduled, not when the chalets open. The municipal calendar does not give a detailed programme for each day.
A little train between the Brill and the market
The new feature announced is a little train that will run along Rue de l’Alzette to take visitors to the market from Place du Brill. L’essentiel reports, citing first alderwoman Daliah Scholl, that the route will serve four stops and have a capacity of 45 passengers. The train’s timetable, journey time and fare are not specified in these announcements.
The Brill and Place de l’Hôtel de Ville have different roles: the former is the announced starting point for the train, while the Christmas market is held in Place de l’Hôtel de Ville.
The weekly market is also at the Brill
Since Friday 6 November, traders from the weekly market have been temporarily relocated to Place du Brill because of the Christmas market set-up. This arrangement is already in place; it does not begin on the evening of the official opening.
At the end of the Christmas market, traders are due to return to their usual location in Place de l’Hôtel de Ville. The City has not given a precise date for their return. If visiting after 23 December, it is best to check for an updated municipal announcement rather than assume that the relocation ends exactly on the closing date.
Two November events to note
On Sunday 29 November, the City has announced the Kleeschen parade, with sweets and chocolates being handed out. This event is confirmed in the municipal calendar.
L’essentiel also reports the installation of a new canopy of lights above the square and a greater focus on children on Sundays. The announced music and arts programme is concentrated on weekends. The stage times therefore make it possible to choose a visit with events, or to come earlier to browse the chalets.
So the simplest guide when planning a visit is this: the market opens from midday, events are scheduled from 16:00 at weekends, and the opening ceremony is at 19:00 on 13 November. The municipal programme brings together the opening times and announced events, and lets you check the details before setting off.
References
- Municipal Christmas market calendar
- Temporary relocation of the weekly market
- L’essentiel: the little train and announced new features
Place de l’Hôtel de Ville in Esch-sur-Alzette on 1 May 2022, outside the Christmas market period. Archive photograph.
Zinneke — Esch-sur-Alzette Place de l'Hôtel de Ville 2022-05 ---1 — Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 3.0.
