Hannah France is a lady who loves to organise. She also loves Christmas… and she has a large and very beautiful home in France. Put these things together and you have the perfect ingredients for a Christmas market in Montreuil-sur-Mer chez Hannah!
Hannah tells us it all started in 2005 when the local Union Commerciale in Montreuil-sur-Mer where she lives in Pas-de-Calais, organised a Christmas market. The event took place in the courtyards of Hotels Particuliers – grand town houses. Hannah got together with some friends in the area and ran a stall in one of the courtyards.
The friends, all artisans, made craft items from wood, knitted goods, cakes and patchwork; Hannah’s family made marmalade and fruit cake – very English recipes much admired by the French. The group found the experience really enjoyable, and – the items sold well.
Hannah, an English and French teacher who runs courses in France enjoyed the experience of the Christmas fair so it was a disappointment when the event wasn’t organised again in the following years.
However, when a couple of years later, Hannah and her husband purchased a Hotel Particulier themselves in the town and following a programme of renovation, Hannah thought it would be great to resurrect the idea of a Marché de Noël Artisinal. The first Christmas market at Hannah’s house was held in 2008, it was very successful and has been every year since – this year will be Hannah’s fifth event!
All the items are handmade, very high quality and reasonably priced. Visitors to Hannah’s house can browse and chat to the artisans in a beautiful setting in gorgeous Montreuil-sur-Mer.
The gifts and ideas change every year as the crafters and artisans develop new ideas or new inspirations and you can be sure that everything is unique!
First weekend in December – usually, but things do change. Please check with the Montreuil tourist office for dates.
