the very lucrative business of the markets

Chestnuts, mulled wine and illuminations, the magic of the Christmas markets is recipe. Several thousand visitors come to walk there and places are expensive. In La Défense (Hauts-de-Seine), at the foot of the towers of the business district, wooden chalets have been installed. A santonnier from Provence achieves 60% of his annual turnover in a few weeks and exhibits in seven markets across France. Here, his stand costs him 30,000 euros, but he finds his way there. The minimum price for a chalet measuring 3m by 2m is 8,000 euros for five weeks. These prices can quickly increase depending on the surface and location. So not all traders can afford such an expense.

In Magny-Cours in the Nièvre, 15 municipalities have joined forces to organize their own Christmas market. Here, the products are all artisanal, the organizers are volunteers and the price of the site is accessible to all: 17 euros per linear meter for two days. Faced with the success of Christmas markets in France, traders register months in advance.