Angers: A Magical And Gourmet Destination For Christmas
Renowned for its quality of life and its cultural heritage, the city of Angers is also a magical destination for the end of year celebrations. For a weekend or more, come and marvel at the Christmas lights, enjoy free entertainment and feast on local specialities.
An adapted program this year
A welcoming destination in all seasons, Angers traditionally organizes festivities during the Christmas period entitled Winter Suns.
Due to the Covid-19 epidemic, this event had to be adapted this year. The program of the 2020 edition has been modified to adapt to the health situation.
Several animations will not take place in 2020:
=> the Christmas market and its chalets
=> the animations of the Place Molière
=> the arrival of Santa Claus in the Jardin du Mail at the end of November and his photo sessions with the children
=> fairground attractions and the Ferris wheel
=> Santa's elf workshops
=> the Beautou Circus in Bellefontaine Park
Winter Suns 2020 will nevertheless offer about forty Christmas animations from December 4 to 30, 2020.
You will be able to enjoy new illuminations and family animations, and shop with peace of mind thanks to developments in the city centre: enlargement of the pedestrian area, opening of shops on Sundays and extended opening hours during the week.
To make it easier for you to come, public transport will be free from 12 to 27 December and a frequentation calendar will allow you to choose the best slots to stroll through the shops and do your Christmas shopping.
A magical atmosphere
For the holidays, the city of Angers is dressed in light. The end of the year period is an opportunity to rediscover this destination, which has been awarded the Ville d'Art et d'Histoire label, in the soft glow of the Christmas lights.
Enchanting decorations await you in the Saint-Aubin and Sainte-Croix squares, as well as in the Jardin du Mail.
Covid-19 obliges, Santa Claus' strolls and the various shows have been arranged to respect sanitary rules.
The program for the 2020 edition will be maintained:
=> the illuminations and sound animations in the streets
=> mobile shows in Angers city centre on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in December
=> Santa Claus walks through the city centre
=> an original decor installed on Place Saint-Aubin to take a Christmas selfie
=> the producers' market on Place Sainte-Croix
=> the honey market
=> the Christmas Solidarity operation on Place Sainte-Croix
The operation Solidary Christmas gives you an appointment until January 3 on Écrivons Angers to discover 11 solidarity projects proposed by the associations of Anjou.
Vote for your favorite projects and contribute to the solidarity kitty that will allow the winning projects to be realized.
A gourmet destination
The Christmas period is also the perfect opportunity to discover in Angers gourmet specialties galore.
The Quernon d'ardoise is the local confectionery par excellence. Created in 1966 by La petite marquise, this bluish-white chocolate-covered nougatine pays homage to the slates that made the region famous.
The town, which has vineyards, is also renowned for the quality of its spirits, such as guignolet (made from cherries), Giffard's mint-pastille and Cointreau.
During your stay, come and discover or rediscover :
=> the Gouline, a pie made exclusively of Anjou ingredients (mushrooms, shallots, rillauds, Anjou tomme, white Anjou). This Anjou speciality, created by Michelin-starred chef Pascal Favre d'Anne, Philippe Lux, master baker, and Stephan Perrotte, world jam champion, is sold in an ephemeral shop set up at 2 rue Saint-Aubin until 31 December
=> the famous Caramandes from the Benoit Chocolate factory: you will find them in its shops in Angers: 1 rue des Lices (chocolates) or 33 rue Saint Aubin (macaroons) or on its online shop which delivers all over France!
=> the Quernon house and its traditional Quernons d'ardoise on quernon.fr and in the shops in Angers : 22 rue des Lices and Centre commercial Grand Maine
=> the traditional Christmas market at the Giffard liquor store in Avrillé until December 23rd
=> the shop at the maison Cointreau in Angers, which will be open seven days a week until December 31. Visits to the distillery will again be possible on 26, 29, 30 and 31 December, by reservation.
Note finally that it is possible to buy all these delicacies in the gift packs 'Angers wonders' on sale at the Tourist Office and on the online shop of the website Destination Angers (link below).
