Selestat
48°16′ N 7°27′ ETownPop. 19,589Alsace
Sélestat suits travellers curious about the history of the Christmas tree, with hanging trees in Saint-Georges church and a 1521 record at the Humanist Library, and its chalet market is small. The tourism office announces the market from 20 November to 27 December 2026.
Photo Paul Hermans · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Who should base here
Sélestat sits on the main line halfway between Strasbourg and Colmar, so it works as a base for both cities and has its own Christmas tree story to tell.
Things to do in Selestat
Sélestat's tourism office calls the town the capital of the Christmas tree because of a 1521 account book that mentions trees cut for the feast. Ten decorated trees hang in Saint-Georges church to show how the custom changed over the centuries, and Sainte-Foy hangs a chandelier of 173 Meisenthal glass baubles.
Worth knowing
- Break the train ride between Strasbourg and Colmar here for an afternoon.
Quick answers about Selestat
Why is Sélestat famous at Christmas?
Sélestat holds a town account book from 1521 that mentions trees cut for Christmas, which its tourism office presents as the oldest written record of the Christmas tree. In Advent 2026 the document is on show at the Humanist Library and ten historic trees hang in Saint-Georges church.
Is Selestat a good place to stay?
Sélestat sits on the main line halfway between Strasbourg and Colmar, so it works as a base for both cities and has its own Christmas tree story to tell.
