What to do over the Christmas holidays

in Rouen

With the end-of-year festivities fast approaching, the Christmas holidays are just around the corner. This is the time to share some warm moments with family and friends, while exploring the many activities and events planned in the city of Rouen and its surrounding communes. Fun workshops, cultural escapades, enchanting treasure hunts… Here are the highlights you’ll want to make a note of in your diary for the Christmas holidays, from Saturday 20 December 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026. Get ready to immerse yourself in a programme full of discoveries and fun to celebrate this magical time of year in an unforgettable way!

The magic of the festive season

105 on ice

From 16 to 23 December The forecourt of the 105, on the Left Bank quays, is transformed into a magical setting where young and old can enjoy a temporary ice rink, delicacies and a warm atmosphere. In the evening, on Friday and Saturday, enjoy a festive atmosphere with DJ sets.More info

Rouen Christmas Market

From 21 November to 28 December Savoyard and Canadian specialities, pretzels, mulled wine, handicrafts… The Christmas market stalls are packed with craft and gourmet products typical of the festive season.To find them, all you have to do is follow the delicious smells and festive melodies towards the Cathedral!Find out more

Magic of Yule, Viking Christmas

Saturday 20 December In a warm atmosphere inspired by Nordic legends, enjoy a journey combining historical settings, immersive projections, medieval crafts, games and festive encounters at the Immersive Viking City. This exceptional nocturne invites you to discover Scandinavian traditions while celebrating the magic of the festive season. Information and booking

Christmas at the Château du Taillis

From 20 to 23 December Father Christmas and his elves will be transforming the Château du Taillis into a magical kingdom. For four days, enjoy a rich programme: a decorated castle, a giant escape game, an elf hunt and story readings to fully immerse you in the magic of the festive season. Santa’s House, even more enchanting this year, is also open to visitors! Information and booking

New Year’s concert in the Abbatiale Saint Ouen

Thursday 1 January at 5pm Start the New Year in style with an exceptional concert in the Abbatiale Saint-Ouen! The great Cavaillé-Coll organ will resonate under the fingers of Jean-Baptiste Monnot, titular organist, to offer a musical moment of rare intensity. Information and booking

Yule Celebration at the Saint Maclou Abbey

From 20 to 21 December Over the course of a weekend, the Aitre Saint-Maclou will be transformed into a Viking camp, bringing back the traditions, crafts and daily life of over a thousand years ago. Tales from the cold, Nordic music and dance, craft demonstrations and even a craftsmen’s market complete the immersion. More info

Horse-drawn carriage rides

7, 13, 17, 20, 21 and 22 December Treat yourself to a magical moment with a horse-drawn carriage ride alongside Father Christmas, departing from the Esplanade Marcel Duchamp. An enchanted interlude for all the family, in the heart of the illuminated streets of Rouen city centre. Free, no registration required

For toddlers

Magical Rouen

20, 23, 30 December and 3 January at 3 pm Your guide is a magician. Join him as he plunges into the history of his family and relives the history of Rouen through the eyes of his ancestors. You’ll explore the city’s past, from the construction of its castles to medieval festivals and court life, all enhanced by instructive and entertaining magic tricks. Information and booking

Et Patati et Patrimoine

22, 23, 29 and 30 December at 2pm These workshops, part of the Villes et Pays d’Art et d’Histoire programme, are open to children aged 4 to 12. Designed to be fun, they are based on observation to bring heritage within everyone’s reach. Themes: decorated facades, stained glass workshop, the Gros-Horloge, Saint-Romain. Information and booking

Christmas show at the Munaé

Sunday 28 December at 3.30pm The Musée National de l’Éducation is putting on a Christmas show for all the family. In a hushed atmosphere, the tale of “Le Veilleur” (The Nightwatchman) transports you into a world that invites you to experience a sensitive and poetic moment to end the year gently. Information and booking

The Historial for toddlers

Saturdays 20, 27 December and 3 January at 10 am During this activity at the Historial Jeanne d’Arc, children will discover the story of Joan of Arc through a story specially designed for them. From room to room, they explore, manipulate and observe through a variety of fun games that introduce them to history while having fun, under the watchful eye of their parents. Information and booking

For gourmets

At the Impressionists’ Table

Saturday 3 January at 10.30am Accompanied by a guide, stroll through the streets and emblematic monuments of Rouen that influenced the masters of Impressionism. Then enjoy lunch at the oldest inn in France, with a menu inspired by Claude Monet’s notebooks.Information and booking

Cheese and wine tasting

20 December, 2 and 3 JanuaryDiscover the best cheeses from Normandy and beyond with a passionate cheese-maker. Each cheese will be accompanied by a historical anecdote and an unusual pairing to tantalise your taste buds, in an authentic setting: the Taverne Saint-Amand. Information and booking

Galette des rois workshop

Saturday 27 December at 2.30 pm La Corderie Vallois offers a galette des rois workshop with a pastry chef. An enriching and convivial experience to share with the whole family! Information and booking

For the curious

The Cathedral with your senses

Friday 26 December at 3 pm This unusual and sensory tour will awaken your senses and reveal the wonders of Rouen’s majestic cathedral in a whole new way. Feel the vertigo of its extraordinary dimensions, vibrate to the rhythm of its acoustics and explore the secrets of its Gothic architecture.Information and booking

An evening tour of the former archiepiscopal palace

Friday 26 December at 6.30pm Explore the former Palais archiépiscopal and wander from room to room to admire its architectural treasures: Gothic vaults, sculpted decorations, monumental staircase… Transformed through the ages by the archbishops who have lived there, the monument reveals itself as a veritable chronological frieze, and you’ll discover all its secrets. Information and booking

Night-time tour of the Aitre Saint-Maclou

Friday 2 January at 7pm At dusk, Europe’s oldest ossuary takes on a magical, illuminated atmosphere. Usually closed in the evening, this historic monument opens its doors to you by night, accompanied by a guide. Information and booking

For creative people

If you’re into arts and crafts and DIY, there are a number of Christmas and winter workshops taking place in Rouen and the surrounding area. We’ve put together a selection for you:

Sweet antique temple workshop at the Fabrique des Savoirs, on 20 December. More info
Christmas landscape workshop at the Musée des Beaux-Arts, 22 December. More info
Candle-decorating workshop at the Historial Jeanne d’Arc, 23 December. More info
Storytelling tour of Viking legends at the Musée Beauvoisine, 23 December. More info
Frosty storytelling at the Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle, 23 December. More info
A macabre Christmas workshop at the Aître Saint-Maclou, 30 December. More info
Snow floral workshop at the Natural History Museum, 30 December. More info

This is just a sample of the many events on offer during the Christmas holidays in Rouen. The Rouen Tourist Office will be open on Sundays during the school holidays (all zones combined). Don’t hesitate to drop in!

All Christmas holiday events

Organise your visit

OfferGift cards

Looking for inspiration? Think gift card! Choose the amount of your choice from over 40 heritage experiences in Rouen and the surrounding area, including guided tours, tastings, cruises, tickets for sites and monuments, workshops, etc.

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VisitRouen Pass

With the Rouen Pass, you can discover all the region has to offer at your own pace! Guided tours, access to sites and monuments, unlimited public transport… It’s a real all-in-one tool that will make your life easier and save you time during your stay in Rouen.

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OfferGift vouchers

Want to give the gift of a Rouen experience? Opt for the gift voucher! Online or at the Tourist Office reception desk, choose one of 15 activities. Whether you’re curious, an artist, a player or a gourmet, this voucher, valid for 1 year, lets you experience and share an original interlude in the city of a hundred spires.

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