Foire aux Santons

The Foire aux Santons (Santons Fair) in Aix-en-Provence is one of France's most cherished Provençal Christmas traditions, held continuously since 1934 and dedicated entirely to the art of santon-making. Unlike a typical Christmas market, this fair is a focused celebration of a uniquely Provençal craft: the hand-painted clay figurines known as santons, which populate the elaborate Nativity scenes found in homes and churches across the region every December. Set along Les Allées Provençales near the Esplanade Cézanne — the same festive boulevard that comes alive with sparkling lights and holiday atmosphere throughout the season — the fair brings together Aix's most respected master santonniers (santon makers) under one roof. Visitors can browse and purchase individual figurines representing every character of the Provençal Nativity: the shepherd, the miller, the fishwife, the drummer boy, and dozens more. Complete village scenes are also available, including miniature buildings, stone fountains, and farm animals, allowing collectors to build an entire Provençal crèche from scratch. The fair opens with a traditional inauguration ceremony on the last Sunday of November or the first Sunday of December, preceded by a Mass celebrated in the Provençal language and accompanied by traditional songs, galoubet flutes, and tambourins — a deeply moving cultural experience in itself. Running from mid-November through December 31, the Santons Fair pairs perfectly with the adjacent Aix-en-Provence Christmas Market on the Cours Mirabeau, the 13 Desserts Market, and the city's stunning illuminations. Plan to combine your visit with a stop at the Maison Fouque, Aix's legendary santon workshop, to see the full scope of this centuries-old Provençal art form.