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Castres is an important city in the Midi-Pyrenees region of France, located 40 km south of Albi, between Toulouse and Montpellier, along the Agout River. The city has medieval origins, when it became an important pilgrimage stop on the road to Santiago de Compostela. At the time of the Reformation it was one of the main Protestant centers of southern France. Castres has some interesting old public and religious buildings and an interesting museum dedicated to Goya (Musée Goya), which houses one of the most important collections of Spanish painting in France. The Castres Christmas Market is the most important event of the Christmas period in this city in the Midi-Pyrenees and recreates a typically Christmas atmosphere in the heart of the city.
CASTRES CHRISTMAS MARKET
Castres Christmas Market (Marché de Noël). The Castres market is the largest and one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in the Midi-Pyrénées region. The market usually takes place in the Place Jean Jaurès where over 30 wooden houses are located on a vast space: the merchants’ village and the food village in the heart of the square with its heated terrace. In the same square in past years an enchanted forest was also set up, with lots of Christmas trees. An enchanted forest of 500 real snow-covered fir trees decorated with giant Christmas balls.
The stalls of the Castres Christmas Market usually offer wooden toys, ceramics, glass objects, jewels and gift items of all kinds. The environment recreated by the market is a winter fairytale environment made to seduce both young and old visitors. There are many entertainment activities to delight the younger visitors ranging from face painting, to parades, to fireworks.