Christmas Markets Near Dinan 🎄
Our guide to festive days out in 2026
If you’re visiting Brittany in the run-up to Christmas, there are several markets within easy reach of Quai du Val. You can walk to Léhon’s market at the abbey, head into Dinan or combine some Christmas shopping with a day by the coast.
We’ve gathered the dates and practical details for markets in Léhon, Évran, Lamballe, Combourg, Dinard and Saint-Malo, plus a few ideas further afield. Choose somewhere you’d like to explore, leave time for lunch and make a day of it.
Last checked: 4 November 2026. Some opening hours and programmes are still being finalised. Please check the official links before travelling, particularly over Christmas and New Year.
Léhon Christmas Market
Dates listed: Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December 2026
Location: Saint-Magloire Abbey, Léhon
Market opening hours and admission: awaiting confirmation
This is the easiest Christmas outing from Quai du Val: Saint-Magloire Abbey is just a short walk from the house, so you can leave the car behind and enjoy a festive few hours in the village.
With around 70 creators, a tea room and Christmas entertainment, there’s plenty to browse, whether you’re looking for presents or simply enjoying the atmosphere. We’d leave time for a warm drink between stalls and a wander around Léhon’s stone streets, little shops and old bridge.
The gospel concerts and nearby art exhibition give you a lovely reason to linger a little longer, all within walking distance of the house.
🎶 Gospel & Art in Léhon
Swing Gospel — Sunday 6 December, 14:00 & 16:00. Enjoy an hour of gospel from Saint-Malo inside Saint-Magloire Abbey. Tickets €10.
🎨 Le Voyage d’hiver — 5–6 December, 10:00–12:00 & 14:00–18:00. Discover René-Claude Girault’s art inspired by Schubert at La Marmite de l’Abbaye, 15 rue du Bourg. Exhibition details →
Dinan Christmas Market and Festivities
Dates announced: 10–23 December 2026, 14:00–19:00
Location: Place Saint-Sauveur
Please check the final Christmas programme before visiting.
Dinan is an easy choice for Christmas shopping during a stay in Léhon. Alongside the festive stalls, there are independent shops, galleries and plenty of places to stop for coffee or lunch.
We’d allow time to wander around the old town rather than going just for the market. You can explore the streets around the basilica, browse the shops and stay until early evening to see the Christmas lights.
✨ Dinan’s Lantern Parade
Sunday 29 November 2026, at nightfall. Wrap up warm and enjoy handmade lanterns lighting up the streets. Exact time and route to be confirmed. Explore last year’s parade →
Château de Beaumanoir Christmas Market
Dates: Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December 2026
Hours listed: 10:00–19:00 each day
Location: Château de Beaumanoir, Évran
Admission and full programme: awaiting confirmation
Château de Beaumanoir at Évran is hosting its second Christmas market this year, giving you another option close to Léhon. If you enjoy discovering local places as part of a day out, this is one to consider. We’d allow around 20 minutes to drive from Quai du Val.
The château has confirmed the weekend, with the programme still being put together. Check its website nearer the time for details of exhibitors, entertainment and admission.
Combourg Christmas Market
Dates: Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December 2026
Hours: Saturday 12:00–21:00; Sunday 10:00–18:00
Location: Place Piquette, La Parenthèse cultural centre and Cour des Arts
Admission: free
Combourg’s Christmas market brings together more than 50 exhibitors, with gifts, decorations and local produce spread across three neighbouring spaces in the town.
For families, the announced programme includes Christmas films, a children’s ride, visits from Father Christmas and music from the bagad of Dol-de-Bretagne and a Dinan batucada group.
We’d make an afternoon of it, leaving time for a look around Combourg and a walk beside the lake before browsing the stalls. Allow roughly 35 minutes to drive from Quai du Val.
Dinard Christmas Market
Dates: 4–6 December and 11–13 December 2026, then daily from 18 December 2026 to 2 January 2027
Location: Esplanade Yves Verney
Admission: free
Opening hours: check the latest programme
Dinard works well if you’d like to combine a Christmas market with some time by the sea. The market is in the town centre, close to Plage de l’Écluse, so you can fit in a beach walk before visiting the stalls.
You could arrive for lunch, explore the shops and seafront, then finish at the market. A warm coat is useful even on a sunny day — the sea breeze can make it feel considerably colder.
Allow around 35–40 minutes to drive from Quai du Val, plus time to park.
Saint-Malo Christmas Market
Scheduled dates: 27 November 2026–2 January 2027
Location: Esplanade Saint-Vincent, outside the walled town
Visitor opening hours and full programme: awaiting publication
Saint-Malo is another option for an afternoon that carries on into the early evening. Spend some time exploring Intra-Muros, take a walk by the sea if the weather allows, then visit the market outside Porte Saint-Vincent.
There’s plenty to fill a day without rushing. We’d choose a few streets to explore, stop somewhere for lunch and leave time for the stalls afterwards.
Allow roughly 40–45 minutes to drive from Quai du Val, plus parking time. The dates above appear in the council’s 2026 market planning documents; check the visitor programme for opening hours and any holiday closures.
Lamballe Christmas Market: Les Écuries du Père Noël
Dates: Friday 4–Sunday 6 and Friday 11–Sunday 13 December 2026
Location: Haras National de Lamballe
Market admission: free
Final opening hours: please check with the organiser
Lamballe offers a different setting for Christmas shopping, with the historic stud farm’s stables turned into spaces for artisans and makers to display their work.
The organisers advertise around 100 exhibitors, with gifts, decorations, crafts and food among the stalls. We’d leave enough time to browse rather than squeezing it into a quick stop.
You could combine the market with lunch and a look around Lamballe. Allow roughly 40 minutes to drive from Quai du Val; the organisers recommend the Cœur de Ville and Les Canards car parks.
Useful to know: Dogs aren’t permitted at the Haras in Lamballe. Some activities cost extra — check the final 2026 programme before visiting.
Rennes Christmas Market
Main Christmas market dates: awaiting confirmation from the official 2026 programme.
Last Christmas, Rennes’s main market lined Mail François-Mitterrand, while Place Hoche hosted the creators’ market. The same locations look likely for 2026, with Place Hoche already listed for 28 November–23 December. We’ll add the main market’s dates and opening hours once confirmed.
If you fancy a full day in the city, Rennes is around an hour’s drive from Quai du Val. You can combine Christmas shopping with a look around the old town and lunch or dinner.
One confirmed addition for 2026 is Les Luminéales du Thabor, an outdoor light-and-sound trail exploring Christmas traditions around the world. It runs from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, with advance booking required.
You could spend the afternoon in Rennes and book an evening slot for the trail. Allow around 1 hour 15 minutes for the experience itself, and dress for an outdoor walk.
Fancy a Longer Festive Day Out? 🎄
Fougères: Make a day of exploring the old town and castle area, with lunch before the evening festivities. Previous years have included Christmas markets and the Jardins Féériques, but 2026 dates are still awaiting confirmation. Allow roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes each way from Quai du Val. Christmas updates from Destination Fougères →
Vitré: With its castle, timber-framed houses and historic streets, Vitré offers plenty to explore alongside a little festive shopping. Previous Christmas markets have taken place around the castle over two December weekends; the 2026 programme is still awaiting confirmation. Allow roughly 1 hour 30 minutes each way. Christmas updates from Pays de Vitré Tourisme →
Laval: Just beyond Brittany in Mayenne, Laval’s Christmas lights run from 21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, with markets on 25–29 November, 4–6 December and 9–13 December. Arrive in daylight to explore, then stay for the illuminations along the river and through the town. Allow roughly two hours each way. Laval Christmas lights → · Market dates and opening hours →
🎄 A Few Tips Before You Visit Any Markets
- Check dates and opening hours before setting off — some markets run for weeks, others for just one weekend.
- Bring a warm waterproof coat, comfortable shoes, a shopping bag and some cash.
- Some activities cost extra. Check dog policies too — dogs aren’t allowed at the Haras in Lamballe.
- Driving times are approximate and exclude parking.
Staying at Quai du Val Over the Festive Season
You don’t have to head out every day to enjoy a December break here. There are riverside walks from the front door, the village bakery is within walking distance, and you can spend time together at the house between outings.
Quai du Val sleeps up to seven in Léhon, with space to cook, eat together and settle in after a day exploring.
If you’re thinking of visiting over the festive season, have a look at the house and check availability for your dates.
More Ideas for Your Stay
There’s plenty to enjoy between festive outings. Explore Brittany’s towns and villages, wrap up for a walk by the sea or discover some local history. Here are a few ideas to help you plan your stay.
Towns & Villages
Discover historic streets, pretty ports and our favourite places
Beaches & Coastline
Wrap up for coastal walks, sea views and a little fresh air
Culture & Heritage
Explore Brittany’s abbeys,
castles and local traditions