How not to get lost in the splendor of German Christmas markets and visit the best of them? Here is a ranking of the most beautiful and interesting Christmas markets.
Dresden, Striezelmarkt, photo by Dresdner Striezelmarkt
Christmas markets opened in Germany. Bright garlands bloomed on the pre-holiday city streets. The aromas of muffin, mulled wine and delicious German sausages stir your soul. Everywhere fun music sounds, melodies of Christmas carols are being poured. From a variety of toys, souvenirs and candles, the head goes round.
Striezelmarkt, Dresden
Dresden, Striezelmarkt, photo by Dresdner Striezelmarkt
The tradition of the Striezelmarkt Christmas market dates back to the Middle Ages. The first such market in Dresden was established in 1434. This Christmas market in Germany is considered the oldest.
The medieval festive trade in Dresden was not very diverse. They sold "dumplings" - simple bread from flour and oats. However, in the 16th century, traditions changed. The Pope himself, with his highest resolution, made it possible to diversify pastries by adding butter, raisins and sugar to the bread dough. And now, the modest dumplings have transformed into a new product - the Christmas stollen. This delicious cupcake performed by Dresden bakers today seeks to try every tourist.
Two and a half hundred tents are located on the Dresden square. Toys made by craftsmen and handmade jewelry can be purchased at the fair. Guests of Dresden will be surprised by the huge Christmas pyramid. The traditional symbol of Christmas with a height of 14.62 meters was made by the masters of the Ore Mountains.
Opening hours of the Christmas market
11/28/2018 - 12/24/2018 daily from 10:00 to 21:00;
December 24: from 10:00 to 14:00.
Address: Altmarkt, 01067 Dresden. Take tram 8, 9, 11, 12 or bus 62 to the Prager Straße stop.
Website: striezelmarkt.dresden.de
Christmas market in Leipzig
Christmas market in Leipzig, photo by manu1362
According to the "age" Leipzig festive market (Leipziger Weihnachtsmarkt) is considered the second after Dresden. Since 1458, it opens onto Marktplatz and the neighboring streets. In the square are decorated shopping stalls, and in the center stands a twenty-meter tree. You can taste sausages with cabbage, feast on marzipan and waffles. The Zum Arabischen Coffe Baum coffee shop serves famous almond cakes. However, the Leipzig market is not famous for being the only treat!
Here is the music. From the balcony of the Town Hall guests are welcomed by trumpeters. In the temple of St. Thomas you can hear the wonderful singing of the boys choir, which has existed since 1212, - the famous band Thomanerchor, who performed in ancient times under the direction of the great maestro Bach.
Opening hours of the Christmas market
Daily 11/27/2018 - 12/23/2018.
Sun-Thu: 10:00 - 21:00;
Fri, Sat: 10:00 - 22:00;
November 27: 17:00 - 21:00;
December 23: 10:00 - 20:00.
Address: Innenstadt Markt 1 04109 Leipzig. Website: leipzig.de.
Augsburg Holiday Fair
Presentation of "Augsburger Engelesspie", photo from mk-online.de
This fair is over five centuries old. The Lebzelter bakery, an Augsburg-based gingerbread producer, decided on Christmas Eve in 1498 to conduct a festive sale of its pastries. The idea was supported by many Augsburg merchants. By decision of the city council, a draw was held to distribute the trading places. The same tents lined up on Town Hall Square. Thus opened the first Christmas market (Augsburger Christkindlesmarkt) in the history of the city.
Since then, every year on the eve of the holiday, Town Hall Square blooms with bright tents. Gingerbread hearts, all kinds of sweets, candles and souvenirs are sold on Rathausplatz, on Luther Square and along Maximilianstrasse. At the fountain of Mercury, children's attractions are located.
Decoration of the Augsburg fair - beautiful spruce. Garlands of thousands of energy-saving light bulbs were hung on it. New technologies have given the city significant savings.
Since the late 70s of the last century, people have been awaiting the Augsburger Engelesspie at the Augsburg Fair. This is the highlight of the holiday. On Fridays and weekends, at exactly 6 pm, 24 girls (Augsburg angels) appear on the facade of the city hall. “Angels” play musical instruments, standing on the windowsills and steps of the building, turning the city hall into a giant Christmas calendar.
Opening hours of the Christmas market
Daily 11/26/2018 - 12/24/2018.
Sun-Thu: 10:00 - 20:00;
Fri, Sat: 10:00 - 21:30;
November 30: 10:00 - 24:00;
December 23: 10:00 - 22:00.
December 24: 10:00 - 14:00.
Address: Rathausplatz 2.86150 Augsburg. Website: augsburgerchristkindlesmarkt.com.
Regensburg
Christmas Market at Neupfarrplatz, photo by Robert Schüller
Regensburg's Christmas markets are located on several city venues at once. This is the market in Katharinenspital - at the Stone Bridge; fairs at Haidplatz and Neupfarrplatz. These festive markets serve unique drinks that can only be tasted in Regensburg at Christmas. Here, mulled wine is brewed from local blueberries and apples, beer is poured "in spital" (the drink is served hot). Amazing sausages with horseradish or sweet mustard are served for a snack. This local delicacy can be tasted in the famous old sausage Historische Wurstkuchl (the establishment has existed since the XII century!).
Near the Thurn und Taxis Palace is Regensburg's most romantic fair. Here opens the village of artisans. This fair is one of the ten most beautiful Christmas markets in the world. Advent performances are also held there. Three times in the evening, “baby Jesus” appears on the palace balcony. Magical music plays, bright fireworks explode around the palace, a theatrical performance develops.
Opening hours of the Christmas market
Daily 11/26/2018 - 12/23/2018.
Sun-Wed: 10:00 - 20:00;
Thu-Sat: 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Website: regensburg.de.
The most famous fair in Germany. Nuremberg
Opening of the Nuremberg Christmas Market, photo from www.christkindlesmarkt.de
Nearly two hundred fairground tents appear these days in Nürnberg. Unusual jewelry is sold here, which can not be seen in other places: gilded angels, figurines made of prunes, fabulous Nutcrackers, magnificent carved caskets. In the children's town there are workshops where master classes on making toys, candles, and decorations are held for young guests.
Opens the Nuremberg Fair (Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt) Christmas Angel. The "angel" girl is selected from among many young candidates on the eve of the holidays, and after that she will have to hold events for several weeks - more than two hundred in all. The competition for the role of "angel" involved young residents of Nuremberg. The tradition has been going on since 1969.
Here, like at other fairs, Christmas treats are served. Of the drinks, rum punch is especially interesting; from appetizers - sausages with marjoram; of sweets - gingerbread cookies, packed in a tin box. The packaging keeps the delicacy fresh for a long time - the gingerbread cookies can be stored in it for a whole year.
Opening hours of the Christmas market
Daily 11/30/2018 - 12/24/2018.
daily from 10:00 to 21:00;
December 24: 10:00 - 14:00.
Website: christkindlesmarkt.de.
Bremen fair
Christmas market in Bremen, photo from www.esel-unterwegs.de
Fair in the historic center (Weihnachtsmarkt Bremen) - the most compact and comfortable. At the Bremen Town Hall Square (Bremen) about two hundred wooden counters are installed. In front of the elegant building of the Town Hall, next to the monument to the Bremen Town Musicians and with the statue of Roland, there is a brisk trade. They sell sweets, woolen things, curly candles in the shape of apples and Christmas trees, beautiful "New Year" slippers. They treat guests with hot wine, tender pork, fried over a fire and, of course, sausages.
Santa Claus arrives at the fair daily, at 16:00. Children gather around him, read poetry, receive gifts.
Opening hours of the Christmas market
Daily 11/26/2018 - 12/23/2018.
Mon-Thu: 10:00 - 20:30;
Fri-Sat: 10:00 - 21:00;
Sun: 11:00 - 20:30.
Website: bremer-weihnachtsmarkt.de.
Erfurt Market on Cathedral Square
Erfurt Market on Cathedral Square, photo by Sascha Lässig
The beautiful old mansions and half-timbered houses of Erfurt provide a fabulous backdrop for the Christmas holiday. The center of the holiday is Cathedral Square. Here the main attributes are set: a huge spruce, a high 12-meter pyramid, a Christmas manger with fourteen figures carved by hand. Two hundred wooden tents stand in the square - they sell souvenirs.
Many children gather in the square. Children ride on a small ferris wheel and on the carousels; there is a mini-bakery where young bakers can practice their own cookie making business. The aroma of Erfurt carriages and mulled wine hovers over the square. Shopping lines stretch these days and across the Krämerbrücke bridge.
Opening hours of the Christmas market
Daily 11/27/2018 - 12/22/2018.
Sun-Wed: 10:00 - 20:00;
Thurs: 10:00 - 21:00;
Fri-Sat: 10:00 - 22:00.
Website: weihnachtsmarkt.erfurt.de.
Fairytale Lubeck
Christmas market in Lubeck, photo Fotopetra
Lübeck (Lübeck) is called the capital of North German Christmas. In the old center at this time a truly fabulous atmosphere reigns. Smells of cinnamon and almond, mulled wine and honey, fresh bread and ubiquitous sausages float past the Gothic medieval buildings. Christmas tents sell festive pastries, souvenirs, Christmas-tree decorations, and silver.
There is an unusual market near the St. Jacob’s church - the sea. The smells of Christmas are mixed with the scents of the sea: hot Scandinavian glog, smoked fish. The bazaar of the port Hanseatic city is decorated with sea color - it is decorated with barrels, fishing nets.
Near the Church of St. Mary (Marienkirche) children meets Fairytale Forest. There are wonderful houses, figures of Snow White, gnomes, Sleeping Beauty.
Opening hours of the Christmas market
11/26/2018 - 12/30/2018 daily.
There are several Christmas markets in the city, see their time on the site: luebecker-weihnachtsmarkt.de.
Christmas Cologne
Cologne Christmas Markets, photo by Nikolaus von Myra
Several holiday fairs are opening in Cologne (Köln). The main bazaar near Cologne Cathedral becomes the stage for New Year's performances. One and a half hundred tents are sold on the square. It sells wooden and felt products, pastries. At the Rudolfplatz there is a bazaar "In the world of fairy tales", and the famous medieval fair is held in front of the Chocolate Museum.
New Market Square - Neumarkt invites for souvenirs at the Christmas "Angel Market". In addition to the huge bazaar on the square is the largest ice rink in Germany with artificial ice.
The Christmas market is held in the Cologne quarter of the Media Park.
Opening hours of Christmas markets
11/26/2018 - 12/23/2018 daily.
Check the opening hours of the fairs on the website: koeln.de.
Stuttgart
Christmas market in Stuttgart, photo from www.stuttgart.de
In Stuttgart, the traditions of Christmas markets have been around for three hundred years. Festive wooden chalets line up with the medieval Old Palace (Altes Schloss), near Schillerplatz, Marktplatz and the Monastery Church (Stiftskirche). The roofs of each trading house are decorated with fabulous figures and Christmas scenes.
Next to the Palace Square, on Karlplatz, a real Finnish village grows. Here you can try Scandinavian treats: venison, grilled salmon, Finnish beer. Stuttgart is famous for its mulled wine - connoisseurs claim that it is made especially tasty here.
In the evenings, Christmas music concerts are held in the courtyard of Stuttgart's Altes Schloss.
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Opening hours of the Christmas market
Daily 11/28/2018 - 12/23/2018.
Mon-Thu: 10:00 - 21:00;
Fri-Sat: 10:00 - 22:00;
Sun: 11:00 - 21:00.
Website: stuttgarter-weihnachtsmarkt.de.
