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"I'm Dreaming of the Perfect Christmas..." - Christmas Markets in Germany

By the German National Tourist Office

Christmas market in Hamburg - Photograph by Hinnerk Rümenapf, 2004

Perhaps no other season in Germany so perfectly captures the essence of the German term gemütlichkeit as Christmas. During the four weeks preceding Christmas - known in Germany as Advent - picturesque wooden huts adorned with miniature white lights transform town squares and city marketplaces around the country into winter wonderlands. Vendors sell traditional German gifts, handcrafted ornaments, wooden toys, and Advent wreaths. The aromas of fresh gingerbread - lebkuchen - and steaming mugs of mulled wine - glühwein - waft through the air. All this contributes to a sense of wonder that delights locals and visitors alike.

Cologne

No less than five beautiful Christmas Markets grace the center of this city. Among them are the Christmas Market at the Dom, the wonderful Gothic Cathedral, with its enormous Christmas tree, and the Alte Markt at the Rathaus - a children's favorite with a carousel and puppet theater. Unique to this city is a floating Christmas Market on the Rhine cruise ship "MS Wappen von Mainz."
www.koelntourismus.de

Dresden

Striezel Market: Germany's oldest Christmas Market features traditions that go back to the year 1434. At the forefront of it all is the Original Dresden Christstollen, or Striezel - a delicious fruit-filled holiday yeast bread. Wooden objects such as toys from the Ore Mountains are also favorites. The world's largest rotating stepped pyramid stands in the center of the market. A large selection of the well-known Plauen lace, printed fabric, ceramics and porcelain can be found here. Christmas as it was celebrated in the Middle Ages can be experienced in the Dresdener Schloss, a castle with a Renaissance ambience.
www.dresden-tourist.de

Leibzig

With more than 260 booths, this is one of Germany's largest Christmas Markets. Comprised of seven sections, the market includes a 66-foot fir tree, a fairytale forest, an exhibition of model trains, and the world's largest free standing Advent Calendar (listed in the Guiness Book of Records!). The world-famous St. Thomas Choir can be heard every Friday and Saturday.
www.leipzig.de

Lübeck

The Hanseatic City offers a wide variety of cultural events. During the Christmas Market at the Heilig-Geist-Spital, 180 artisans from Germany, Scandinavia and the Baltic region demonstrate their skills. Another arts and crafts market is located at St. Petrikirche, where visitors will find high quality products such as ceramics, wooden, glass and pewter objects, gold and silver jewelry, dolls, baskets, water color paintings and artistic postcards. Another highlight is the Christmas Café (Weihnachtscafé) in the townhouse of the patrician Buddenbrook family, portrayed in Thomas Mann's famous novel.
www.luebeck.de

Ludwigsburg

The Baroque Market Square is the setting for this market - famous well beyond its borders. The glittering Christmas village, with its fantastic gates of light and angels, 160 booths and huts decorated in the Baroque style, as well as an attractive cultural program, contribute to a unique ambience. Rides and puppet plays enchant the entire family. In the regional church history museum, models of 80 Christmas churches from the Baroque period to the present can be admired.
www.ludwigsburg.de

Stuttgart

One of Europe's oldest and most beautiful markets, with nearly 230 ornately decorated wooden booths. Highlights include collections of Christmas-related antiques and concerts presenting nostalgic and festive music. An open-air ice skating rink in front of the Neue Schloss contributes to the merriment.
www.stuttgart-tourist.de

Prien am Chiemsee

Here, at Lake Chiemsee (also known as the Bavarian Sea), visitors can take a cruise to the Christkindl Market on the small island of Fraueninsel in the lake. Over 50 booths offer arts and crafts, including figurines for nativity scenes, wood carvings and many other gift ideas. Concerts, an exhibition of fine old nativity scenes, and a special children's program add to the attraction.
www.prien.cheimsee.de

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