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Germany is home to the Christmas markets, here in fact were born as far back as the fifteenth century the first Christmas Markets, so a trip to Germany during Advent allows you to see and enjoy their real taste and tradition.
The oldest Germany Christmas market (and of course the oldest in the world) can be found in Dresden in Saxony: Christmas market in Dresden. Near Dresden are to report the Christmas Market in Meissen – a town famous for its porcelain – and the Christmas Market in Bautzen, the cultural center of the Sorbs, a Slavic minority in Saxony.
In eastern Germany should not miss a visit to the famous Christmas Markets in Berlin. The German capital during the Christmas is home to over 60 Christmas markets, the three most beautiful are those that take place in Spandau, in the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche in Gendarmenmarkt and in front of the palace of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf. For those visiting Berlin are definitely worth seeing even the markets of Potsdam a city that houses the eighteenth century palace Sanssouci, a masterpiece of architecture of the era.
In Bavaria the Christmas Market at Nuremberg, the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt is one of the best known and largest in Germany, as well as that of Munich. Smaller but equally beautiful is the Christmas Market in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a famous holiday resort in the Bavarian Alps.
To be discovered are the markets that take place in the small German historic towns like those of Freiburg (Freiburg im Breisgau) a picturesque town in the middle of one of the most important wine areas of Germany. Very beautiful are the Christmas markets of Schwäbisch Hall or the famous Medieval Christmas Market of Bad Wipfen, while the small town of Gengenbach is known for the largest Advent calendar in the world, all of these are destinations of Baden-Wurttemberg. In Bavaria you will find the Romantic Christmas Market of Nördlingen im Ries, a beautiful medieval town characterized by its medieval town walls still intact. Still in Bavaria is Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a jewel of medieval Bavarian houses with a small but charming Advent market. In Hesse, not far from Frankfurt (where is another large and famous market), is to report the Christmas Market in Michelstadt im Odenwald, a beautiful medieval town. Not far from Wiesbaden is the Christmas Market of Nations in Rudesheim am Rhein. Among the most beautiful – in the south-west of Germany – is the Christmas market in Sankt Wendel, in Saarland, specializing in handicrafts and where every afternoon passed the caravan of the Magi. In Rhineland-Palatinate are to visit the markets of Cochem and Deidesheim.
Hamburg, Germany’s second city, is home to three main different Christmas markets. South of Hamburg very intriguing is the market of Lüneburg with its “Salt Lamps”, to the west of Hamburg is the town of Stade – an ancient port which once rivaled Hamburg – also with a romantic Christmas market. While near Hanover, in Lower Saxony, is the Hamelin Christmas Market – the city of the Pied Piper – which is one of the most attractive markets in Northern Germany and the Christmas market of Celle, a town with a beautiful old town made of more than 500 old houses made of wood. Between Hanover and the Dutch border it is to be reported the beautiful historical Christmas market of the town of Osnabrück, while between Hanover and Magdeburg it is to be reported the Christmas market in the small town of Wolfenbüttel. One of the largest markets of Germany takes place in Dortmund, the main town in the Ruhr, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Also in North Rhine-Westphalia is the medieval town of Soest, characterized by palaces and churches built in the typical green sandstone and wooden houses, a beautiful setting for the local Christmas market.
If you love art a must, during Christmas, it is a visit to one of the beautiful German cities that are part of the UNESCO World Heritage List:
In Bavaria are not to miss the Christmas Markets of Bamberg and Regensburg. Bamberg’s old episcopal town, has a delightful old town that lies on seven hills and is famous not only for the Christmas Market but also for its Nativity trail. Regensburg, known for its medieval architecture that make it one of the best preserved medieval towns in Germany has a nice Christmas market set up in the Neupfarrplatz. Still in Bavaria is the city of Würzburg with its majestic Würzburger Residenz, a grand Baroque palace of the eighteenth century, which in addition to the classic Christmas market in the old town, also has a charming Christmas market in the Medieval Fortress Marienberg.
In Rhineland-Palatinate it is to visit the markets of Trier, an ancient city with important Roman remains, and Speyer, with its beautiful Romanesque cathedral. While in the North Rhine-Westphalia is a very nice Christmas market in Aachen, the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. Among the most beautiful of Germany is the Christmas market in Cologne (Koln) with its famous cathedral – a masterpiece of medieval Gothic – this city has seven main Christmas markets.
Quedlinburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Germany with hundreds of old wooden half-timbered houses, it is located in Saxony-Anhalt and is home to a beautiful Christmas market. Still in Saxony-Anhalt worth a visit the Christmas market of Naumburg (Saale). In Thuringia the city of Weimar – an important cultural center in the eighteenth century and early nineteenth century – houses a beautiful Christmas market, but the largest and best known Christmas market of Thuringia is the Christmas market in Erfurt, the state capital.
In Lower Saxony is the beautiful historic town of Goslar, the ancient royal city of the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, with beautiful medieval architecture that is well integrated with the Christmas market, near Goslar not miss a visit to the mine Rammelsberg, which is also part of UNESCO heritage. Still in Lower Saxony very interesting is the town of Hildesheim – not far from Hanover – which also has buildings dating back to medieval times and to the Holy Roman Empire, and with a nice Christmas market that takes place in the charming market square.
In northwestern Germany, it is located Bremen, the city that once was the most important port in the country, now it is famous for its old town (Altstadt) – where is the old town hall (Bremer Rathaus) – and on which square takes place the romantic Christmas market, considered one of the finest in Germany.
Along the coast of northern Germany, on the shores of the Baltic Sea, are worth a visit the three towns of Lübeck, Stralsund and Wismar, all these cities are ancient and important ports of the Hanseatic League. Lübeck, in Schleswig-Holstein, was among the most important cities of the Hanseatic League and still has a beautiful old town, in whose squares takes place the Christmas Market. Wismar, which is located on the Baltic Sea, not far from Luebeck, is famous for its beautiful Baltic Gothic-style buildings overlooking the large square where the Christmas Market takes place. The city of Stralsund, completes the triptych of Hanseatic cities on the Baltic that are in the UNESCO World Heritage list, it is characterized by beautiful medieval buildings and during the Christmas offers to the visitors a nice market which extends between its two main squares: the Alter Markt and the Neuer Markt. Typically Danish is the Christmas market in Flensburg.