Festive Magic Germany’s Time of
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Christmas markets
Germany’s Time of
Festive Magic
ChristmasFairy Tale
Wiesbaden
Understanding Germany’s historic cities often means more than just visiting its buildings. It’s about understanding its customs and traditions. Augsburg, Erfurt, Freiburg, Heidelberg, Koblenz, Mainz, Münster, Osnabrück, Potsdam, Regensburg, Rostock, Trier, Wiesbaden and Würzburg are joined together as ‘Historic Highlights of Germany’ – 14 of the best alternative cities for short breaks off the beaten travel paths.
Feel the unique atmosphere! Meet up with friends and family and enjoy ‘Glühwein’ (mulled wine) together. The twinkling scenes of festively decorated squares with their enchanting market stalls and glittering Christmas trees set against the backdrop of beautiful historic buuildings, let visitors relieve the magic of yesteryear. The aromas of roasted chestnuts, grilled sausages, ginger bread and delicious biscuits fill the air and help to create that very special yuletide ambience – Germany’s time of festive magic.
As varied as its melting pot of cultures and storied past, Historic Highlights of Germany member cities are as well-known for their preserved customs and traditions, outstanding cuisine and unique heritage. Characterized by their own distinctive settings and regional traditions, our cities offer a wide range of regional Christmas markets as a more intimate alternative.
christmasmarkets.travel
Münster
Why is Christmas in December?
Origins of Christianity in Germany’s historic cities
Trier
Augsburg
Constantine the Great
Mainz
Mainz
The Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, who reigned in Trier in the 4th century, was to bring the big change of Christianity. He granted all Christians full religious freedom with the Edict of Milan in 313. Ultimately, he had himself baptized and declared Christianity as the Roman state religion.
It is assumed that as early as the 4th century AD, a Christian community under episcopal leadership already existed in Mainz. 500 years after Emperor Constantine’s Edict of Milan, the Synod (comparable to a parliament of the church) met in Mainz in 813, officially declaring December 25th as “festum navitas Christi”. The tradition of celebrating Christmas on December 25th gained ground throughout Germany and in the course of Christianization, Christmas has reached its current worldwide spread.
In 326, sections of the imperial family’s private residential palaces were extended and converted to a large double basilica, the remains of which are still partly recognizable in the area of the Trier Cathedral. The Romans began their celebrations in honor of the invincible sun god Saturn on December 25th – the day of the winter solstice.
Regensburg
Christmas Heritage Routes
Get ready to indulge in the
Christmas spirit!
1•
Christmas along German rivers
2•
Christmas in Black Forest and Bavaria
Koblenz
Trier
Wiesbaden Mainz Heidelberg
Würzburg Regensburg Augsburg Freiburg
Mainz
In Koblenz, where the Rhine and Moselle converge, the Christmas market is held in the heart of the old quarter. You can also look forward to a life-size Nativity scene and plenty of additional entertainment. Further along the Moselle is the Roman town of Trier, where the enchanting Christmas market with its beautiful wooden huts fills the main square in front of the cathedral. Osnabrück
Germany has a long history of rich Christmas traditions that live on today through its festive holiday markets. Spend some time exploring the spectacular ancient, medieval, and Renaissance cities on our itineraries, noteworthy any time of year but particularly special adorned in their holiday finery. Historic Highlights of Germany has compiled four regional Christmas tours of the country that will allow you to experience the best of its Christmas markets.
Germany’s historical towns and cities are at their most enchanting at Christmas. Throughout the land, Christmas markets capture the magic of the season with twinkling lights, traditional handicrafts, festive music and delicious food and drink. Our four holiday routes cover 14 destinations in Germany whose yuletide attractions are just part of their appeal. Great times and lasting memories are as good as guaranteed.
Next is Mainz on the banks of the Rhine. A Nativity scene with handcarved figures stands beneath its towering cathedral, while the Christmas market offers mouthwatering delights under a sea of twinkling lights. It’s well worth crossing the river here to visit the festive Twinkling Star Christmas Market market in Wiesbaden. The final stop is Heidelberg on the Neckar river, where the Christmas market extends over six squares in the old town beneath the famous castle. It’s hard to imagine a more delightful setting.
Würzburg
The Minster tower offers the best views of Freiburg’s old quarter and the Christmas market. Even at this lofty height, the aromas of glühwein, bratwurst sausages and German gingerbread drift up through the air and entice you back down. It’s then on to Augsburg, where one of Germany’s oldest Christmas markets is arranged outside the Renaissance town hall. Watching the musicplaying angels in the windows of this magnificent building is an unforgettable experience. As well as a traditional Christmas market, Regensburg also hosts the Lucrecia arts and crafts market and the ‘Romantic Christmas market’ at the Thurn and Taxis Royal Palace – a magical experience with thousands of lights and flickering torches. The tour ends in Würzburg, with handmade wares made from glass, straw, tin and wood on offer against a backdrop of historical buildings.
3•
From Germany’s heart to Baltic sea
4•
Peaceful Christmas breaks
Rostock
Augsburg Potsdam
Osnabrück Münster
Erfurt Wiesbaden
Erfurt
The third tour begins in Erfurt at the very heart of Germany. The city’s cathedral and Church of St. Severus provide a stunning backdrop for the Christmas market, which is set up around a giant Christmas tree. Festive melodies fill the air, as do the aromas of traditional stollen, cake and sweets. The next stop is Potsdam with its four Christmas markets: the one near Sanssouci Palace featuring handicrafts and Brandenburg specialities, the Bohemian market in Babelsberg, the market on the Bornstedt Crown Estate with steam-powered carousels and the Sinterklaas market in the Dutch quarter. The largest Christmas market in northern Germany is on the Baltic coast in Rostock, whose town hall square is packed with happy visitors enjoying cakes and cookies, smoked sausage and other yuletide treats.
Osnabrück
The Christmas market in Osnabrück has been voted the prettiest in northern Germany. In addition to the lovingly restored carousels and abundance of stalls, it features two special attractions: a nutcracker standing six metres tall and the world’s largest Christmas musical box. Concerts are held in the local churches and Father Christmas opens a new door of the Advent calendar every day. From here, it is half an hour to Münster, which has five markets in the city centre. The oldest is set beneath a spellbinding canopy of glittering lights in the town hall courtyard. Close by, you’ll find the market at the Church of St. Aegidius, which boasts a Nativity scene and carousels, and Pferdegasse market, whose light projections prove popular when darkness falls. The tour ends with another visit to the Twinkling Star Christmas Market in Wiesbaden or a trip to Mainz.
Enchanting Christmas Markets! Top Tips
AUGSBURG
FREIBURG
Augsburg’s ‘Christkindlesmarkt’ radiates the charm of the holiday season with more than 500 years of tradition. Every weekend evening, twenty-four angels make music while standing in the windows of the impressive Renaissance Town Hall.
This picturesque city bordering the Black Forest knows how to celebrate Christmas. The market extends through much of the city. Traditional Xmas goodies are unique holiday themed crafts that are offered up by friendly business owners. www.weihnachtsmarkt.freiburg.de
www.augsburgerchristkindlesmarkt.com
ERFURT
HEIDELBERG
The 150-years-old Erfurt Christmas market is one of the largest in Germany. St Mary’s Cathedral, where Martin Luther was ordained as a priest in 1511, provides an atmospheric setting for the 200 stalls selling regional crafts and delicious culinary delights.
Heidelberg is renowned for its romantic ambiance and never does the “fairytale of times past” come more alive than when the magic of Christmas illuminates the Old Town. One highlight is the annual Heidelberg Castle Christmas market in the Castle Garden.
www.erfurter-weihnachtsmarkt.eu
www.heidelberg-marketing.com
KOBLENZ
MÜNSTER
POTSDAM
ROSTOCK
The beautiful Koblenz Christmas Market is perfectly situated in the charming Rhine-Mosel region. Each weekend, popular cappella choirs and singers guarantee a very special atmosphere at the Christmas Vocal Festival.
The Principal Market in Münster is bathed in a golden light and the entire historic city center is festively decorated. Take a truly enchanting tour! There are five different Christmas markets, all just minutes away from one another by foot.
Traditional Christmas markets are situated in Potsdam’s historical Old Town near Sanssouci Palace as well as in the midst of the UNESCO World Heritage Site „Krongut Bornstedt“ (Bornstedt Crown Estate) with its children’s railway and steam-powered merry-go-round, dating to 1893.
Northern Germany’s largest Christmas market conjures up a festive blaze of lights in the Old Town of Rostock. Each weekend, fairytales are re-enacted on the Fairytale Castle Stage. At the official opening, the first cut is made in the giant stollen cake.
www.weihnachtsmarkt-koblenz.de
www.tourismus.muenster.de www.potsdam-tourism.com
www.rostocker-weihnachtsmarkt.de
MAINZ
OSNABRÜCK
REGENSBURG
TRIER
The Mainz Christmas Market has been operating since 1788. Immerse yourself in Christmas cheer by enjoying some delicous ‘Glühwein’ in the cosy Wine barrel cabins of Germany’s Great Wine Capital! Set beneath the shadow of the 1,000-year-old Cathedral, showmen and musicians mesmerise audiences with their festive celebrations and yuletide cheer.
A special attraction of Osnabrück’s Christmas market is the largest Christmas music box in the world. Atmospheric bright lights illuminate the Old Town as a lovingly restored children’s merry-go-round from 1907 turns and festively decorated stalls offer craftworks, wooden toys, or sweets.
The traditional Bavarian Christmas market of Regensburg was already mentioned in 1791. The UNESCO World Heritage town invites travelers to three Advent markets. The Lucrezia craft market, the traditional Christmas market in the heart of the old town and the ‘Romantic Christmas market’ at Thurn and Taxis Palace.
As Germany’s oldest city, Trier’s glorious history can be witnessed at every step on a stroll through the bustling Old Quarter. The Main Market and the Cathedral present themselves as a picturesque backdrop for the beautiful Christmas market. Delicious white or red mulled wine is presented by Germany‘s first ‘Glühwein’ Queen!
www.regensburg.de/tourism
www.trierer-weihnachtsmarkt.de
www.osnabrueck.de/english www.touristik-mainz.de
WIESBADEN Advent season is Wiesbaden’s star season as its Twinkling Star Christmas Market takes place on the idyllic square alongside the historic city palace. Festively illuminated lilies from Wiesbaden’s coat of arms shine out over the market and the city center.
Lebkuchen
www.wiesbaden.de/christmas
Makronen
Regensburg
Spekulatius
Weihnachtsbaum Stollen Engel
WÜRZBURG The Würzburg Christmas market tradition dates back to the early 19th century and the historical market square with its Gothic Chapel and abundance of Baroque architecture provide a charming Christmas Card Scene. A fine selection of local arts and crafts await you in the historical Town Hall courtyard. www.wuerzburg.de
GlühweinMandeln
christmasmarkets.travel
Regensburg
Christkind Kipferl
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More Info
Historic Highlights of Germany Simeonstrasse 55 DE-54290 Trier / Germany Tel.: +49 (0) 651.979.004-60 Fax: +49 (0) 651.979.004-62 www.historicgermany.com info@historicgermany.com Photo credits: Axel Unbehend, HHoG/ Takano, Ron Stern, Bjรถrn Rudek, OMT/Heese, CTW, P!ELMEDIA, Erfurt Tourismus und Marketing GmbH/ Barbara Neumann, Landeshauptstadt Mainz, Stadt Augsburg, FWTM/ Schoenen, air-klick.de, Regensburg Tourismus Marketing GmbH, Groร markt Rostock GmbH/ Th. Ulrich, Trierer Weihnachtsmarkt/Vatheuer
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