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MEDIEVAL CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN GERMANY
Christmas Time in Castles and Towns of the Middle-Ages

Germany is famous for its Christmas Markets (Weinachtsmarkt). Almost every town has some form of market before the winter holidays. The largest and best known can be found in the big cities of the south like Munich, Stuttgart and Nuremburg (see Best Big German Christmas Markets). Some of the more quant and unique markets can be found in actual castles and medieval villages. Some take up to a month of weekends, while others are only for a few days.

Wartburg Castle in Germany’s former East was home for a time to Martin Luther, the famous reformer, who hid out in a small room of the castle as he began to translate his version of the bible and notoriously threw an inkpot at the devel (see Martin Luther at Wartburg). Today the castle it is a beautifully maintained medieval fortress with its own luxury hotel, a far cry from the simple chamber the cleric knew. At Christmas time the castle ground transforms for the 4 weekends of advent into a unique medieval Christmas Market. Vendors and artisans show their artistry by making candles, blowing glass and hand crafted jewelry. Mouthwatering specialties and of course The famed mulled Gluehwein is offered in the food stalls along the courtyard with delicious Christmas time specialities.

Beautiful, smaller and less known Christmas Markets can be found hidden away in castles around Germany. Close to the historic medieval town of Regensburg in Bavaria, known for its Renaissance and Baroque architecture can be found the enchanting knights Castle of Hexenagger on a hill above the Schambach valley. On the four weekends before Christmas the castle becomes a medieval Christmas Market, imbued with the sweet aroma of sugar-roasted almonds and mulled wine, decorated by over 30,000 Christmas lights, candles and torches, and holiday music with the historic castle walls and “haunted” by it “castle ghosts”. Castle Hexenagger

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, one of Germany's best known and well preserved medieval walled towns, located along on the on the Romantic Road in northern Bavaria (See Rothenburg Museums) is also host to one of the most romantic of Christmas Markets within its old city walls. The annual "Reiterlesmarkt" Christmas market offers local specialties. And be sure to enjoy the local sweet treat, the "Schneeball" (snow ball), which is made from strips of sweet dough fried and covered with powdered sugar or chocolate. Rothenburg is also home to Christmas craft company Kathe Wohlfahrt who maintains a Christmas village in Rothenberg all year round, but blooms at Christmastime into a holiday wonderland with its Christmas Pyramids and music boxes. Kathe Wohlfahrt

In the north at the beautiful Castle of Bad Iburg, located near Osnabruck in the, local merchants and craftsmen offer their wares on the weekend from November 29th to November 30th. While at the historic town of Wismar on the coast of the Baltic sea was at one time one of the most wealthy and powerful centers of the Hanseatic League and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Wismar's great market square with its spectacularly lit Rathaus, elaborate fountain and beautiful old gabled houses is transformed into a Christmas townscape treat for the whole family with its special children's Christmas market, and goods from nearby Sweden and its Finnish Village.

The Freiburg Christmas Market held in the center of the old town of also offers special activities for kids where they can bake their own gingerbread treats in the Christmas bakery and create handicrafts in the Land of Lights. The scents of mulled wine, sausage and honeyed gingerbread waft through the streets of crafts, hand-blown glass and wooden toys. Freiburg

Aachen Christmas Market in the historic city of Aachen near the Belgium border runs for almost five weeks and takes the form of a caringly decorated Christmas village below the great gothic cathedral and town hall on the citiy;s market square. Aachen’s most well known Christmas treat is the Printen, their own special variety of gingerbread. The market sells everything from stocking fillers to one-of-a-kind gifts. Aachen

Oberammerhau Christkindle Known for its medieval “Passion Play” in the spring months but at Christmas time in Oberammergau the “Christkindle Markt” is the lower alpine region’s special unique version of a Chrisitmas Market with homemade jam, hand-knitted wooly socks and Christmas hand-craft jewelery. Ride a horse sleigh in the Graswang Valley below the Ammergau hills to the fairytale world of King Ludwig’s Castle Linderhof (see Mad Ludwig’s Schloss Linderhof). © Bargain Travel Europe

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See Also:

THE BAROQUE CHURCHES OF MUNICH

MAX KRUG CLOCKS

NUREMBURG TOY MUSEUM

SCHONBURG CASTLE HOTEL ON THE RHINE RIVER

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