Christmas Market Towns

There's a listing "Christmas in Europe" on the Graffiti Wall. Lots of people have posted, including a really comprehensive post by Jo, who lives in Frankfurt.

Hi Terry Kathryn, Will you be moving around the area at all, or will you be basing yourself and staying put in or near Riquewhir? I ask because a bit of a drive north is the town of Monschau, Germany. I visited there in May 2009 but I understand they have a great Christmas market, too. It's really a quaint little town. I've seen many of your other posts where it seems you tend to rove around on a trip, so I thought I'd throw it out there even though it's about 5 hours north of Riquewhir. Thought if you'd be in the neighborhood, you might want to stop by!

@Angela... Yes, I am definitely a wanderer and not opposed to driving to get where I want to go. I will look at that town and again appreciate a personal rec from someone who has been there and enjoyed it. I will also look at the posts by Jo... I was hoping she would respond but if she has already answered this elsewhere I will find it...Thanks

Salzburg has a large, lovely market. And you can't beat the atmosphere!

Terry Kathryn,
I am a lurker like Kira and just thought that I would add to the post. Since many of the people who will read this post are interested in Christmas Markets. I just thought I would add that Chicago has a great German style Christmas Market from the day after Thanksgiving to Christmas. They have these red and white striped tents and many authentic items to purchase as well as good foood. Enjoy the real German Markets while we settle for a knockoff until we can make a trip in December.

@Nate... Thank you... I may very well visit both as I am always looking for things to do close to Ann Arbor, (close is relative, as I do not mind driving you are only about 4 hours away) I had not heard of this before... so, do they serve good spatzel and goulash suppe??? I am sure they have great beer, but alas, I do not drink beer.

Hi Terry Kathryn,
We spent Christmas '09 in Bavaria, and there are a lot of great markets. Nurnberg is an obvious choice, as it's the biggest. Great atmosphere in that one. We also loved Rothenburg, mostly because of the town surrounding it. The market is tiny, but the town is enchanting. Salzburg is also great (town and market), dinkelsbuhl (sp?) also has a quaint little market. Munich's shut down the day before we got there, but it looked like it would have been a good one. Germany in Christmas is spectacular, so I'd highly recommend you do the trip.

My post about the Christmas markets is over on the Graffiti Wall, so a bit easier to find then on this forum with its wonky search function. Anyway, the towns I recommend would be Büdingen if you want a walled medieval town with a market that winds through a town filled to the brim with fachwerk houses. Idstein if you want spectacular fachwerk houses and one of the most unusual churches around, the Union Church. Seligenstadt if you want more artistic and creative gifts as well as the chance to be in the largest and best preserved abbey in Hessen. Bad Homburg for the setting as it is held partly in the court yard of Kaiser Wilhelm the 2nd summer palace and then winds down through the town. The back drop of the Taunus Mountains is gorgeous. Next door is the Redeemer Church which is stunning inside! For photography, Rüdesheim might be interesting as they decorate really well and you look out over the Rhine, though the gift selection is the tackiest of all of the markets I have visited. Wiesbaden has lovely decorations too, and has the Markt Kirche overlooking it, but I found the market to be kind of dull. Frankfurt is the party market but it is all really pretty, as it is set in the old town square, overlooked by both the Kaiserdom and the Alte Nikolai church.

* 21 Nov. - 23 Dec. - Rüdesheim Christmas Market of the Nations * 21 Nov. - 23 Dec. - Darmstadt Christmas Market * 21 Nov. - 23 Dec. - Offenbach Christmas Market * 23 Nov. - 22 Dec. - Frankfurt Christmas Market * 22 Nov. - 23 Dec. - Wiesbaden Twinkling Star Market * 24 Nov. - 23 Dec. - Mainz Christmas Market * 24 Nov. - 22 Dec. - Aschaffenburg Christmas Market * 24 Nov. - 11 Dec. - Seligenstadt Advent Market * 25 Nov. - 22 Dec. - Hanau Magical Christmas Market * 26 Nov. - 23 Dec. - Limburg Christmas Fair * 27 Nov. - 18 Dec. - Bad Homburg v.d.Hohe Romantic Christmas Market (on Sat. & Sun. only) * 24-27 Nov. - Oberursel Christmas Market * 25 Nov. - 4 Dec. - Hadamar Castle Christmas * 25-27 Nov. - Frankfurt Swedish Christmas Market * 25-27 Nov. - Rüsselsheim Christmastime Arts & Crafts Market * 26-27 Nov. - Castle Ronneburg Historical Christmas Market * 26-27 Nov. - Dietzenbach Old Town Christmas Market * 26-27 Nov. - Ober-Mörlen, Castle Christmas Market * 26-27 Nov. - Butzbach, Old Town Christmast Market
* 26-27 Nov. - Neu Ansbach, Advent Market

* 2 Dec. - Frankfurt, Bornheim Christmas Market on the Berger Str. * 2-4 Dec. - Königstein, Christmas Market * 2-4 Dec. - Schlüchtern, Christmas Market * 2-4 Dec. - Bad Orb, Christmas Market * 2-4 Dec. - Idstein Traditional Christmas Market * 3-4 Dec. - Büdingen, Christmas Market, (Medieval Market along inner wall) * 3-4 Dec. - Castle Ronneburg Historical Christmas Market * 3-4 Dec. - Hofheim, Advent Market * 2-11 Dec. - Gelnhausen, Christmas Market * 3-11 Dec. - Dreieich, Hayn Christmas Market * 4-5 Dec. - Neu-Isenburg, Old Town Christmas Market * 9-11 Dec. - Bad Nauheim, Mountain Christmas * 10-11 Dec. - Eppstein, Old Town Christmas Market * 10-11 Dec. - Kronberg, Castle Christmas Market * 10-11 Dec. - Hessen Park, Traditional Christmas Market * 10-11 Dec. - Altenstadt Christmas Market * 10-11 Dec. - Steinau Castle Christmas Market * 10-11 Dec. - Castle Ronneburg Historical Christmas Market * 12-18 Dec. - Seligenstadt, Christmas Market Magic * 17-18 Dec. - Friedrichsdorf, Christmas Market
* 26-27 Dec. - Ortenberg, Christmas Market Bleichenbach A plethora of Christmas Markets all over Germany http://www.weihnachtsmarkt-deutschland.de/

@Jo: Wow. What a GREAT list - thanks from a lurker on this thread! I'll be in Europe in Nov./Dec. and this list is really going to come in handy! Thanks!

@Jo... thanks so much. I knew you would have all the great info on Germany. I have been to a few of the towns mentioned and would love to seem them all dressed up for the holidays. I really don't care a ton about the shopping as I tend not to buy a lot of stuff, but want to wander the streets and enjoy the festive atmosphere. I am thinking of going a day or two after Thanksgiving...looks like all markets will be open then.
So, who can guarantee just enough snow to make it beautiful???

Terry Kathryn,
The Christkind in the Nurnberg Markt travels to the Chicago Market the following year. She's featured in Rick's European Christmas DVD and Book and it explains a bit about it. I've not been to Chicago, but I read about it a few years ago and it seems worthwhile.

Jo, you're the bomb! Terry, I''ve always loved the Trier market, it's in the square and leading up to the Cathedral, which is all lit up. Food is good too! And Trier other things to do too.

Terry, I have always been jealous of all the group meetings ie, Denver, Atlanta, Sacramento etc. Maybe we could line up a weekend in December and meet at the Christkindlmarket. We live about 2.5 hours south of Chicago so it would be a great meeting point. There is very good German food (Brat's, Pretzel's, Spaetzel, Hot Chocolate, Cherry and Apple Fritters etc) and the Hot Wine (Gluehwein) served in the little boot mugs. Last year was an adventure with a 8 mo old in 14 deg F weather. We are looking forward to this year a little more. It makes you feel like you are in Germany for a little while. Enjoy.
Nate

@Nate... sounds like fun... as soon as I know for sure if I am going to the European Markets I will let you know the dates. There must be lots of RS people close to Chicago who would love to attend. I will also get a little fix of Germany next month at Epcot.

I recall the markets in Munich and Salzburg being especially pretty, festive, full of atmosphere, etc. It was great fun to see and experience them. The market in Rothenburg was smaller, as I recall, but there is also that famous (and I believe the original) Kathe Wolfhart Christmas store; just walking into that store (with all of the lights, decorations, etc.) was quite a sight (although I have heard some criticize their NEVER-ENDING,YEAR-ROUND marketing of Christmas!). And Rothenburg itself is such a pretty town. I also enjoyed the Christkindlmarkt in Vienna, right under the Rathaus. All of the booths, decorations, food, drink, kids' rides, etc.; was especially pretty/festive at night and was an excelent way to see how the locals warmly embrace their celebration traditions. Def brings great memories of my winter trip to Germany & Austria some years back!