2010 Christmas Markets
Jan 13th, 2010, 07:56 PM
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The dates for most of the larger Christmas markets coincide with Advent. That is when they begin, so 4 weeks before Christmas. Some will start a couple of days ahead of that. Most close a couple of days before Christmas so that the vendors can be home by the afternoon of the 24th. There are a few cities that continue their markets after Christmas, but not that many.
Jan 13th, 2010, 09:08 PM
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I have used this site for researching the markets:
http://www.christmas-markets.org/
As you also found, the 2010 dates are not posted yet but it might be a good site to monitor. You could tried sending an email to the tourism office for the cities but the time frame as Mainhattengirl said coincides with Advent so you could get a pretty idea of the dates.
Have a fun trip!
http://www.christmas-markets.org/
As you also found, the 2010 dates are not posted yet but it might be a good site to monitor. You could tried sending an email to the tourism office for the cities but the time frame as Mainhattengirl said coincides with Advent so you could get a pretty idea of the dates.
Have a fun trip!
Jan 14th, 2010, 05:01 AM
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Here's another German Christmas market source that you can track.
http://www.germany-christmas-market.org.uk/
http://www.germany-christmas-market.org.uk/
Jan 14th, 2010, 05:07 AM
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Thank you for your suggestions. We are trying to use our Frequent Flyer Points to travel for the 2010 markets and I need to make our reservations next week. If anyone hears anything else, I will check this board frequently. (If nothing else I am taking the 2009 opening dates and planning on the same day of the week for 2010. Hope it works)
Jan 14th, 2010, 08:51 AM
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I live in Munich. As mentioned, the bigger Christmas Markets in Germany will start from the first Advent Sunday - actually a few days before. Since there are 4 Advent weekends and they take up the whole month of Dec, if you book to arrive anywhere after 1st Dec, you will be safe. In Munich, there is one major market at Marienplatz and lots of smaller ones with more atmosphere around the city - so you can just do Christmas market hopping - which is what I do every year. The big one is really crowded with both locals and tourists (but it is not touristy) in the evenings and weekends. And if you haven't had enough, you can take the train (inexpensive) to the market in Salzburg, Austria or to the Fraueninsel in Chiemsee. They are both special too.
Jan 14th, 2010, 08:54 AM
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Thingorgeous: Why so down on Heidelberg's Xmas market?
I enjoyed both Heidelberg's and Speyer's market this year. I didn't make it to all 5 of the Heidelberg locations but did hit the Universitätplatz, marktplatz and kornmarktplatz (with nice iceskating rink with Castle as a dramatic back drop) and found them different enough from one another to merit the time and effort to visit several...but then I personally enjoy a morning or afternoon in the attractive Altstadt every few months. The merchants' windows on Hauptstrasse were beautiful as well making it a very pleasant stroll.
Speyer, of course, is an altogether different experience and I would heartily recommend this special town to anyone who is visiting Heidelberg. I believe Speyer also has the advantage of staying open until after the holidays until Feast of the Epiphany but can't vouch for the quality after Christmas as I didn't visit then.
kathyanddick2: Manhattangirl gave you the usual "timing" for most markets
I would caution not to visit the day or two before the closing of any market because I found that many merchants start closing up shop or have actually closed their stall. Another example: they had started to take down the figurines in the central candle whirlymajig thingy decoration (sorry, don't know the technical name!) the day before the market officially closed (figures had been removed, no longer lit up)-which was a big disappointment and changed the complexion of the market.
Other markets in the Heidelberg area that might interest you if you are staying for several days-- other than Speyer, which was mentioned above:
Ladenburg-gem of a little town 20 minutes north of Heidelberg with a tiny Xmas market and only open on week-ends. But the town and the platz it's located on make it worth a visit if you can. If the market doesn't have what you are looking for, the local merchants have lots of special items and their windows were gorgeous this year-very impressive selection for such a small town. Christmas Decorations somewhere on virtually every building/door/shutter. Great restaurants and cafés. Really, really enjoyed this town.
Bad Wimpfen-another idyllic town setting on the Neckar River, very popular with locals but only open specific weekends before Christmas. Reachable via a short train ride.
Wissembourg, France-one hour drive west if you want to experience something French on a smaller, more intimate scale. Otherwise, I'm sure you know that Strasbourg is 45 minutes by train from Heidelberg...and that one is apparently great (hoping to get to it next year)
Rothenburg o/t - 1 1/2 hr drive from Heidelberg. This is normally one of the Michelin "Worth the Trip" designated cities and is even more special at Christmastime. They have a very structured market with set activities (as does Speyer). We went on a Wednesday when it is the town children's "Parade of Lights". It was so cute/impressive with all the children streaming into the platz with their radiant lanterns, their proud families, the nightwatchman's reading of the poem and dramatic exit on horseback, etc.
Stift Neuberg - located across the Neckar, upriver from Heidelberg in the Abbey near Ziegelhausen & only open on weekends but reachable by city bus (#33?). This is a very non-glitzy christmas market but special in its own right with "bio" products that the brothers make i.e. honey, wine & liquers, cheese, sausage, chutneys...all made from their animals, orchards and vinyards that surround the abbey. Live creche (sort of-- donkeys). Other merchants have all hand made items like leather, candles, blown glass, hand knitted items, wool products etc. that are of excellent quality. Whole pig roasting on the spit and specialty of fried or grilled trout from their own lake. Tip for eating: you must purchase a food card from a special cashier window. This then gets punched as you get refills of glühwein (reportedly the best in the area) or food. If you don't use it all; you can cash it in before you leave. (I suspect a good number of people don't bother and this becomes a good other way for the good Brothers to get some revenue)
Only market this year I wouldn't recommend in the area: Schwetzingen. It was nice in a very "locals" way. Mainly food stands (that the locals were takng full advantage of to have some refreshments and catch up on the happening) and very limited selection of products. It is nice for kids...ice skating rink and little choo-choo train, but Speyer and Heidelberg have better.
I enjoyed both Heidelberg's and Speyer's market this year. I didn't make it to all 5 of the Heidelberg locations but did hit the Universitätplatz, marktplatz and kornmarktplatz (with nice iceskating rink with Castle as a dramatic back drop) and found them different enough from one another to merit the time and effort to visit several...but then I personally enjoy a morning or afternoon in the attractive Altstadt every few months. The merchants' windows on Hauptstrasse were beautiful as well making it a very pleasant stroll.
Speyer, of course, is an altogether different experience and I would heartily recommend this special town to anyone who is visiting Heidelberg. I believe Speyer also has the advantage of staying open until after the holidays until Feast of the Epiphany but can't vouch for the quality after Christmas as I didn't visit then.
kathyanddick2: Manhattangirl gave you the usual "timing" for most markets
I would caution not to visit the day or two before the closing of any market because I found that many merchants start closing up shop or have actually closed their stall. Another example: they had started to take down the figurines in the central candle whirlymajig thingy decoration (sorry, don't know the technical name!) the day before the market officially closed (figures had been removed, no longer lit up)-which was a big disappointment and changed the complexion of the market.
Other markets in the Heidelberg area that might interest you if you are staying for several days-- other than Speyer, which was mentioned above:
Ladenburg-gem of a little town 20 minutes north of Heidelberg with a tiny Xmas market and only open on week-ends. But the town and the platz it's located on make it worth a visit if you can. If the market doesn't have what you are looking for, the local merchants have lots of special items and their windows were gorgeous this year-very impressive selection for such a small town. Christmas Decorations somewhere on virtually every building/door/shutter. Great restaurants and cafés. Really, really enjoyed this town.
Bad Wimpfen-another idyllic town setting on the Neckar River, very popular with locals but only open specific weekends before Christmas. Reachable via a short train ride.
Wissembourg, France-one hour drive west if you want to experience something French on a smaller, more intimate scale. Otherwise, I'm sure you know that Strasbourg is 45 minutes by train from Heidelberg...and that one is apparently great (hoping to get to it next year)
Rothenburg o/t - 1 1/2 hr drive from Heidelberg. This is normally one of the Michelin "Worth the Trip" designated cities and is even more special at Christmastime. They have a very structured market with set activities (as does Speyer). We went on a Wednesday when it is the town children's "Parade of Lights". It was so cute/impressive with all the children streaming into the platz with their radiant lanterns, their proud families, the nightwatchman's reading of the poem and dramatic exit on horseback, etc.
Stift Neuberg - located across the Neckar, upriver from Heidelberg in the Abbey near Ziegelhausen & only open on weekends but reachable by city bus (#33?). This is a very non-glitzy christmas market but special in its own right with "bio" products that the brothers make i.e. honey, wine & liquers, cheese, sausage, chutneys...all made from their animals, orchards and vinyards that surround the abbey. Live creche (sort of-- donkeys). Other merchants have all hand made items like leather, candles, blown glass, hand knitted items, wool products etc. that are of excellent quality. Whole pig roasting on the spit and specialty of fried or grilled trout from their own lake. Tip for eating: you must purchase a food card from a special cashier window. This then gets punched as you get refills of glühwein (reportedly the best in the area) or food. If you don't use it all; you can cash it in before you leave. (I suspect a good number of people don't bother and this becomes a good other way for the good Brothers to get some revenue)
Only market this year I wouldn't recommend in the area: Schwetzingen. It was nice in a very "locals" way. Mainly food stands (that the locals were takng full advantage of to have some refreshments and catch up on the happening) and very limited selection of products. It is nice for kids...ice skating rink and little choo-choo train, but Speyer and Heidelberg have better.
Jan 14th, 2010, 12:09 PM
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I don't like Heidelberg. My mother lived in Heidelberg for almost a year back in the 1960's. She was English, but spoke fluent German.
I am a descendant of the Counts of Speyer. My cousin is married to one of the Hohenzollerns and she doesn't like Heidelberg either. She thinks it is depressing.
Thin
I am a descendant of the Counts of Speyer. My cousin is married to one of the Hohenzollerns and she doesn't like Heidelberg either. She thinks it is depressing.
Thin
Jan 14th, 2010, 01:01 PM
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Yes, there were counts of Speyer.
There are members of my family who are listed in the Almanach de Gotha.
My half-sister was a duchess, a member of the House of Austria-Este. I am also the cousin of an Arch-duchess of Austria.
Thin
There are members of my family who are listed in the Almanach de Gotha.
My half-sister was a duchess, a member of the House of Austria-Este. I am also the cousin of an Arch-duchess of Austria.
Thin
Jan 15th, 2010, 09:36 AM
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We fly in on Thanksgiving day for the markets and they have always been open. Hours of opening and even days are different from town to town. In cities, they are generally more extensive.
This past year we flew in to Berlin and home from Munich, visiting some lovely towns in between. Wurzburg and Bamberg were two of our favorites.
And Berlin was fabulous overall.
This past year we flew in to Berlin and home from Munich, visiting some lovely towns in between. Wurzburg and Bamberg were two of our favorites.
And Berlin was fabulous overall.
Feb 17th, 2010, 06:06 PM
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You've received many good comments - but I think some of them are trying to differentiate between good and great. Every experience I have had with the markets, big and small, has been good.
In retrospect, my favorites have been the smaller markets - such as Bad Wimfen and my favorite, Michelstadt. My all time favorites are the very small towns who have a market only one weekend during the season. EVERYBODY comes because that is the only MARKET of the year.
The smaller markets work best for me because I am not a "shopper" but rather really enjoy sitting on the sidelines watching old friends connect, young mothers showing off new babies, and fathers taking their teenage sons into the brewery to learn the rituals of "how to do it" properly. [I am not a fool]
The big markets will amaze you with their scope and variety, but for me the smaller markets give you just a bit of a view, of the people of Germany.
In retrospect, my favorites have been the smaller markets - such as Bad Wimfen and my favorite, Michelstadt. My all time favorites are the very small towns who have a market only one weekend during the season. EVERYBODY comes because that is the only MARKET of the year.
The smaller markets work best for me because I am not a "shopper" but rather really enjoy sitting on the sidelines watching old friends connect, young mothers showing off new babies, and fathers taking their teenage sons into the brewery to learn the rituals of "how to do it" properly. [I am not a fool]
The big markets will amaze you with their scope and variety, but for me the smaller markets give you just a bit of a view, of the people of Germany.
