Why Germany is the king of the Christmas market

When did Christmas markets originate in Germany?

There have been winter markets in Germany since medieval times. There’s strong debate about which city had the original Christmas market as Dresden’s claim to be the first is heavily contested by Weimar.

Do you find markets all over Germany?

Absolutely, every village will have something, however small, and Berlin, our capital city, has as many as 60 markets.

Didn’t the Christmas tree originate in Germany?

Yes it did – the practice spread across Europe in the 19th century. People think Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, was the first to set up a Christmas tree in the UK, but it was actually George III’s wife, Queen Charlotte, who introduced the concept. Dortmund claims to have the world’s tallest tree, standing 45 metres high – it’s actually 1,700 fir trees bound together and covered in 48,000 lights.

What other specialised markets can you recommend?

Hanover has a vegan market, there’s an eco-friendly, organic market in Berlin, and a maritime market in Emden. All across the country you will find different styles and themes.

Where are some of the hidden gems?

Markets in the former East Germany, such as Weimar, Leipzig and Erfurt, which has the most spectacular cathedral. Not many Brits go so far east, but all three cities are easily combined in one tour. Also, Dresden – it has a reputation it was all but destroyed in the war, but its Christmas markets are in one of the most beautifully preserved quarters, and lots of narrow alleys link the markets together.

Germany is pioneering barrier-free travel. Is there a barrier-free Christmas market?

Frankfurt offers multi-sensory guided Christmas market tours for the blind and visually impaired. Frankfurt is also one of the best for wheelchair users – for example there is a public disabled toilet by St Paul’s Square, where the Frankfurt Christmas market is concentrated.

What is stollen and why is it so traditional?

Stollen is our German Christmas cake. You can only bake stollen [for commercial purposes] if you belong to a guild – and they are fiercely protective of their recipes!

When is the best time to visit a market?

They are very popular with locals too, and lots of Germans go after work around 7pm. On the weekends too, people flock to the bigger markets from outlying towns and villages. A good time for a visit is late afternoon mid-week, when it’s growing dark, so you still have that special fairy-lit atmosphere.

Do all markets open at the same time of year?

Opening times vary from market to market so it’s worth checking on Germany.travel/Christmas-markets, especially in November. Some close just before Christmas and others stay open until New Year. As a general rule they run over Advent.

Where’s the next best place to visit a Christmas market after Germany?

Birmingham in the UK. Frankfurt organises the city’s Christmas market, because the two cities are twinned.