Nuremberg has been on my list for some time now since I really wanted to visit one of Germany’s oldest “Christkindlmarkt” (another German word for “Christmas Market”) which happens to be in Nuremberg. With a quick pitstop in Hamburg for one night, on both our way to and from Nuremberg, we drove into a white winter wonderland the further south of Germany we got. We arrived in Nuremberg just in time for the Christmas Market to open with the traditional opening ceremony on our very first day in town. The market was packed, and we barely made it through the crowd to get to the Käthe Wohlfahrt boutique, so we never got to witness the actual ceremony. At the ceremony however, the Christ child, which is a different child elected for the ceremony every year, will open the market with a prologue followed by the lights being switched on. After spending two days in Nuremberg, we got to know different corners and markets, so I put together a little list of my favourite Christmas markets in case you have a Nuremberg trip coming up this holiday season!
Main Sqaure - The main event during Christmas season in Nuremberg is the Christmas market on the main square surrounded by historical buildings such as the Lady’s Church to the East. Here, you will find everything from traditional gingerbreads known to come from Nuremberg to local handicraft and of course plenty of Christmas market food and all sorts of mulled wines to keep you warm. Being the biggest Christmas Market of them all in Nuremberg, it naturally attracts many people, which turned to an even more crowded experience when we went there on the first night of the opening. However, we were determined to soak it all in and went zigzagging from one end of the market to the other, gazing at the food, eating until our bellies were exploding and drinking a couple of different mulled wines. There is an uncountable number of booths at this market which are all worth exploring.
Jakobsplatz - The Winter Village at the Jacobs Square was my favourite by far. This Christmas market is a newer addition to the markets in Nuremberg and one of the best even. Except from offering the traditional food, mulled wines and handicrafts, this is the place where you can find a heated winter hut with tables and benches to rest and fully enjoy your food and drinks. This is something we have been really missing at the other markets – tables and a place to rest and be sheltered. Sitting inside a heated hut as the snow was falling turning the city into a winter wonderland was probably the most magical moment during our trip. Besides the hut, the market offers sheltered tables, too, of which some are equipped with heating lamps to make your stay more enjoyable. The biggest eyecatcher is without a doubt the grand 48-meter-high Ferris wheel equipped with 36 closed gondolas – a wonderful way to view the city bathed in Christmas lights from above.St. Lore
St. Lorenz Church- In front of the beautiful Gothic St. Lorenz Church, which is definitely worth visiting while strolling around the Southern part of the old town, lies another Christmas market. The market is scattered and has the first booths appearing on the shopping street with the church standing splendidly tall at the end of the street. In front and around the church are more booths gathered, offering the most mouth-watering food. There is one particular booth deserving extra attention – the stall selling “Baumstriezel” (Eng.: Chimney Cake) which are the best you will find in Nuremberg. With different toppings to choose from to satisfy both the sweet and the hearty tooth, we opted for something less sweet choosing the poppy seed topping. The cake tasted divine which is an opinion we obviously shared with many people – the woman in front of us went away with the most happy, satisfied face after telling everyone waiting in line how good the chimney cake tastes and that this was already her second round that day.
Handwerkerhof - Behind the historical city walls lies a small little village of a bygone era with fairytale houses hosting shops, bars and restaurants. We visited this place in the evening and were lucky to witness a magical atmosphere with small half-timbered houses and narrow cobblestone streets bathed in light. Inside these walls, craftsmen offer to sell their goods, rustic taverns invite you inside for a drink and food and traditional craftsmanship can comes to life. This is such a cute place to visit during Christmas season where the magic comes even more alive – this is the epitome of a Christmas village.
Town Hall Square - A refreshing version of a Christmas market we found at the Town Hall Square – an international Christmas market with booths from all corners of the world. This market had its premiere in 1985 and has only increased in popularity since. Stands representing countries such as Turkey, Ukraine, Spain and Sri Lanka only to name a few because the list is long. Strolling along the stands presenting arts and crafts sends you on a journey around the world with a great variety of international goods; Greek honey, Nicaraguan coffee, wooden toys from Cuba, Sri Lanka and Ukraine, there is much to discover.
