Stuttgart Christmas Market

Stuttgart's Christmas Market will be held from 29th November to 23rd December 2017. With some 290 stalls and a tradition of more than 300 years, it is one of the loveliest in Germany and one of the oldest and largest of its kind in Europe. It was first documented in 1692, though its roots go back much further. The stalls of the Christmas Market stretch from the New Palace and the Königsbau across Schiller Square, with the Old Palace and the Collegiate Church, to the Marketplace. There's Santa Claus with his fluffy white beard, traditional Nativity figures and splendid winter landscapes – in Stuttgart it's the booths in particular that enchant visitors with their lovingly-decorated roofs. Each year prizes are awarded by visitors and a jury for the Christmas Market's most attractive stalls. For traditional Swabian yuletide indulgence there's a wide range of specialities and delicacies: the "Springerle" stand on the Marketplace has been part of the Christmas Market for over a decade now. In addition to the wooden moulds used for forming them, the anise-flavoured speciality biscuits are also on sale here. And another absolute must when strolling through Stuttgart's Christmas Market is of course "Hutzelbrot", a traditional fruit loaf made of sweet, dark dough. Join-in yuletide activities, a genuine miniature steam train and the live animals in the Nativity scene can't fail to enthral the youngest visitors.

During Advent, Stuttgart's town hall is transformed into a gigantic Advent calendar. Each day a "door" is opened, revealing by degrees the coats of arms of Stuttgart's boroughs. The opening ceremony will take place at 6 pm on 29th November in the Renaissance inner courtyard of the Old Palace. Every evening there's also a concert of Christmas music here. The Stuttgart Christmas Market is open Monday to Thursday from 10 am to 9 pm, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to 10 pm and Sundays from 11 am to 9 pm.

Additional information under: www.stuttgarter-weihnachtsmarkt.de

Ludwigsburg Baroque Christmas Market

The more than 175 stalls at the Ludwigsburg Baroque Christmas Market, which will be held from 23rd November to 22nd December 2017, will fulfil every Christmas wish: glove puppets and music boxes, antique and modern Christmas tree decorations and much more besides are on offer. In addition to the traditional Christmas Market food, there are also Swabian specialities to delight the palate, such as Schupfnudeln (potato noodles) and "Holzofendinnede" – a delicacy similar to tarte flambée, baked in a wood-fired oven. The gingerbread at the Ludwigsburg Baroque Christmas Market is traditionally served fresh from the oven.

The illuminations are no less special than the arrangement of the stalls, which reflects in this miniature yuletide town the symmetry and straight lines of Ludwigsburg's streets and the gardens of its famous Baroque palace. In the evenings there's atmospheric music to round off the day. The Christmas Market is open daily from 11 am to 9 pm.

Additional information under: www.ludwigsburg.de

Esslingen Christmas and Medieval Market

At Esslingen's Medieval and Christmas Market, from 28th November to 22nd December 2017, merchants in historical costumes will peddle their wares just as they did hundreds of years ago. Dyers, felters, blacksmiths and glass blowers will demonstrate traditional crafts, and stilt walkers, jugglers, fire eaters and minstrels disport themselves around the more than 200 stalls. The concert of medieval music in St. Paul's Cathedral and the atmospheric backdrop of timbered houses and romantic alleyways are what make Esslingen's Christmas and Medieval Market an experience second to none. There's also lots to discover at the various workshops, where visitors can learn the old market language, find out how to smoke food, take part in a stick-fighting course or produce their own tinder. The main highlight will take place on 21st December at the winter solstice, when visitors and market traders alike join in the popular torchlight procession up to the castle. Once they get there, the fire show begins and the winter is welcomed with drums and song. The Christmas Market and Medieval Market are open daily from 11 am to 8.30 pm.

Additional information under: www.esslingen.de

Other Christmas Markets in the Stuttgart Region:

• Bad Wimpfen

• Böblingen 

• Fellbach 

• Göppingen 

• Kirchheim/Teck

• Reutlingen

• Schwäbisch Gmünd

• Schwäbisch Hall 

• Schorndorf

• Tübingen

• Waiblingen

You'll find even more Christmas Markets in the region under www.stuttgart-tourist.com

Photo: Stuttgart christmas market© Werner Dieterich