Latest edition : 03 December 2014
The capital of Baden-Württemberg can be proud of its Christmas market, whose roots go back at least until the year 1507. Over time, the market has grown to incredible proportions with acrobats, magicians, dancing bears. , tigers, tooth pullers (!) and more than 1200 merchants!
The offer on this very popular market has evolved with the times and we can find all the novelties there: razors and gramophones, small trains, clothes, kitchen utensils. of this "bric-a-brac" but in most of the cabins one sells arts and crafts, nurseries, wooden toys and culinary specialties.
The old and the new castle form the historical setting for one of the largest markets in Europe. One of the most beautiful also thanks to the decorations of its sheds. Like everywhere else, the illuminations create a magical setting, making this ephemeral village sparkle. But to discover the peculiarity of the market, you have to look up: on the roofs of the huts, the merchants have reconstructed fairy tales.
Tales that young visitors experience in "the land of children": on a small steam train they embark on a wonderful journey through a snowy landscape. A big wheel makes them gain height and the little ones dream of old rides.
Little gourmets can dip fruit skewers in chocolate, creatives make candles, decorate candle holders, bake cupcakes and embellish gingerbread hearts. And so that parents can quietly enjoy the Christmas market, a free nursery is provided. Another special feature is the large marquee which hosts an antiques and flea market. And since Stuttgart is the city of music, there are concerts all over the place, in churches and on street corners.
When you stay in Stuttgart, you receive the “Stuttgart Card” which, among other things, allows you to take public transport in the region. So we take the train to the pretty town of Esslingen and one of the most beautiful Christmas markets. The city with its beautiful half-timbered facades and romantic alleys forms the perfect setting for a market that brings the Middle Ages back to life.
Craftsmen present old trades, we eat with a pig on a spit, try their luck at mouse roulette, avoid the lousy beggar, admire the acrobats of the fire, listen to the minstrels and find original and unique gifts. We haggle, feast, have fun. The spectacle is everywhere, in the alleys, on the stages ... And all the merchants are obviously in period dress.
Baroque gems in Ludwigsburg
After the joyful animation of a medieval village, change of atmosphere. In Ludwigsburg, baroque city par excellence, the Christmas market spreads a magical atmosphere.
Angels spread their luminous wings above the stalls and sheds that enliven the market square bordered by its arcades. Every afternoon, puppet, clown and magic shows delight children, and concerts invite you to sit down. At the bend of an alley, children perform a Christmas carol. On the stalls, we find santons carved in wood for the crib, decorations for the tree in blown glass, candles and the typical crafts of the Erzgebirge (iron mountains): Christmas pyramids that turn with the only heat. candles, nutcrackers, “Rauchermännchen” which perfume the air with their chosen scents.
